lling for my boyfriend’s Navy brother
Chapter 90: Penny
The sent hits me before the door even swings closed behind
unsky, ravory, rich. I pause for a half second, then beam up at Ather
kay, almost hunathless.
The glances down at me, math toering into a small, crooked smile. “You like it?”
(“I love it,” I say. “Like, seriously love it.”
The restaurant is busy, buzzing with energy–gongs, rinseded in booths, laughter haunting off the walls, chopsticks clinking, sizzling sounds rising from tabletop grills. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel alive just by being in it.
There are so many people. My eyes dart around, overwhelmed, hat Asher just reaches for my hand–casual, like it’s nothing–and gently wears through the use of bodies. His pale is warm and strody against mine. I shouldn’t send a shiver down my spine, but it dies.
“Are they already here?” I ask, a little breathless from squeezing beteren a particularly loud table and a waiter carrying plates of raw short ribs.
“Yeah,” he says,
voice low as he tilts his head toward the back comer.
I crane my neck “How do you know?”
He leans slightly closer. “Because I can see them ”
I squint. “All I see are heads.”
He gives a quiet laugh. “I’m 64. You’re 33. Different vantage point.”
I snom. “Yeah, okay, Mr. Girale.”
We reach the booth near a wide window where two people are already seated. And they’re, wow,
One of them–Rooster, I assure–is dicalously tall. Not just tall, but massive. His skin is a smooth, rich brown and his dreadlocks are tied back lovely He’s wearing a long sleeve dark grey shim that stretches slightly over his lens, and I catch a glimpse of bandages perking out near his wrist. His beard is mier stubble than full–grown, but it makes him look even more intense. One of his ears is missing a piece, like something bit it clean off
Next to him is a woman who could literally be on the cover of a fashion magazine. She’s tall too–probably 5 10 in heels–but she carries herself like she’s six feet tall at least. Her olive–toned skin glows under the warm restaurant lights, and her dark brown hair cascades down her shoulders in soft waves. She’s wearing a silly green shirt that makes her eyes pop, paired with simple jours and heeled boat. And the red lipstick? Absolutely unfair
“Long time no see, big guy,” the woman says as she stands and wraps her arms around Asher.
Kooster hugs him like he’s trying to break every rib in his body, laughing as he claps a mastive hand on Asher’s back. “Thought we’d have to bribe you with lood to get you outta hiding twice in a work.”
Asher hugs them both, and something in me squeezes. I’ve never seen him like this. Open. Relaxed.
Then he turns and nods toward me. “This is Penny.”
Rooster doesn’t hesitate–just open his arms and engulfs me in a surprisingly gentle bear hug. I laugh nervously against his chest.
“Nice to meet you, Penny,” he says, stepping back with a smile.
The woman huge nest, light and warm. “ImAnna. It’s so good to finally meet you?
“Leel ke sh
I should’ve worn heels,” say, glancing up at the three of them toweling around me. “You’re all skyscrapers.”
That makes them laugh. Even Asher smirks.
1/4
Chapter 90: Penny
We side into the booth–Anna keride me, haber across from me, Brentes on the far side — and start tipping through the des
mbedded the table. Asher takes change, quirily adding inders to the cast while I slp the barley tea a amser dropped off.
“So.” I leaning toward Anna, “how did you
Anna grins. “High
He was the only wide receiver, I was the scanti
theatre eld
“I was the bet one,” Kooder uys with a might fee
“Right,” Anna saya diyly. “Anyway, he told me he wanted to join the Navy after graduation and I told him if he did, I’d kick his arr and I wouldn’t wait for
“And she did both,” Rooster says proudly. “Waited. Kicked my au
I laugh, maybe too loud, but I can’t help it, aslını chuckles ton, his gaze flicking to me briefly before he looks back an
“How long have you been together? Task
six years,” Anna says. “Since we were
e were seventeen?
“Wow” I breathe. “That’s amazing.”
The first round of meat anives, along with banchan–ting bowls of pickled radish, kimchi, sesame spinath, and more. Asher and Roter immediately start
rilling. The size fills the air, and it smells like heaven.
“What do you do, Anna Lask, reaching for some japchat.
“I’m a veterinarian,” she says, beaming. “Mostly dogs and cats, but sometimes I help out at farms too.”
“That’s incredible”
She smiles. “Asher told us you’re a ballerina.“
I blink. “He did?”
She nods. “Are you professional?”
“I just got my first role, actually. The lead in the Spring Gala.”
“Seriously?” Rooster whistles. “Damn. That’s insane”
Anna’s eyes light up. “When did you start?”
“When I was live,” I say, pinning. “So fourteen years ago
Rooster let out a low whistle. “That’s longer than I lasted in calculusTM
Maher quietly palls a piece of perfectly grilled galbi off the grate and puts it on my plate. Then one for Anna, Then one in himself. Then Roester. Then he go back to grilling without a word.
My heart stumbles a little.
Anna lean in “So… has he always been tha. nurturing
I neatly choke on my rice.
- 1.
Auber glances up from the grill, eyes nancy. “I can hear you.”
Anna pins. “Just saying. You’ve got ‘silent protector with a huge past vibes going on. Like a paperback romance heret
Chapter 90: Penny
Rooster laughs so hard he almost dreps his lettuce wrap.
I press a hand to my mouth, giggling.
“You two are a menace,” Asher
says, noi
looking up.
Anna winks at me. “We bring out the best in him.”
I think maybe… they’re right. Because this version of Asher–still quiet, still brooding, but surrounded by people who knew him–is something else eriody
And I’m starting to realize I want to be part of that world.
Even if I shouldn’t.
