When I wake up the next morning, Asher has already left and is starting his day. He’s nowhere to be found in his room, but as I roll over in bed, I see a small piece of paper resting on the mattress beside my pillow.
Syd,
There’s breakfast downstairs. I had to go help Andrew, but I will be back to pick you up this afternoon for the wedding. Make yourself at home.
-Asher
Reading his words warms my soul and brings a smile to my lips, but I can’t help but feel a little weird. I knew that he would have to be involved in the different wedding stuff today, especially since he’s his brother’s best man. However, I didn’t really think about being alone at his home.
His family has been nothing short of welcoming and if I’m being honest, they’ve made me feel like I’m at home so far. But that doesn’t make this any less weird. Damn Asher and him ditching me for the day.
I climb out of bed and grab my bag from the floor. Hoisting it onto the mattress, I find a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt to cover up with right now. It’s almost eleven o’clock in the morning. The wedding isn’t starting until four, but I would imagine that Asher should be here around two thirty or three to pick me up.
Even though he’s in the wedding and I’m not, he’s my ride there, so I have to go early and wait for the ceremony to start. I wonder if it’s weird for his family. Sure, I’m his “girlfriend”, but none of them know me. Is it weird that he brought me home for a family wedding and Christmas?
As I walk downstairs, I hear the sound of Christmas music playing from the kitchen. When I step inside the room, I see Rachel making gingerbread cookies. The scent drifts through the air, slipping into my nose as I inhale deeply.
“Good morning, Sydney!” she says brightly as she grabs a mimosa and hands it to me. “It’s wedding day and so close to Christmas, so we’re having quite the celebration today.”
A laugh bubbles from my throat and I smile at her as she dances around the room in her Mrs. Claus apron. Her energy is infectious. My parents always celebrated Christmas, but they were never this into it. Asher’s mom put a lot of time into all of her decorations throughout the house.
“There’s some pancakes on the table if you want them. I’m just making gingerbread cookies because my mind needs to be preoccupied and I always make a bunch of cookies this time of the year.”
I head over to the table and help myself to the food she has laid out. It appears that everyone else has already eaten. Glancing out into the den, I see Asher’s two sisters sitting on the couch staring at the massive Christmas tree in the room.
“Don’t mind the two of them,” Rachel says as she comes over to me. “They’re only fourteen months apart, so they’ve always been more like twins rather than regular siblings. I think they’re both getting ready to go get their hair done. Did you want to come with us? We could see if one of the stylists could fit you in?”
“Aren’t they in the wedding?” I ask her as I swallow a mouthful of pancakes and wash it down with the mimosa in my hand.
Rachel shakes her head. “No, Evelyn has her sisters and friends on her side. Which is fine, Catherine and Lucy don’t mind. They’ve had their moment in the spotlight with their own weddings. Let me call the salon and see if we can get you in too.”
I smile at her, not bothering to argue, even though I brought my own stuff to do my hair. Rachel doesn’t seem like the type of person who is going to take no for an answer. And if I’m going to be at their house without Asher all evening, I might as well hang out with the girls if they’ll have me.
“Your hair looks amazing,” Lucy beams as she stands behind me, fluffing the loose curls in the mirror. “Seriously, I would kill to have hair like yours.”
Catherine and Lucy gush over the way that my hair curled and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Rachel, of course, insisted that she pay for everyone to get their hair done. I’ll have to give Asher some money and he can make it seem like he’s paying for it or something. I don’t need his family doing extra little favors for me like this.
Just them inviting me along was nice enough.
We head back to the house and everyone goes their separate ways to get dressed. I hear Rachel and Dan, Asher’s father, leave the house not long after they get ready. Both of his sisters leave with their husbands as well and I’m left alone in the house.
With it being winter, it’s fairly cold, but thankfully the wedding will be inside, so I only have to worry about being cold while I’m outside. My dark wine-colored dress reaches my ankles, creating a waterfall of material down my legs. It hugs my curves around my torso and the long lace sleeves stop just at my wrists.
I bought the dress on a whim and this is the first time I’m wearing it. It’s perfect for a winter wedding and matches the tie Asher said he had for his outfit. Even though I’m not in the wedding, we somehow managed to match anyway.
I hear his car pull up as I finish with one last swipe of mascara. I’m not sure what time he has to be back at the venue, so I quickly slip my feet into my heels and grab my clutch and peacoat before disappearing down the stairs.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I see Asher standing by the front door. His hands are shoved in the front pockets of his black dress pants as he leans against the doorframe. I pause for a moment, my eyes scanning him, dressed like I’ve never seen him before. A warmth spreads across the pit of my stomach and my heart pounds erratically in my chest.
His usually tousled hair is styled with not a single strand out of place. He lifts his head as he hears my heels on the wooden steps. I watch his throat bob as he swallows hard, his eyes widening slightly as his gaze travels up and down the length of my body.
Straightening my shoulders, I grab the handrail as I continue walking down the stairs toward him. Asher pushes away from the doorframe, pulling his hands from his pockets as he stares at me like he’s completely transfixed. And the feeling is mutual. He looks fucking handsome as hell and I’m pretty positive my date might look better than the groom.
“Fuck, Syd,” he murmurs, his words breathless as he meets me at the bottom of the stairs. He extends his arm, his hand reaching out for me. I slide my palm against his, letting him lead me down into the foyer. “You’re absolutely beautiful.”
Heat creeps up my neck, spreading across my cheeks as I’m trapped under his gaze. His words make my heart swell and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world with him right now. “Thank you,” I practically whisper, instantly feeling shy. It isn’t often that I get dressed up like this and to see how it’s affecting him has me feeling confident as hell.
“Goddamn, I think I might have the hottest date at the wedding tonight.” He pauses, flashing his white teeth at me as he grins. “Don’t tell Evelyn, but you look even better than the bride does today.”
“Oh, stop it,” I giggle, pushing my hand against his chest. “You’re a smooth talker, Golding, but remember, none of this is real.”
His eyebrows tug together for a moment. “I don’t give a shit. Tonight, I’m treating you like you’re my real girlfriend. And I’m making sure every motherfucker in the building knows that you’re mine.”
He stares at me, his dark gray eyes staring directly through my soul. “And for the record, every word I say to you is real, Sydney. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
“Well, thank you.” I smile back at him, releasing his hand as he bends his arm for me to take it. “Shall we?”
“Hell yes.” He grins as I slide my arm through his. “I’m ready to show you off to the rest of the guests. Let’s just hope I don’t get in any fights with anyone who decides to let their gaze linger too long.”
Shaking my head, a light laughter falls from my lips as Asher leads me out into the cold afternoon air. Snow flurries spin around us and the chill in the air sends a ripple down my spine. “No fights, Asher. This is a wedding, not a hockey game. And just remember… even if their gazes linger too long, you’re the one that I’m going home with.”
I glance at him from the corner of my eye, watching the way his jaw tics. Last night was a little awkward with him sleeping on the floor, but there’s been a weird shift in our friendship that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s been my own little secret that I’ve had some budding feelings for him, but perhaps Asher Golding has a secret of his own, as well.
