Chapter 6

“There he is!” A deep voice bellowed from the doorway, the sound cutting across the quiet office space like a roar. “I was beginning to think we should send out a search party for you, man. Where the hell have you been? Did you get lost on the road or something?”

Asher smiled and looked up from the pile of documents on his desk. “I was wondering how long it would take you to find me once you heard I was back.” He made a show to glance at his wristwatch with an intense look. “Exactly six hours and twenty-nine minutes. Not bad.”

“Don’t forget to count the seconds too,” Dave retorted as he lowered his body into one of the brown leather chairs opposite Asher’s desk without waiting to be invited.

Asher snorted. “Of course, how could I forget the seconds?”

Dave gave him a big grin, extremely pleased with himself. He lifted his leg over the other and tapped his fingers on his raised knee. “So, how was the adventure?” He actually sounded very curious and interested in the answer.

Asher set his pen down on the document he had been reading and leaned back into his executive leather chair. For a second, his thoughts wandered away from his friend and he thought about the pains his team went through to pick the chairs as though the right chair could actually solve all the company’s problems. Well, as his back relaxed into the leather, he decided maybe his team needed a little bonus for their trouble. 

The chair certainly made listening to Dave easier. It was clear he would not get any work done as long as Dave was seated like a king in his office. He had no doubt his friend could clearly see the mountain of files that needed his attention, but Dave was more than just a friend. He was almost like a brother. So, that meant not only would Dave ignore Asher’s need to work, but Asher would tolerate it.

“It was great. There is nothing more refreshing than traveling miles and miles on a bike.”

Dave shook his head; he moved his hand and placed it on the desk; he continued to tap his fingers lightly on the surface. “Your love for those death traps has always been beyond me. And you picked a terrible bike to go on a long ride with. I’m surprised you can still sit up straight. Why you didn’t pick something more comfortable is still a puzzle.”

“You know? For someone who hates bikes...you sure know a lot about them.”

“I was forced to know stuff... considering I love your crazy ass.”

Asher chuckled and stood up from his luxurious executive leather chair. He walked around his desk and took the chair next to Dave. He was talking to someone who was like family, not a client or employee. It seemed more appropriate. “Love you too, man.”

A peaceful silence surrounded them for a moment. Dave sighed. “So you are ok now?”

Asher considered the question. Was he ok? He had taken three weeks off of work, jumped on his bike and rode for miles, surrounded by nothing but nature and small towns. Had it settled all his troubles or at least brought them into better focus? He wasn’t certain.

“It was a pleasant adventure. Lots of fresh air,” he answered. He knew it wasn’t the answer Dave was looking for, but it was the only one he had. 

His friend looked like he wanted to say something but decided to hold his tongue at the last second. After a few beats, he opened his mouth. “How about we go out for a drink tonight?” he suggested. 

Asher gave the files on his desk a pointed look. Dave followed his gaze. “There is no hope of getting all that done, even if you camp in your office for a week. Besides, you owe me.”

Eyebrows raised in shock, Asher turned to his friend. “Owe you? What on earth do I owe you for?”

“You abruptly left for three weeks and I barely heard from you. I had Layla calling me night and day, asking if I had heard anything new from you.” He shuddered exaggeratedly, like the memory of it was enough to give him nightmares. “Can you imagine receiving more than five calls from Layla every god-damn day?”

Asher felt a little guilty. Not for Dave for having to handle Layla, even though that must have put the man’s limited patience to the test. But for Layla, who had been worried to death about him. He made a mental note to make it up to her. A sigh escaped his lips as he looked at his friend. “Fine.”

The grin on Dave’s face was almost comical. Asher laughed and shook his head. “Ok, now that I have agreed to meet for drinks, allow me to get some work done. I still have a company to run.”

Dave snorted. “Oh, please. It practically runs itself,” he retorted, but stood and walked out of Asher’s office with a wave over his shoulder.

Asher also stood and returned to his executive chair. He leaned back into the comfort of the leather and closed his eyes for a moment. He was back; this is what he did best, he told himself. He opened his eyes and went back to work.

~~~ 

He met Dave in their favorite bar a block from his home. It wasn’t a high end kind of place. That was what had attracted them to the bar the first time around. They had been coming to it for three years now. Asher practically knew every worker by name. They never even asked what he wanted to drink, because they already knew his preferences.

So, once he had sat down at the table Dave had picked for them, one of the waitresses showed up with a tray and their drinks. 

“Thanks, M,” he told the petite woman and gave her a wink.

A predictable blush settled on her cheeks before she even turned and walked back to the bar to collect another order.

“Always the charmer. Is there any girl you can’t have your way with?” Dave asked with a teasing smile.

There was one. Asher’s mind immediately returned to another bar miles away with a bartender who hadn’t blushed once, despite his best efforts.

Something must have given on his face, because in a heartbeat, Dave set his beer down and leaned forward. “That look.” He pointed at Asher’s face. “What is that look for? You met someone on this adventure of yours?”

Asher groaned. Sometimes it was so irritating to have someone who knew him a little too well. What was he thinking? Sometimes? How about all the time? And he knew Dave only too well. The man was like a starved wild dog with a bone. He wouldn’t let go until he had every juicy bit out of it.

Resigned, Asher sighed. “Just someone I met in a bar in the middle of nowhere.”

“Something happened?” Dave asked with a serious tone.

“Nope.”

His friend’s eyes narrowed. “But you wanted something to happen.” It wasn’t a question.

Asher shrugged and took a sip of his drink. He looked around the bar. He could almost imagine he was back in Red eyes, except it smelled and looked way better here. Even the patrons were more presentable than the likes of Jim that Mia attended to all night. A sudden wave of emptiness hit him.

It was so sudden it almost took his breath away. This was crazy. He had only known Mia for two days and he couldn’t even comfortably say he knew the woman. But he missed her.

He cleared his throat and took another sip. His eyes wandered back to Dave and found his friend observing him like a hawk. “What?”

“What about your fiancee?” Dave asked quietly.

“What about her?”

“What do you mean ‘what about her?’” Dave asked, shocked.

Asher’s face didn’t change. “I don’t see the connection. I haven’t said I wanted to do anything with Mia.”

“Mia? That’s the girl’s name? And you don’t have to say anything. It’s written all over your face. I thought you went on an adventure to clear your head and give your decisions a serious thought.”

Asher began to look irritated. “I did that,” he answered in a clipped tone.

It did not faze Dave. “Sounds more like you went and fell for another girl before sorting out the one you left behind.”

“I don’t see what one has to do with the other. And I didn’t fall for Mia. You have no idea what you are talking about. And I sorted out everything with my ‘fiancee’ as far as I am concerned.”

Dave didn’t look like he bought that answer for a second. He shook his head. “Asher, you can’t be serious.”