"I didn't know that," I answer honestly. "Caleb didn’t tell me."
"It's pissing Caleb off." He sucks in a quick breath. "He had a trip to London planned. He thinks he can run everything from his office here but he can't. Gabriel went behind his back to set up our team in Europe."
That partially explains Celeb's attitude lately. He's been harsh, frustrated and preoccupied. I assumed it was because of someone he was seeing. I had no idea that there was that much friction between him and Gabriel.
"He must have been livid." I try not to break a smile. "I'm a little surprised that he didn't call me to complain about it all."
He cocks a dark brow. "I'm surprised too. You're his best friend."
At one point, a year or two ago, I would have taken great comfort in hearing Asher say those words. I've volleyed back and forth between wanting Caleb as a platonic friend to wanting much more with him. I'm not sure if I've ever been in love with him because the only man I know I've loved is Tom and those feelings were so jumbled with resentment over his addiction that they became a hazy mess. I've avoided diving back into anything serious because of that.
"I'm not his best friend," I insist softly. "My best friend wouldn't do some of the shit that he does."
He throws his head back in laughter. "Caleb's let his success go to his head. I don't dispute that but he's still the same guy you've always known."
"He's not." I hesitate before I continue, "I'm not even sure I want him as a friend anymore. He had you arrested, Asher. You're his brother. You've already been through so much."
"I'm an addict." He leans forward to pull both of my hands into his. "My addictions terrify him. He panicked. He did the only thing he thought would help."
"He was wrong." I look down at my lap. "He knows he was wrong. That's why he made me promise to still be his friend before he told me what happened."
"You're the only constant in my brother's life." His voice is gruff. "You've always been there for him. He needs that. He needs you now more than ever."
***
"You're not working from home today?" I tap my hand lightly on his shoulder.
"Please be wearing that hot little red dress you had on earlier," he says smugly. "Red is my new favorite color."
I try not to grin as he pivots on his heel to look at me. His eyes settle on the neckline of the dress. It's not low cut but it definitely accentuates the limited cleavage that I do have. "I didn't have time to go home to change, Caleb."
"I want you to wear that dress every time you come here to see me." He gestures around the empty boardroom we're standing in. "I have a meeting in ten. What's up?"
I stare at his handsome face. There isn't a remnant of the pain that flashed over his expression earlier when he was in my office and I was berating him over how much he's changed. It's always like that with the two of us. We forgive and forget. We always have. "I want to talk about Asher."
His rubs his index finger over his lips. "What about him?"
"You fired him." I sigh heavily. "Why did you fire him?"
He swallows hard before he answers. "He can't work here if he's in jail or in rehab."
"He's not using anything." I glare at him. "He was upset about something. He feels badly about what he did."
This is the point in the conversation when Caleb should admit that he feels badly about what he did too, namely having his brother arrested. That would involve him swallowing his pride and declaring he was wrong too. Unless hell has frozen over since I walked into this office tower, it's never going to happen.
"You trust him too much, Rowan." His eyes drop to my legs. "You put too much faith in Asher."
"I'm not going to apologize for being his friend." I struggle to not point out that he doesn't put enough faith in his younger brother. "I believe in him."
"You shouldn't." He brushes past me to rest his tablet on the long, rectangular table. "You can't depend on people like him."
I push out a heavy breath at the underlying inference in his words. "What does that mean?"
His gaze is soft as he studies my face. "God, you're beautiful. You're so beautiful and trusting. I don't want you to get hurt. It kills me when you get hurt."
I stare at his lips as he closes them slowly. "Asher isn't going to hurt me. You don't understand our friendship. You don't know what he means to me."
"Tell me then." His hand jumps to my waist. "Tell me exactly what my younger brother means to you."
Chapter 12
I work to level my breathing as look into Caleb's eyes. His fingers are sliding softly over the fabric of my dress. I want to explain in pointed detail why he needs to get over what happened yesterday so he can see the potential that Asher has but I can't find those words. "We're friends."
"Yes, Rowan." His breath floats over my cheek as he leans down. "We've established that you and Asher are friends. You and I are friends too but it's different with you and him."
"Different?" I ask before I lick my bottom lip. I feel as though I haven't had anything to drink in days.