Chapter 43

Kimberly hated the silence between them. It was back, with a vengeance, as soon as they saw that the condom had broken. Not much later, as she was struggling with her ruined tights, buttoning up her jacket and trying to smooth her tangled hair in such a hurry.  Asher leaned over the front seat and opened the glove compartment. He found a pen and a scrap of paper, on which he quickly scrawled a series of numbers. "Here." His breath fogged on the frozen air. She took it. "What's this?" she asked staring at the paper.  "My phone number." he said simply. For a moment, she actually thought that she'd read the silence all wrong. But then she understood. But before that she had to ask. "And why are you giving that to me?" she asked.  "Just in case you are.... Ermmm... You know" he said, unable to meet her gaze.  She didn't understand at first and then when she did. Her silly heart sank.  "We are staying in the same apartment" she said. "Why would you be giving me your number?.... Ex