Asher had looked . . . tired. Weary. Was he worried over her? Her heart clenched. Or was something else wrong?
“Asher!” Donna’s coo got Greer’s attention and she clutched her phone in her hands, hunching over it in the booth like Gollum with a ring. “Oh my goodness, look at you. I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Donna.” His voice was abrupt, and that made Greer’s heart sing a little. “I didn’t know you’d moved back to the city. What’s this about?”
“I did! But don’t change the subject on me—don’t I get a hug? I haven’t seen you in two years.”
There was a massive rustle of fabric that indicated that Donna was moving, and Greer desperately wanted to turn around and peek at them. Was Asher going to hug Donna? Or was he going to blow her off?
“We didn’t exactly part under friendly circumstances, Donna. You leaked private information about my company to a rival.”
“That was a mistake.” Donna’s voice grew sad. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but it was a big mistake, Asher. Haven’t you ever made a mistake you regretted?”
Greer froze, clutching her phone. That question had hit too close to the mark already. Her hand strayed to her stomach, and she thought of the baby. What would Asher say? Was Greer a mistake?
“None I’ve regretted quite as much as being with you,” he told Donna coldly.
Ouch. Okay, while that wasn’t super helpful for Greer, it had to have hurt Donna.
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you today, Asher.” Donna’s voice had taken on a teary edge. “I made mistakes and they cost me your love. I want you back. I want what we had back.”
“That’s what this urgent meeting was about? You told me it was about Greer.”
Her heart thumped wildly and she clutched the phone tight in her hands. Please love me, please love me, please love me. Please don’t be the asshole I’m worried you are.
“It is, to an extent. I want to know what’s going on between the two of you. I want to know if there’s still a chance for me.”
There was an achingly long pause, and then Asher spoke. “I’m in love with her.”
Greer silently fist-pumped in the booth. Hot tears of happiness sprang to her eyes. There was no reason for him to bring her up unless it was the truth. Whatever else was going on, she could believe in that.
“Oh.” Donna’s broken little voice barely registered over the phone. “I . . . I see.”
“You probably don’t.” He sounded almost amused. Cold.
“Actually, you’re right. I don’t.” Donna’s voice strengthened and Greer’s hands got sweaty with nervousness on the phone. “What is it about her that you’ve fallen in love with? Because I’m not seeing it. Is she rich or something?”
And just like that, her gut clenched. This was difficult to hear. Hurtful, too. Donna had warned her, but every word was like a dagger in her chest, and she dreaded Asher’s response. What was he going to say? It’s just the baby. There’s not much else to it.
Oh god, she might shatter into a million pieces if she heard those words come out of his mouth.
She didn’t want to listen, but she pressed a finger to the earbuds anyhow, trying to increase the volume so she wouldn’t miss a word.
“You wouldn’t understand, Donna.”
“Try me?”
His sigh of irritation made Greer’s shoulders hunch defensively. “She’s the only person in my life that has ever completely and totally had my back.”
Oh.
That . . . that wasn’t what she expected to hear. Nor had she expected to hear the soft note in his voice as he spoke. Hot tears poured down her cheeks. She’d had his back? When? How? She’d always loved him, but lately—
“What do you mean?” Donna’s voice had resumed its sugary note.
“I mean that looking back, I see a lot of things I was too blind to see in the past. Greer’s always been there for me. When I needed a friend, she was the first to extend her hand. When I needed money, she sent me a loan. She saved my business. She saved me. She’s given me so much of herself and I’ve given her nothing but grief, but I’m determined to change that.”
Greer gasped. He knew about the money? But she’d been so careful. She swiped at the tears running down her face. He’d never said to her . . .
“So it’s gratitude? Is this like a pity fuck?”
“I know it’s hard for you to believe, Donna, but I’m actually interested in Greer as a person, not just as a wallet. I love her. She makes me happy. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I love you,” Donna said, voice pleading. “I made you happy. Don’t you feel anything for me anymore?”
“Actually, yes. I do feel gratitude toward you, because if you hadn’t made my life so miserable, I would have been too blind to see the greatest thing in my life standing right in front of me.”
Okay, she was going to openly start sobbing right about now. Greer pressed a napkin to her mouth to quiet herself, but the tears kept rolling down her cheeks.
“You’re an idiot,” Donna said, and there was a wealth of hurt and anger in her voice.
“I guess you’ve given up thoughts of reconciliation if we’re back to calling me an idiot?” He sounded amused. “That was fast.”
“You think she has your back? Your sweet little Greer will always support you?” There was another rustle of fabric and what sounded like stomping feet. “You want to know the truth, Asher? Come with me.”