Page 34 of Shapes of Love
“Hi. I’m Sasha. It’s my first day here, too,” I say. “It’s okay to be nervous.”
“Hey, we have some doughnuts in the kitchenette. Fancy one?” Asher’s shoulders drop when Lily’s face lights up. “I’ll find your parents and bring you one. Any flavor and toppings you want.”
Asher disappears while I stay with Lily. The way she clasps my hand, as if afraid to let go, reminds me of walking my sister to school. A minute later, Asher comes back with a box of doughnuts and a bottle of Fiji water.
“Okay, do we have any favorite flavors?” Asher crouches down and opens the box so that Lily can see. “We have cinnamon, chocolate, strawberry, plain?”
“Strawberry, please.” Lily happily takes a bite of her doughnut.
“Asher, oh my God, thank you for texting us.” A coordinator and a woman who looks like an older version of Lily, both visibly out of breath, rush to us.
“Mum!” Lily runs to the woman, who relaxes and ropes her daughter into a hug.
The coordinator directs them both outside, back to their group. Lily turns around, doughnut in hand, and waves at us. “Bye, Asher! Bye, Sasha!”
A content expression takes over Asher’s face. A beat of silence follows after we’re left alone again in the fake forest, but his smile lingers.
“So, you’re good with kids. That’s random,” I say.
“Random?” He cocks an eyebrow, his fingers tugging at the hem of his shirt.
“I don’t know. You’re hard to read, I guess.” Even if I’d had time to look him up, the real him is a little disorienting. Like he’s playing a character.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. It’s a good thing to remain mysterious in this business.”
“Nah. I can tell you have a soft heart,” I blurt out. “I think you just pretend to be someone you’re not to protect yourself.”
Asher freezes for a second, his expression clouding. Tension runs through his frame, and he shifts his gaze to his script, even though he’s already memorized it.
There’s a strange pause, and I falter. The longer it stretches, the more my confidence shakes.Shit, was I too blunt? Did I say the wrong thing?
“Right, well… I’ll go get ready for our scene. I think I need to find Stella anyway. Thanks for helping me with my lines,” I say. If Mia were here, she would have probably switched topics to change the vibe, but small talk is my kryptonite.
“Let me get your number,” he says, resetting his expression to nonchalance. “We should grab dinner tonight, if you want.”
“To rehearse?”
“No. I’d like to talk to you more.”
“Are you asking me out on a date?” I step back. Ah, shit, no way. Is Asher Grish making a move on me? Disappointment courses through me. I’m pretty sure he’s supposed to be dating Rosa, the lead. Maybe I misunderstood, though.
A feeling I can’t read flickers across his face. “No.”
“It sounds like you are.” I steel myself.
“I’m not. Trust me.”
“Trust you? You just met me.”
He shrugs. “I have a hunch.”
“And I have a boyfriend.” It feels odd to refer to Kai as my boyfriend. But it’s not a lie. At least not technically. Besides, Kai and I have plans to have dinner together.
Asher frowns. “I thought you and that guy were PR.”
“What?” Panic jolts through me, and something inside me slides off-balance. How does he know? Is he going to expose us? “We’re not.”
“Sasha, I can spot a PR setup from a mile away.” His gaze fixes on me, as if studying my reaction. “Not judging, though. Smart move for your career.” I stare back, baffled at the way he says it. Something mischievous dances in his eyes. “Actually, how would you feel about us dating once your current contract expires? I promise I’ll make it worth your time.”
