'Maybe I should've been less blunt about it,' Blake thought, watching the way Asher's expression had tightened for just a second too long. 'He looks a bit… guarded.'
Still, it didn't matter all that much to him. Whether Asher had noticed anything or not, the conversation hadn't turned sour.
If anything, it had stayed comfortably neutral, easy to steer and soften.
Blake had to learn how to do stuff like this the hard way, with the final villain, at that.
He reached out and patted Asher's shoulder, letting out a light laugh as he pushed himself to his feet.
"You know," he said, stretching slightly, "I think I might be getting too attached to you. Promise me you'll still hang out with me even if you change schools."
Asher lowered his gaze at that, a quiet sigh slipping past his lips.
"I think that might happen soon."
There was a pause before he looked back up, offering a small, almost apologetic smile.
"But I'll keep in touch. Even then."
"Is that so?"
