Undeniably Asher (The Colloway Brothers Book 2)(104)

He lets me push him back. I manage to get us away from the door enough to open it. I look out into the hall to ensure no one is loitering. Would probably be a bad idea for Asher’s employees to see him smashed at four o’clock in the afternoon, even if it is New Year’s Eve.

Tucking an arm around his waist, I walk him the short distance to his office and sit him on the couch. His eyes are now heavy and unfocused and he’s having a hard time keeping them open, even though he’s giving it his best college try.

“Can I have your phone?” I ask quietly, sitting next to him. He reaches into his jeans pocket and produces it. I quickly find the contact I’m looking for and dial. On the fourth ring he answers.

“Hi. It’s Alyse. I need your help.”





Chapter 41





Asher





I crack open my eyes and blink, trying to make objects come into focus, trying to remember where in the hell I am and how I got there. It takes me a few seconds, but slowly, events from the last twenty-four hours come rushing back. I wish they fucking hadn’t.

I realize I’m in my own bedroom, fully clothed, sans shoes, just like I’d left this afternoon when I went into the office to confront Alyse. I wasn’t as drunk as Alyse thought, but I wasn’t exactly sober either, so I remember every word spoken. Unfortunately I also remember how rough I was with her. Regret eats at me for the way I treated her. No matter what, she did not deserve that from me. I went there with the intent of fighting for her, but things quickly escalated out of my control. Hurt easily commandeered the reins from common sense.

I sit up, taking stock of how I feel. I lost count of how many Bloody Marys I had throughout the day. Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. I spent hours stewing over Conn’s advice, reliving every single memory I’ve ever had with Alyse. I ached with the thought of giving that up. Of giving her up. It was excruciating to think of a life without her.

It still is.

Looking at the clock, I see it’s almost eleven o’clock. I think I passed out from exhaustion more than the alcohol and had been sleeping for almost seven hours. With the way my body feels, I think I need about seven more, but the need to find Alyse is far more urgent than drifting back into my restless dreamland.

After a pit stop in the bathroom and a quick brush of my teeth, I leave my bedroom and hear soft voices in the living room. Rounding the corner, I see Conn and Alyse sitting on the couch, each with a glass of wine in their hand, quietly talking. The TV is on in the background. With the millions of tons of confetti floating through the air it looks like the east coast is celebrating a brand new year, while I’ll be nursing a hangover here shortly. This is not at all what I had in mind for ringing in the year that I had planned to make Alyse my wife.

“Do you think I should check on him again?” she asks, worry threading her tone. At least she still gives a fuck after the way I treated her earlier. That’s something.

“Nah. Give him another half hour. Then we can,” Conn answers.

“You can go, you know.”

“Alyse, I’m not leaving. You and Asher belong together and sometimes he’s his own worst enemy. Besides, he needs a good tongue-lashing for the shit he pulled today and that’s what brothers are for.”

Her smile pulls me forward. I take a few more steps when Alyse spots me and stops mid-sentence.

“I’m glad he—”

Conn cranks his neck following Alyse’s line of sight. His lips thin in fury, directed entirely at me, but I don’t care. He’s right. I deserve it. I quickly shift my attention back to Alyse, drinking the sight of her in, lifting my hand to rub the pain in my chest.

God, I love her. So damn much.

I can’t lose her.

“Hi,” she says quietly, making no attempt to move. “How are you feeling?”

“Pretty much like an asshole.”

“You should. You are an asshole,” Conn grates. “Did you not listen to a fucking word I said earlier?”

“I did.” I listened. I just took a little self-pity detour first.

“You owe me,” he says, standing and walking into the kitchen to set his glass down. I brace myself for the “tongue-lashing” he’s about to deliver. “Big time. I had to sneak your drunk ass down the stairs and out the back entrance and you cost me a fan-fucking-tastic lay tonight. On New Year’s Eve of all nights, thank you very much. All because you were wallowing when you should have been getting the fucking truth like I told you to. Honestly, if I were Alyse, I’d kick your jealous, overreacting ass to the curb. I have no idea what’s wrong with my brothers. Book smart, business shrewd, relationship incompetent,” he mumbles the last part under his breath.