8. Ariel Cambridge
Chapter eight
Ariel Cambridge
“You told him you have a boyfriend ?” Sutton asks. I watch her brows raise on my phone screen. We used to paint our nails together when we were roommates, now we video call whenever we can to keep up the tradition. We even bought phone stands so we can be hands free.
“Yes,” I groan. “It just came out. He was standing there with his stupid smirk and his I’m better than you attitude, and I just had to say something.”
“And you decided to go the fake boyfriend route.”
I swipe pale pink nail polish on my pinky.
“Maybe it won’t be fake,” I mumble. “I have a month. That’s long enough to get a boyfriend.”
“Ariel,” Sutton says. I see her skeptical look and ignore it in favor of staring at my cuticles.
“What? It’s possible .”
“I’m not saying it isn’t, but I don’t think adding pressure to your dating life is a good idea.”
I frown. “I don’t like when you say logical things. Can you just be delusional with me? Tell me I’ll find my husband next week and Houston will have to eat his smarmy words.”
“A Wyatt Parker look-alike is going to come searching for a farmhouse and fall in love with you in the process, then punch Houston in the face,” Sutton deadpans while swiping black paint on her thumb.
A sigh escapes me. “I will indeed dream about that tonight, thank you.”
“Happy to be of service.” Sutton smirks. “Now, are we going to keep living in a state of delusion, or do we want to talk about the predicament you’re in?”
“How about you tell me about your week instead?” I suggest.
She shoots me a look, but obliges. I know I’ll have to eventually face the consequences of my lie, but I have a month.
One day of denial won’t hurt. Sutton starts to tell me about how training for the upcoming hockey season is going.
She’s a physical therapist for the Alabama Rockets, the same team her now husband plays for.
A text comes through while Sutton tells me how the rookies all idolize Shaw. She pretends to be annoyed about it boosting his ego, but it’s clear she’s proud of him.
Brock: Made it five minutes today. Granted, it was because I was fighting for my life during plane turbulence, but I say it still counts.
I let out a huff of a laugh and reach for my phone to respond. My typing is slow so that I don’t get nail polish on the screen.
Ariel: I’m the judge of what counts, remember?
Brock: And your verdict?
Ariel: Doesn’t count. Has to be intentional.
Brock: You’re hard to please, Duke.
I shake my head, a smile playing on my lips.
Ariel: If you think a woman who lays out specific directions is hard to please, then I’m glad you don’t have time for a relationship.
Brock: Trust me, if we were dating, you’d have no complaints.
“Hello? Ariel?” Sutton’s voice makes me drop my phone on my bed. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry, sorry,” I say as I pick the device back up. “I was reading a message from work.”
“Now you sound like my brother.” Sutton laughs, but it’s not her usual bright laugh. My stomach sinks.
“How’s he doing?”
“Fine, I guess. He’s texted me more since you went to see him. I just can’t shake this feeling that something is wrong. He’s my twin, you know? We should talk more than a couple of stale texts a week.”
If a sinkhole could appear in my bedroom and swallow me up right now, that would be great.
“I’m sorry, S. Do you want me to go throw another garlic roll at him?”
“No, it’s okay. I’m probably being dramatic.”
I’m an awful friend.
“Do you want to look through dating profiles with me?” I ask as a way to change the subject. If we stay here any longer, I’m going to spill everything. “You can help me find my date for the event.”
Sutton perks up. “That sounds fun!”
I exit out of my chat with Brock and open up one of the dating apps, then screen share so Sutton can look with me. The app is fairly simplistic, with profile photos that have a heart or an ‘x’ at the bottom. You can scroll up to see some information about the person as well.
“Ew. Do not heart him.” Sutton cringes at the first guy that pops up.
“We haven’t even gone through his profile yet,” I say with a laugh.
“I don’t need to. I can see everything I need to know.”
Admittedly, the guy looked a little…greasy? His hair and mustache seemed to have copious amounts of gel in them. At least I’m hoping it’s gel. He could just be the type to not bathe much.
We swipe through a few profiles. I don’t heart a single one. If I don’t have an objection, Sutton does. Nothing slips past her.
“Do you have another app? This selection is awful,” Sutton says with a scrunched-up nose.
“I have about five other apps.” I sigh. “But I think I might be getting burnt out. It’s always the same kinds of guys. Even ones with good profiles don’t work out.”
“What if you’re meant to meet your husband the old-fashioned way? Reach for the same book in the library, or lose your handkerchief and he picks it up off the ground for you.”
“I don’t go to the library or carry a handkerchief.”
“Maybe you should start there.”
I give her a flat look. She grins in return.
“Maybe I’m doomed to be alone forever. If I weren’t allergic to cats, I’d say I could become a cat lady.”
“You’re not going to be alone forever, Ari. If I found a husband to put up with all of my crazy, you will too.”
“Your husband was in love with you for like a decade before you got together. I don’t think I’ll be so lucky.”
“You never know! There could be a secret admirer pining after you right this second.”
“I’d hope he’d see I’m single and have some courage to ask me out.”
“It took Shaw a while.” She shoots a playful grin to the side. I’m sure Shaw is nearby. I don’t mind him listening in. He’s a good guy, and it’s not like my abysmal dating life is much of a secret.
“I had to get you to stop hating me before I could ask you to marry me,” Shaw says off camera.
“If you would have just told me your feelings from the start instead of beating up all my ex-boyfriends…” Sutton trails off. I laugh.
“You’re an intimidating woman, Love. You can’t blame me for being a nervous teenager.”
She blushes at his compliment. I smile even though a twinge of pain shoots through my chest. Sutton didn’t even want a relationship when she fell for Shaw. Meanwhile, I’m looking under every rock to find love and coming up short.
“Do you think guys would be intimidated by Ariel, too?” Sutton asks.
“You don’t have to ask him–” I cut off when Shaw starts to answer.
“Definitely. She’s a successful, confident business woman. Most guys these days are too insecure to stand next to someone like Ariel.”
My chest warms. “Thanks, Shaw.”
It doesn’t help my predicament, but it does make me feel better about myself. He could just be saying that because I’m Sutton’s best friend, but I’m choosing to believe he means it.
“He’s right,” Sutton says with an affirming nod. “You’re incredible . Don’t think that because these dates with boys haven’t worked out that you won’t find the man who will love you the way you deserve.”
Tears sting the back of my eyes. “Thanks, S. I’ll try to keep that in mind.”
“Good. Now, can you help me pick out a dress for the event I have next week? I can’t decide.”
A smile blooms on my face. I know she’s trying to cheer me up, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to work. I love putting together outfits, especially for events. I don’t think I’ll be finding my soulmate anytime soon, but at least I have a best friend who’s always here for me.