“Ari, is that not what happened? Was there,” he hesitated, “was there something going on between you and Cole?” His whole heart was in that question. I closed my eyes, I had done enough. I turned back to him.
“Of course not, I’m just ashamed of how I acted, I’m so sorry Con.” The tears fell unbidden, Connor had me in a tight hug in minutes with assurances that it was ok he understood. I wish I did. If I ever saw their father again, I wouldn’t be responsible for what I said to him.
I pulled away from him. “So?” I wiped my eyes, “Since this is already awkward. You may as well tell me about Corey.”
Connor gulped and stepped away from me, he rubbed the back of his neck. It was quite funny to watch him squirm for a little bit.
“You have to understand Ari, you left. I mean, hell you’d already finished us before you and Colton...whatever, so I went with Theo to Cali for a while and we blew off steam. Ricky joined us.” His grin was only partly sheepish, I can only imagine the damage the three of them did in California. Connor grinned at me even more when he saw me sigh with amusement.
“I’m very, very pleased I do not have to hear the detail of these stories.” I laughed.
“Corey was in Santa Barbara when we were there, and we hit it off, she told me she was coming here for school. At the time we were all planning to be at Berkley. We exchanged numbers and then Colton sent Matt to come and get us. You know, Marshall Matt.” He rolled his eyes. I giggled. “When we got back Cole told us he was moving schools to come to CU, because dad needs to focus on the Denver office. We made arrangements to move too. Just so happened it was the same school as Corey. I texted her and that was that.” His shrug was almost apologetic. He was nervous again, I can imagine why. I mean seriously if I thought about it, he kinda moved on pretty quick. However, it suited me that he found someone else and she seemed nice, plus she was gorgeous. What guy wouldn’t have fallen for her?
“I’m pleased you found someone Con, I hope it all works out for you.”
“Really Ari? I mean you’re definitely ok with this?” I walked over to him and took his hand.
“Connor, I think the time apart made me realise even more that whatever our relationship had been, we are really just better being friends. I mean I will always love you. You’re my first kiss after all, but you and me as a couple – I think we tried and it worked for a while, but it had ran its course. I just didn’t realise how much until we were apart. Know what I mean?” I looked into his eyes hoping for a positive reaction. I was most definitely not comparing his light eye colour to anyone else in his families. No sir. Not me. Definitely not.
Connor squeezed my hand. He looked away, a slightly bitter smile on his face. “Yeah, Theo and I talked it out. He said the reason I was being such an idiot was because I knew, deep down that we’d come to the end. He said I was holding on too tight rather than accepting it was time to let you go.”
“Theo said that?” High five to Theo, it took me months to figure that out, I thought ruefully – maybe I needed to talk to Theo too.
“Yeah,” Connor continued, “Apparently they all knew. Only one that didn’t get the memo was me.”
“Hey, I didn’t know really either – don’t beat yourself up...or anyone else!” I sneaked a peek at him and he laughed.
“Still Cole shouldn’t have taken advantage of you, even if you were offering it,” he looked away, jaw tense. I had no words of defence for either of our actions, thankfully I didn’t have to answer.
Just then his phone buzzed and he dug it out of his pocket. His smile faded somewhat as he looked at it. “It’s Cole. I’m supposed to be meeting him later and he’s checking up on me.” His grin was contagious as he rolled his eyes. “Typical Cole, never trusts the little brother to be on time.”
“That’s because you are always late!” I exclaimed as I watched him. Connor looked at me and laughed again.
“Yeah yeah says little miss punctual! Right I gotta go, see my bro. So, are we good Lil Bit?” The uncertainty was back, the vulnerability that he always tried to hide from others.
Were we? I mean he had moved on. He had someone else, he looked happy. I nodded, we could be friends. I realised I really wanted to be friends, Theo and Matt were so amazing coming back into my life and I realised then that I needed Connor too. I was greedy really. I’d walked away from them, but I knew I wouldn’t manage to walk away again.
“We’re good Connor. I hope we can be friends?” Now it was my time to be uncertain. His smile was wicked.
