A Drink with the Devil
The bar was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the storm in Jasmine's head.
She drummed her fingers against the cool marble counter, watching Asher order their drinks with an ease that irritated her.
"How do you always look so damn composed?" she muttered.
He glanced at her, smirking. "I practice in the mirror every morning."
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "I'm serious."
He hummed, setting down her glass. "Maybe I just don't let things get to me."
"Must be nice," she muttered, taking a sip. The burn of the whiskey was a welcome distraction.
"Tonight's been rough, huh?"
Jasmine let out a breathy laugh. "Understatement of the century."
She tapped the rim of her glass. "Do you ever have one of those moments where you realize you've been a complete idiot?"
Asher leaned in slightly, interest flickering in his dark eyes. "All the time. But go on."
She swirled her drink. "I spent years thinking Luke was my person. That no matter what, we'd be together. I ignored the red flags. I ignored myself."
Asher took a slow sip of his whiskey. "And now?"
Jasmine clenched her jaw. "Now, I'm sitting in a bar with a man who smirks too much and waiting for the part where I magically stop feeling like a complete fool."
His smirk widened. "I like that you admit I smirk too much."
She narrowed her eyes. "I'm baring my soul, and that's your takeaway?"
Asher chuckled, unfazed. "Fine. Here's my takeaway—you're not a fool, Jasmine. You loved someone who didn't deserve you. That's on him, not you."
Jasmine blinked.
That… was unexpectedly kind.
---
A Game of Words
She tilted her head. "What's your deal, Asher?"
He arched a brow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're a filthy rich judge, yet you spend your time lurking in bars, flirting with women who clearly have baggage."
Asher smirked. "You're assuming I flirt with other women."
Jasmine scoffed. "Oh, please. You scream 'dangerously charming playboy.'"
He leaned in slightly, voice dropping. "And yet, you agreed to have a drink with me."
Jasmine felt the warmth of the whiskey creep into her veins.
She held his gaze, refusing to back down.
"You're not my type."
Asher chuckled. "Sweetheart, you don't even know your type anymore."
Her breath hitched.
Damn him.
He wasn't wrong.
Still, she refused to give him the satisfaction of admitting it.
Jasmine lifted her glass. "To bad decisions, then."
Asher clinked his glass against hers, his smirk never fading.
"To new beginnings."
---
A Moment Too Close
As the night wore on, Jasmine found herself laughing.
Genuinely laughing.
Asher was annoying, yes, but he was also… easy to talk to.
And that was dangerous.
Because he made her forget.
Forget Luke. Forget Belle. Forget the part of her that still hurt.
And for just a second, she allowed herself to enjoy it.
Until she turned and realized just how close they were sitting.
The air shifted.
The playful banter slowed.
Asher's eyes flickered to her lips, just for a second.
Jasmine swallowed.
And then—
She pulled back, breaking the moment.
She wasn't ready for this.
Not yet.
Asher must have noticed, because instead of pushing, he simply leaned back with an easy smirk.
"You gonna run away now?"
Jasmine exhaled. "Not tonight."
He chuckled. "That's progress."
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
Maybe it was.
---
Unspoken Battles
Jasmine woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing relentlessly against her nightstand.
With a groan, she reached for it, squinting at the screen.
Rita.
She let out a sigh before answering. "It's too early for this."
"It's ten in the morning." Rita's voice was laced with irritation. "Where the hell were you last night?"
Jasmine pinched the bridge of her nose. "Out."
"With who?"
Jasmine hesitated. "A friend."
Silence.
Then—
"You don't have friends."
Jasmine sighed. "Thanks for the reminder."
"I mean, aside from me. So who was it?"
Jasmine debated lying, but she knew Rita would find out anyway. "Asher Donovan."
Rita's sharp inhale was almost comical.
"The Asher Donovan? The ridiculously wealthy judge?"
Jasmine groaned. "Yes, that Asher."
"What the hell were you doing with him?"
"Having a drink."
Rita's disbelief was palpable. "You—Jasmine Carter—went for a drink with one of the most eligible bachelors in the city?"
Jasmine rubbed her temple. "Can you not make it sound like I won the lottery?"
"I mean, considering your track record with men—"
"Goodbye, Rita."
Rita cackled before the call ended.
---
A Different Kind of Silence
Jasmine spent the day cleaning, trying to keep herself busy.
She refused to overanalyze last night.
The way Asher looked at her. The way he listened. The way she almost—almost—let herself enjoy it.
But it didn't matter.
She wasn't ready for that.
Not when Luke's shadow still loomed over her.
Her phone buzzed again.
Luke Caldwell.
Jasmine's stomach twisted.
For a moment, she considered ignoring it.
But she didn't.
She took a deep breath and answered. "What do you want?"
There was silence on the other end, then a tired sigh. "Can we talk?"
Jasmine scoffed. "You lost that privilege a long time ago."
"Jas, please."
She clenched her jaw. "Don't call me that."
Luke exhaled. "I just… I need to see you."
Jasmine laughed, but it was cold. "Why? Is Belle's real baby daddy not stepping up?"
A pause.
And that silence? It was everything.
Jasmine's stomach twisted again, this time in grim satisfaction.
He knew.
She didn't need to say anything else.
Instead, she hung up, gripping the phone so tightly her fingers ached.
She should feel victorious.
So why did she feel so… empty?
---
A Knock on the Past
That evening, just as Jasmine was about to settle in for a much-needed glass of wine, there was a knock on her door.
She frowned.
She wasn't expecting anyone.
Pulling her robe tighter around herself, she hesitated before opening it.
And there he was.
Luke Caldwell.
Looking like hell.
Jasmine stared at him, expression unreadable. "You've got some nerve."
Luke swallowed, shifting on his feet. "I know."
She leaned against the doorframe. "Then why are you here?"
He hesitated before speaking. "Because I can't stop thinking about you."
Jasmine exhaled sharply. "That's not my problem."
She moved to shut the door, but Luke caught it.
"Wait." His voice was almost desperate. "Jasmine, please. I—"
"You chose Belle, Luke."
Regret flashed in his eyes. "I made a mistake."
Jasmine let out a bitter laugh. "No. You made a choice. And now, you have to live with it."
Luke looked at her, pain evident on his face.
But Jasmine didn't care.
Not anymore.
She shut the door in his face.
And this time, she didn't look back.
---