Page 56 of The Replay
After a few minutes, I spot Asher making his way over to me. He looks a little awkward, like he’s not sure if he’s intruding, but I lift my chin, signaling him over. May as well get this part of the day over with.
“Hey,” Asher says, his voice casual, but there’s a cautious thread beneath his carefree demeanor. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Yeah. No problem.”
We stand there for a beat, the sounds of chatter and sizzling meat filling the silence between us. “I know—” His mouth twists and he tries again. “I get that this is probably weird for you,” Asher begins, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s a little weird for me, too.”
I take a slow pull from my beer, studying him. “It’s fine.”
He nods, but his expression is unconvinced. “Adam was really excited when we got your text. It meant a lot to him. You reaching out like that. So, I guess I, uh …” He stares down at his feet for a moment. “I just wanted to thank you. You didn’t have to reach out but … I’m glad you did.”
I glance across the yard where Adam’s laughing with Kenji, and something shifts in my chest. I get it. Asher cares about his brother the way I cared about mine.
“You look after him.”
Asher nods. “Yeah. I mean, he’s my baby brother. Wouldn’t you if you were in my shoes?” He winces as soon as the question leaves his mouth. “I didn’t?—”
“It’s fine,” I tell him. “Really.”
Silence stretches between us again.
“Sorry. I just,” Asher lifts his chin to the sky, searching for his words. “I know this can’t be easy for you. It’s weird as fuck for me.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, glancing back at Julio, who’s still glaring daggers in Kenji’s direction. “It’s weird as fuck for me too.”
He chuckles. “Well, that’s something at least.”
I match his grin and some of the tension between my shoulders dissipates. We stay like that for a while, each of us drinking our beers and watching the rest of the partygoers around us.
“He’s a good kid,” Asher tells me. When I give him a confused look, he clarifies, “Adam. He’s a good kid. He follows the rules. Never gets into trouble. That kid lives and breathes hockey, and he’s really talented. He sketches and is like, artistic and shit.”
I nod along to what he says, not really sure why he’s bothering to tell me any of this.
“Okay.”
“I just … he’s a good kid.”
“So you’ve said.”
Asher curses under his breath. “Sorry. Fuck.” He shakes his head, his mouth grimacing. “Look, can I be honest with you for a minute?”
Julio’s eyes lock with mine over Asher’s shoulder. He raises a brow in a silent question as if to ask,what is this guy’s deal?
I shake my head and return my attention to Asher because fuck if I know. Julio shrugs, turns off the grill, and piles a plate high with meat before taking it over to the outside tables where most of our team seem to have set up camp.
“Shoot,” I tell him.
Asher spends a few seconds glancing around and collecting his thoughts. “Adam really wants you to like him,” he says.
“Alright.” I mean, I can’t make any promises. I barely know the guy. But I invited them, didn’t I? I’m not trying to be a dick. I’d like to think I’m giving the kid a fair shake.
“He has this idea in his head,” Asher tells him. “Like the three of us can be real brothers. Or at the very least … I don’t know. Best fucking friends or something like that.”
I snort. I don’t mean to. It just sorta slips out.
“The guy doesn’t even know me,” I say.
“I know. But Adam is … he’s different. He gets attached to people easily and since your mom married our dad he just …” he grimaces. “He’s going to push his way into your life. Or at least, he’s going to try.”