“Best friends, no one knows me better, not even Cole.” We walked to the front door and he pulled me into a hug again. “I have to tell him though Ari, he can’t be kept in the dark about this.” Connor must have felt me stiffen. “I know I said I wouldn’t, but it’ll be fine. I’ll explain it all to him. He’s a good guy, he’ll understand.”
“Connor, I really...”
“Shhhh,” he cut me off. “Trust me, he’s my brother and I know him. It’ll be fine. Just try not to jump him again ok!” I swatted at him for his cheek, but he laughed and ducked and was out the door. When he was out of reach, he turned back.
“Please Ari? It’s Colton.”
Yes. It was Colton. I felt the breath I had been holding leave me as I sighed with resignation. I nodded once. Connor darted forward, kissed my cheek and then was off down the stairs yelling he’d see me soon. I closed the door and leaned against it.
Well, shit was about to get real interesting.
I spent the rest of the day on my balcony, enjoying the late autumn sunshine for a change and getting hungrier and hungrier but I was just so relaxed. When my stomach rumbled so loudly it made me jump, I decided I better make some food.
I had been glancing at my phone every ten minutes after Connor left. Then when I decided that was ridiculous, I had then put the phone in the drawer in my bedroom. That had lasted thirty minutes before I was fishing it out again. Now I was trying to convince myself that all was well. Whilst I was getting my food out of the oven, there was a knock at my front door. I yelped out in mixed terror and trepidation. My feet were slow as I walked to the door, I opened it slowly and almost fainted with relief when I saw Theo.
“Hey Lil Bit, need to crash,” he said as he walked in and headed to the living room. Say what now? I followed Theo into my living room to find him already stretched out on my couch.
“What’s going on?” I asked nervously.
“Colton’s got me running all over the place. Just saw Con a little while ago, he told me on the quiet what was about to go down. They’re heading out to some thing for their dad tonight. I am not waiting for the rest of the night for that conversation. I filled in Matt and then I bailed.” His arm was over his eyes as he spoke, then he raised it and peered at me. “Is that lasagne I smell?”
“Yes, I just took it out of the oven.” I replied absently. Holy crap balls, even Theo had bailed rather than be there for that conversation. This was going to be so bad.
“Ari!” Theo snapped at me. I jerked in response; he rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Gee girl calm down, head on Ari, aren’t you going to have some and maybe me too?” He looked at me expectantly.
“Some what?”
“Lasagne!” Theo was sitting up now. Right, dinner, I had been famished. Ok, now I really wasn’t hungry. In fact, I may never eat again.
Theo was already on his way to my kitchen. I hurried after him, he’d probably start eating it from the dish. Once I shoved him out of the way, we both went back to the couch with a plate each, albeit his was decidedly more than mine. God but he could eat.
I nibbled at the pasta on my fork as Theo switched the TV on and looked like he was settling in for the night. This was confirmed when his shoes were kicked off and his long legs stretched out in front of him.
“Comfy?” I asked.
“I will be Lil Bit when I’m out of these clothes and tucked up in your bed.” Snorting lasagne is not the way to die, I can attest to this wholeheartedly. A
s I choked and spluttered and was almost in need of CPR, I noticed Theo decked flat out on the couch howling with laughter. I gulped down lots of my water, then I wiped my eyes.
“Jesus Ari, your face was an absolute picture. I didn’t mean your bed Lil Bit. I meant the bed in the spare room! Jesus, I ain’t ever going to be in your bed, trust me.”
Oh the spare room, ok, I could live with that. Wait, what?
“Why wouldn’t you be in my bed? What’s wrong with me?” Hang on, where’d that come from?
Theo stopped laughing abruptly, “Like you don’t know.” He mumbled to himself. “Just drop it Ari. Hey look, can I stay here tonight or not?” He forked more lasagne into his mouth.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why?”
“I told you why.”
“Where’s Matty?”
Theo snorted. “Matt’s all about facing his fears, he’ll wait for the fallout at home.” Yeah, Matt wouldn’t run. Theo looked at me. He sighed. He rolled his eyes.
