Want Me (Mess with Me 4)

Suddenly she looks guilty. “About that. Yeah, I think he’s here to stay.”

“That’s great! I guess that means he won you over.”

“You could say that. I didn’t want to say anything since it technically means I broke our pact.”

I feel bad that Ariana felt like she couldn’t tell me about what’s going on in her life. Breaking up with Law wasn’t about a drunken pact at a wedding. It was about taking control of my life and figuring out what I ultimately want. The whole reason I’m doing all this is so I can feel good about where I’m heading and why. That includes the people I’m spending time with.

“The pact was about us getting what we want.” I take a seat at the counter next to her. “Is he the one you want?”

She shrugs but I can see how happy she is. Her whole face practically glows just at the thought of him.

“He’s taking me to meet his mom tonight.” She

takes another slurp of her soda.

My eyes land on the drink in her hand.

Ari chuckles. “Sorry. I’m kind of nervous. I’ve never done the whole meet the mom thing. Anyway, do you want one? I probably should have asked. I’m new to the hostess thing.”

“It’s fine. We’re just hanging out. I could do with some water though.” When she starts to get up, I wave her off. “I can get it.”

“Make yourself at home.”

When I open the fridge my eyes immediately go to a large sheet cake that is partially sticking out of a brown paper bag. Is that… a cake shaped like a pair of boobs?

“Are you having a party?” I point to the ribbon on the ceiling and then inside the fridge.

Ari jumps off her barstool. “Sorry. I forgot that was in there.”

She moves past me and pulls the brown paper bag over the cake. I decide not to ask. This is awkward enough.

Besides I’m not sure I really want to know what kind of weird party Ariana might be throwing.

When she turns around, she regards me for a long moment.

“There are some things I want to tell you. But not now. I’m really enjoying hanging out with you and not having to think about anything other than fun stuff. If I talk about certain things, then it makes it real. Does that make sense?”

My throat tightens because I have a sudden idea what the boob cake is about. As my eyes meet hers, I suck back the emotional response. We may not know each other that well, but these past few weeks it’s been a lifesaver to talk to someone who isn’t also friends with Law.

I can completely understand wanting someone to talk to who doesn’t know your baggage.

“No worries. I get it.”

Over the next two hours, Ari not only loans me a dress (after declaring my choice tragic) but does my makeup, including a bold winged liner that makes me look fierce as hell. While I’m doing my best to style my limp hair, my phone chimes.

She puts out her hand. “It’s probably your date. Let me answer him.”

When I hesitate, she chuckles.

“I’m going to suggest a place for you to meet. This new club called Spectrum is amazing and I know one of the bouncers. When his wife went into labor early, their daughter was in the NICU for almost a month. He’s a good guy and he’ll keep an eye on things.”

Ari is a nurse and used to work in the neonatal unit. She started working in the Emergency department after some tough cases. I can’t imagine having premature babies under my care every day so I understood the switch.

I unlock my phone and hand it to her. She types while I swipe a little more gel through the top of my hair. If it frizzes with all this product in it then it’s a lost cause anyway.

“Okay, you’re all set. Also I accepted a coffee date with another guy for tomorrow morning. You’re welcome.”

My eyes widen. “Just throw me in the deep end, huh?”