Silence.
But then Boone said, “I thought they were never going to leave.”
“Thanks for bailing me out,” Asher said, glancing toward the door.
“Yeah, right,” Rhett said, taking the first client chair. “Like hell I’d throw myself in that pile of gossip.”
Asher snorted a laugh as Boone dropped down into the other chair.
Rhett’s head cocked as he regarded Asher. “I didn’t think you could possibly look more like shit since you put the ring on Remy’s finger, but you do.”
A ring that she took right off after the ceremony and threw in the garbage. “I want silence.” He glared at his friend. “You’re not helping with that.” He thrust his fingers into his hair, tilting his head back and breathing deeply.
When heavy silence drifted into the room, Asher straightened, finding Rhett watching him closely. “What?”
Rhett lifted his brows.
Boone frowned. “Talk.”
Asher leaned back in his chair, pressing his fists to his head. “I don’t know how the fuck we got here.”
“Married?” Boone asked.
Asher nodded. “I had a plan. Fix my mistakes. Make her happy. Protect her. Let her go.”
“But?” Rhett asked.
Asher sighed. “We were never supposed to be married like this. I thought this was the best choice, and now, I think I’ve only hurt her more. I keep trying to fix all this shit, and the more I try to make things right for her, the more things unravel.”
“Maybe you’re not supposed to fix anything,” Rhett said with a shrug.
Asher leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk as a rookie strode by his office door. “Are you of all people giving me relationship advice?”
Rhett nodded with a serious expression for a long moment, then burst out laughing. “Nah, I tried. Didn’t work. I wouldn’t know what the hell to do in your situation. You’re knee deep in it, and as far as I’m concerned, I’d run to avoid any more of a mess.” He hesitated, then grinned. “Actually, no, I’d probably tell you to go screw that redhead who’s been eyeing you at the bar, but I’m guessing that’s not helpful either?”
Asher snorted. “Not particularly helpful.”
“He’s not exactly wrong, though,” Boone said. “Maybe it’s time to stop trying to fix everything and just let the cards fall. You’ve both been through a lot. It’s time for some damn happiness in your lives.”
Asher started at Boone. It was similar to what Remy had said last night. “I don’t want to hurt her again.”
“Then don’t,” was Boone’s hard answer.
Asher looked at Rhett for his input.
Rhett gave an easy shrug. “I’m no expert here in all this shit, but it seems to me that you’ve been making her quite happy lately. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. Seems pretty damn simple. Stop being a pussy, and go get your girl.”
A frown tugged at Asher’s mouth. “Has anyone told you lately you’re a real fucking prick?”
Rhett grinned. “Yup, Cindy told me last night.” He cocked his head. “No, wait, her name was Amanda.”
Boone laughed.
Asher didn’t. Tension ached in his muscles. All Asher knew was that when she threw that ring in the garbage, it was a direct hit to his chest. But Remy was still in danger. That had to be his priority. For now, he shoved that tension in his chest deep in his gut to deal with later. He stretched out his arms and then worked at the tension along his shoulders, glancing back at Remy’s cell on his desk. He’d been putting this off, knowing the last thing he wanted to do was send Remy anywhere near Lars or King, but it would be worse for Remy if she involved the cops.
To keep her safe, Asher needed to let this play out.
He lifted the phone. “We ready to do this?”