“Please Lil Bit, I promise I won’t be in the way.” I rolled my eyes this time. Never going to happen, the man had already taken over half my living space.
“Fine.” He winked at me then carried on with his dinner. Men!
We had just put on a movie after having finished with the dishes and Theo having flicked through the channels so many times, I had made him relinquish control of the remote. The movie was some silly action film, the good ones where you don’t need to be concentrating to follow the plot. Theo was sprawled over the couch and his eyes had gradually slipped closed. Considering his feet were hanging off the edge of the couch, I thought it may be better to wake him and send him to bed. I don’t know what Cole had him doing, but the guy was obviously beat. It wasn’t even seven in the evening.
After much grumbling and stumbling, I got him situated in the spare room and closed the door behind me. Not half an hour later, the door went again. I opened it to find Matt on the other side looking grim.
“Hey.” I held the door open for him to come in. He looked tired too, his face was drawn and there were bags under his eyes.
“Hey.” He replied as he walked past me. He automatically went to the spare room, opened the door a crack, checked on Theo and closed the door.
“How long has he been here?”
“A few hours. What’s up?” I sat down on the couch and looked up at Matt; I didn’t like the look he was giving me.
“Connor told Colton.”
I nodded.
“Bad?” I asked. I’m not sure I wanted to know.
Matt let out a small laugh. He shook his head and plopped down on the couch beside me. “No. Colton already knew.”
“How?”
“Who knows, he’s Cole. I don’t know how he knows half the shit he knows to be honest Bit. He’s really disappointed in me; I’m not supposed to keep things from him.” Matt ran his hands over his hair and slumped forward.
“It’s my fault. You did it because I asked you too. I’ll go to him and explain. I’m sorry Matt.” I rubbed his arm. Oh God, how was I going to face him when I asked his friends to keep me a secret? This was going to be so bad.
“You don’t need to Bit. He said it was fine. He’s known you were here for a while I think. He isn’t going to stop us being friends. I think he was actually pleased Con told him, so he could stop pretending. Apparently, we were a tad transparent in our subterfuge.” Matt leaned back into the couch.
“So, if he is ok, then why do you look like crap?”
Matt laughed at me, “Just tired hun. Theo has something to do tonight, but I’ll let him rest. I’ll go in his place. I’ll clear it first. Do you mind if I phone him from the kitchen?” Matt was on his feet looking down at me.
I nodded and he went into the kitchen to make the call to Colton. What did he mean he had known for a while? How long was a while? I have to admit a little part of me was disappointed that he knew and hadn’t come to see me. Maybe he believed what he told Connor, maybe he thought I jumped him too. God that would be embarrassing. Oh my God, did I? I don’t remember, then I saw his eyes blazing at me, yeah he totally made the move. I was innocent. Ok I wasn’t innocent – but for making the first move, I was in the clear at least.
Matt came back. He smiled, he looked beat. What the hell were they doing that they were all so tired?
“All’s well. I don’t need to be gone for another two hours, Ari I hate to ask…”
“Sleep in my room, I’ll wake you in plenty of time.”
I was pulled off the couch and wrapped into Matt’s arms. “Thank you Bit, I’ll talk more later ok?”
I had to laugh, there I was on a Friday night, sitting on my couch waiting to wake one of my best friends up for who knows what reason to go run errands for Colton Dawson. The more I thought about it the more annoyed I became. I tried to do some homework but even for me, sitting doing homework at eight o’clock on a Friday night was depressing. I couldn’t focus because I was too consumed with what Colton had the guys involved in.
When the time came to wake Matt, I was a woman with a mission.
“Hey Matty, it’s Elle, time to wake up.” I shook his shoulder gently and he was awake instantly. I took a step back and smiled at him. “Made you a coffee in case you needed a boost.”
He nodded in acknowledgment and got up off the bed. I went in to the kitchen to wait whilst he went to the bathroom to freshen up. It wasn’t until he came back that he realised what I was wearing.
