17. Ariel Cambridge
Chapter seventeen
Ariel Cambridge
The scent of acetone makes me wrinkle my nose as I soak a cotton pad with nail polish remover.
“I have exciting news,” Sutton says, her smile filling up my phone screen.
Lately we’ve waited longer in between nail polish chats, but after I set a date with Cohen for next weekend, I thought we could use one now. So I told Brock not to bother me and then locked myself in my room at the cabin.
“Me too!” I reply. “What’s yours?”
“We’re coming to visit this week,” she squeals.
My smile grows. “Seriously? I didn’t know if you’d be able to with preseason coming up.”
“We managed to squeeze a few days from the schedule. I miss you, and Shaw and I both want to check on Brock.”
My smile dims a touch. There’s that fun best friend guilt rearing its head.
If Brock wasn’t making progress, I’d tell her everything right now, but he’s taken time to cook with me, to sit in the hot tub, and earlier today, he went on the balcony for a few minutes without his phone.
It’s not much–and I had to abduct him to make it happen–but it’s enough to keep me quiet.
I don’t want to ruin things by breaking his trust.
“That sounds good. Have you told him you’re coming?” I focus on scrubbing the old polish off my nails.
“I called him earlier, but he didn’t answer, so I texted him. I’m sure he’ll text back later, saying he’s got a busy week but will try to get lunch with me.” I glance up and catch her rolling her eyes. “If he thinks I won’t come and disrupt his entire day, he’s mistaken.”
I laugh at her headstrong attitude. “I’m sure he’ll carve out time once you’re here.”
I’ll make sure of it.
“He’d better. We’re supposed to have family dinner–you’re invited, obviously–and if he doesn’t show up, I’m going to cause a scene.
I talked to Mom last week, and she was almost in tears over how little he comes by anymore.
He lives not even thirty minutes from them.
No one is so busy that they can’t see their parents. ”
I duck my head to hide a wince. If spending time with Brock has taught me anything, it’s that he is busy. It’s his choice, but still. Sutton seems to think he’s blowing the family off for other reasons, but Brock is drowning in work.
“Anyways, enough about my ridiculous brother,” Sutton says with a sigh. “Tell me about your cute doctor guy, since I’m assuming that’s what your news is about.”
I smile, happy to change the subject. Anything to distract me from the guilt that eats me up every time I think about it too long.
“We’re going on a date next weekend,” I tell her.
“Oooo, where to?” Sutton asks as she starts to swipe white nail polish on her thumb.
“We’re going out to dinner at Sakura.”
Sutton’s eyebrows lift in approval. “That’s a nice restaurant.”
I nod. “He suggested it, and said for our second date, we can go for a run and get breakfast after.”
“Already planning the second date, that’s bold.” She gives me a pointed look. “It’s clear he likes you, but how do you feel about him ?”
“I can’t say he’s the one . The dating scene has been too rough lately for me to be that optimistic, but…
” I bite my lip. “He’s sweet and funny, too.
He’s got a good job, of course, and takes care of his health.
He wants everything that I want for the future.
If this date goes well, I could see a future with someone like him. ”
“Do you have chemistry?”
I shrug. “Over text, yeah. I guess I’ll have to wait and see on the date. Not that I know what that feels like. All of my past dates have been duds.”
I’ve gotten butterflies at times and crushed on guys from a distance. But as soon as we go out, the feelings fade for one reason or another. Either he’s a jerk, or creepy, or not the same guy as he pretended to be online. Or, in the case of my last date, he didn’t show up at all.
“You’ll know when you feel it,” Sutton encourages. “It’s like time slows down, and every one of your nerve endings is electrified. You feel like you can’t breathe because you want to kiss them so bad.”
My mind flashes to that moment in the hot tub with Brock. I reach for the water bottle on my bedside table and take a drink to cool down. Was that chemistry? No, it couldn’t have been. It was just the mix of the atmosphere and proximity, and the amount of muscles Brock has–
“Ariel? You good?” Sutton asks with a laugh. “If you want to daydream about your future boyfriend, I can hang up.”
My face burns. If only she knew I was thinking about her brother.
“Sorry,” I squeak out. “I was just thinking about what I was going to wear.”
“Then think out loud so I know too,” Sutton playfully reprimands.
There will be no thinking out loud around Sutton anytime in the near future. My thoughts will be in a steel box surrounded by soundproof plexiglass. Nothing is getting out that she shouldn’t know.
I start rambling off a few outfit ideas, doing my best to stop analyzing every interaction with Brock lately. If I could burn the memories, I would. The last thing I need is to be thinking about my best friend’s brother while preparing for a date with another man.
“Why didn’t you answer your sister’s call?” I stare Brock down.
After getting off the phone with Sutton, I searched Pinterest for a dessert recipe, only to realize I was craving s’mores.
Since there’s a firepit on the balcony, all I need is to head to the little general store on the strip and get some supplies.
But first, I have to yell at Brock. It’s my duty as Sutton’s best friend.
Brock looks up at me from where he’s smushed into the circle chair. There’s going to be a permanent indent in the fabric from how much time he’s spent on it.
“I’m working,” he says like it’s obvious.
I glare at him. “You can make time for a short phone call.”
“Sutton doesn’t do short phone calls unless she’s busy or tired. She wouldn’t call me if either of those were the case. I’ll text her back in a little while.”
“You’ll text her back right now and tell her that you’re going to the family dinner at your parents’ house.”
His brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”
“If you checked your phone , you’d know. Shaw and Sutton are coming to Charlotte this week. There’s going to be a family dinner at your parents’ house on Wednesday. We’re both invited.”
“Great, just what I need, more time with you while dealing with my family.”
“Do you hear yourself?” I cross my arms. “You shouldn’t have to deal with your family. They’re amazing. They support you and love you even when you’re a jerk who never visits them.”
He scowls. “I visit them. My mom thinks anything less than a daily visit is something to despair over. Sutton lives in Alabama, so it’s not like I can fly out there at the drop of a hat.”
“You could, Mr. Multi-Millionaire, you just don’t want to.”
His hands push into his hair as he lets out a frustrated growl. “You waltz into my life and think that you know everything about me because we’ve spent a few days together. Well, you don’t.” He stands up and grabs his laptop. “I’m building a legacy. That requires sacrifice.”
“And what legacy is that? A man who spent so much time working that his family forgot what he looked like?”
“Stop it, Ariel. I’ve let you push me, but I’ve had enough.”
“I decide when it’s enough, remember? You’re going to that dinner. Or I’m going and telling your whole family everything.”
His jaw ticks. “ Fine . I’ll go, but I’m done talking about this stuff with you.”
“Fine.”
“I’m going to work in my room.”
“No need. I’m going to the store.”
I turn on my heel and head for the door.
I don’t ask him if he needs anything. If he does, he can figure out how to get it for himself.
Unbearable, stubborn, mule of a man. I snatch my purse and keys, then slam the door behind me.
Every time I think we’ve taken a step forward, it’s like he jogs a mile backward.
I don’t know how much longer I can do this.