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I knocked on her door, straightening

“Darling, coed h the dimly lit reception area to her office

Sunlight glinted off the glass-topped coffee table, sending a rainbow prised knickknacks and the silver picture fra forward to study the photo I set it down al it so it faced the wall Mom must have noticed She raised her brow inquisitively as she sat across from me

“Thank you forme,” I said stiffly “I won’t take up much of your time, but I need some advice”

“You mentioned that What can I do?”

“Well…re-out scenario?”

“Yes, of course For your friend” She tilted her head and s he was the one who put the bookcase together Blake, right?”

“Yes That was him And um…”

“Did so happen to him?”

“No, he’s fine He’s in a quasi-out state at thehis options and possible repercussions I think,” I added, narrowing htfully “I told him he should do that part alone”

“Okay…that’s probably a good thing,” she said softly before asking the question I drove from Pasadena to Beverly Hills to hear “How does that make you feel?”

“Terrible”

“Why?”

“Because I want so…else”

“From him?” she prodded

“Yes, but that’s selfish I know I did the right thing I should feel good about that, at least” I adjusted ood I feel awful Since you’re a professional, I hoped you’d have insight into how to cope with…feeling this way”

Mo hair over her shoulder and studied, my love”

I squinted at her “Are you upset?”

“Upset? A little It hurtsI love you I don’t want you to be sad,” she replied gently

“Oh This was a mistake and a miscalculation on my part” I hopped totiuish or—”

“Asher, stop Sit down Please”