I stood as tall as possible as his eyes ran me over, taking in my skinny black jeans, black tank and black leather jacket. I had on a low-heeled boot which gave me no extra height but I felt my nerves take over as he just stared at me, hard.
“What’s going on?” He asked, he took a sip of coffee, but he looked me up and down again.
“I’m going with you.” I was so pleased my voice didn’t shake.
“No.”
“Yes!”
“I said no Ari.”
“I said yes Matt.”
Stare off. I started to count to ten.
“You don’t even know where I am going.”
“You can tell me on the way.”
“No.”
“I’m bored now.” I sighed. “You’ve got on jeans, your dark ones, and a white t-shirt. The ones that show off your muscles to their best advantage. Wherever you’re going I’m thinking bar. These are your manwhore clothes.”
Matt barked out a laugh. “Then why would I take you? You’ll cramp my style.”
My eyes narrowed and I took a step forward. “Because Colton wouldn’t send you out to meet a woman. Something else is going on and Theo’s out cold, so you need someone. Therefore, I am going.”
Matt went to speak and I help up my hand.
“Yes Matt. I am going.” I folded my arms and held his stare.
“Fuck me. He’s going to kill me.”
“Of course he won’t,” I said as I walked to my room to the dresser to get my wallet, “We won’t tell him.”
I couldn’t help smiling a little as I heard Matt swear more under his breath.
I checked on Theo as I left, propped a note for him onto my study desk, saying I went out for a while. Matt added a scrawl at the bottom saying he was covering for him and that I was with him and not to tell Colton. I added another line to tell him he was ok to stay for the night if he wanted.
We headed out and Matt headed to an SUV that looked like it belonged in an FBI movie. Blacked out windows, high shine, black with grilles on the bumper and rear. He clicked it open and I climbed inside. I looked at Matt and he grinned at me and started the engine.
We drove out of town and headed north. I fidgeted. Matt started to laugh. Then the phone rang. The call was coming through the console, so Matt saw who it was and groaned. Colton’s name was flashing on the screen.
“Cole.” Matt answered.
“Matt.” I felt my heart shiver. God why did he have to sound like that? I looked out the window, hoping Matt hadn’t
noticed my reaction. “Where’s Theo, I just looked in the house, he isn’t back yet?”
“He’s at a friend’s, found a place to crash. He’s beat, I told you I was ok for this tonight.” Matt was straight to the point.
“Is Arielle the friend?” He said it cold. Detached. I looked at Matt anxiously.
“Yes.” Matt bit out. I rolled my eyes.
“And he’ll be there all night?” This time there was more edge to the question. Colton Dawson was hard. Always had been, wasn’t likely to change.
“I dunno Cole, he’s sleeping. It’s likely that she will let him stay there.” Matt looked at me and shrugged.
“Of course she would. That’s her style isn’t it.” Colton snorted. I gasped, he sounded so bitter. Matt looked at me frantically. I hadn’t been that loud had I?
“Matt, I think you better tell me who is in the car with you?” Colton’s voice was like ice. Matt hung his head as he pulled off the road.
“I can explain, wait a minute.” Matt turned the engine off killing the speaker conversation. He put the phone to his ear and got out of the car. I wanted to follow but thought I better stay in the car and out of the firing line. After a few minutes, Matt got back in the car.
“You ok?”
“Yeah, hold tight.” He said as he started the engine, did a U-turn and then headed back to the city.
“I thought...” I trailed off.
Matt didn’t look at me as he said, “Colton said tonight’s off, I don’t need to go.” A small smile and then he turned the radio up so there was no chance of talking.
We got back to my apartment. Matt jumped out and followed me in. He went in and woke Theo, a few minutes later they both came out. Two half-hearted hugs later and I was alone.
What the hell just happened?
I didn’t see either Matt or Theo for a few days. I got a couple of texts from both to which I replied but I didn’t push. I kept my head low and myself to myself. I found that I was looking over my shoulder a few times, scared I was suddenly going to walk into Colton. Deep down, I knew better. Cole wasn’t the kind of guy to wait outside class. He planned everything to perfection. I would see Colton when he was ready to see me.
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