A Night of Realizations
Jasmine had expected to feel relief after confronting Luke.
Instead, she felt… heavy.
The words they exchanged kept replaying in her mind as she sat in Asher's living room, the whiskey burning in her throat. She had spent so long being angry, so long resenting Luke for what he did, that she hadn't stopped to consider her own role in their downfall.
But Asher's words lingered.
"You don't owe him your forgiveness just because you understand."
Jasmine glanced at Asher, who was watching her with his usual unreadable expression. He had a way of seeing through her walls without prying, offering her space while still grounding her.
"You're doing that thing again," he remarked, sipping his drink.
She raised an eyebrow. "What thing?"
His lips quirked. "Overthinking yourself into exhaustion."
Jasmine let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "I'm just trying to process everything."
Asher leaned back, tilting his head slightly. "And?"
"And I don't know how to feel," she admitted. "Part of me wants to scream at him all over again. Part of me feels stupid for still caring at all."
"That's normal."
Jasmine scoffed. "I hate that it is."
He smirked. "You know what helps with overthinking?"
She arched a brow. "Please don't say tequila."
Asher chuckled, setting his glass down. "No, but I do have something in mind."
He stood up and stretched, his shirt lifting slightly, revealing a hint of toned abs. Jasmine quickly looked away.
"Come on," he said.
She narrowed her eyes. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
---
The Rooftop Escape
Jasmine didn't know what she expected, but standing on Asher's rooftop, overlooking the city skyline, wasn't it.
A cool breeze swept through her hair as she leaned against the railing, the city lights twinkling like scattered stars.
"This is your big plan?" she asked, amused.
Asher shrugged. "Sometimes you just need a new perspective."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't deny the peacefulness of the view. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the quiet stretching between them comfortably.
Then Asher asked, "Do you regret it?"
Jasmine turned to him. "Regret what?"
"Giving him your kidney."
She hesitated.
"No," she admitted softly. "I regret trusting him. I regret thinking I was enough for him. But saving his life? I don't regret that."
Asher nodded as if he had expected that answer. "You're a better person than I am."
Jasmine smirked. "I'll drink to that."
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "I meant it. I don't think I could be that selfless."
She studied him, noting the way he looked at the city rather than at her. "You say that like you haven't spent your life helping people."
His jaw tightened slightly. "That's different."
"Is it?"
Asher exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "You saved someone out of love. I send people to prison because it's my job."
Jasmine frowned. "You think that makes you less of a good person?"
"I think it makes me practical."
She tilted her head, watching him closely. "You're not as detached as you pretend to be, you know."
A slow smirk played on his lips. "Careful, Jasmine. You're starting to sound like you understand me."
She rolled her eyes. "God forbid."
Asher chuckled but didn't deny it.
---
A Shift in the Air
Jasmine hadn't expected the night to take such a turn.
What was supposed to be a distraction had somehow turned into something… different.
She wasn't sure when it happened, but at some point, she realized she wasn't thinking about Luke anymore.
She was thinking about Asher.
And that was dangerous.
She turned back to the skyline, trying to steady herself, but Asher's voice pulled her back in.
"You know," he mused, "for someone who claims to be done with him, you still let him take up a lot of space in your head."
Jasmine sighed. "I know."
"Maybe it's time to take some of it back."
She glanced at him. "And how do you suggest I do that?"
He gave her a lazy, knowing smirk. "You could start by actually enjoying yourself for once."
Jasmine huffed. "You say that like I don't know how to have fun."
"Prove me wrong."
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you challenging me?"
Asher's smirk widened. "Would it make you try harder if I was?"
She stared at him, feeling something shift between them. It wasn't blatant, wasn't heavy, but it was there—an underlying current neither of them acknowledged out loud.
Jasmine suddenly realized just how close they were standing.
How the air between them felt a little different than before.
And maybe, just maybe, she wasn't the only one noticing it.
---