Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Sinclair
“This is a beautiful apartment.” Arietta Voss, one of my closest friends, spins in a circle in the main living room. “I guess, technically, it’s a penthouse, right?”
“Right,” I affirm with a nod of my head. “It’s big.”
“Very.” She sighs, her gray eyes searching mine. “How are you doing?”
The concern in her tone comes from a genuine place. Arietta was my roommate before she moved in with her fiancé, Dominick Calvetti. He’s one of the many grandchildren of the woman who runs the Italian restaurant that makes the best pasta in New York City.
I was lucky enough to witness Arietta and Dominick’s love story as it unfolded. It made me long for a love just like they have, although I’m beginning to doubt whether every single person on this earth is destined for a happy ending.
“I’m all right,” I tell her honestly. “I’d much rather be at my apartment, but I have to stay here for the next twenty nine days.”
“That’s not long,” she says with a smile. “I know it probably feels like an eternity right now.”
Arietta only knows bits and pieces of my history with Jameson.
She asked about him after flipping through my senior yearbook when she visited me a couple of months ago.
She spotted a photo of the two of us wearing our caps and gowns at graduation.
She wanted to know what our story was, but I explained that we were best friends and nothing more.
I told her the truth when she asked why she had never met him.
I said we had an argument that tore our friendship apart.
She let it go after that because we sat down to eat.
She came over with a pizza that night, but I knew her true motivation was seeing Dudley. She has her own Yorkie now, but Duds still holds a special place in her heart.
That’s obvious since she’s cradling him in her arms. He’s happily chewing on the end of the red ribbon tied in a bow at the neckline of Arietta’s blue dress.
“It does feel that way,” I whisper. “I’m going to try and take it one day at a time.”
She bows her head to plant a kiss on Dudley’s nose. “That’s all you can do. Although…”
“Although?” I question since her voice trailed into silence. “Although what?”
“Although I have two ears, and I am a great listener.” She smiles, her eyes shining brightly behind her dark-rimmed glasses. “If you need to vent about the argument you had with Jameson, I have time to stick around.”
“You’re a great friend,” I say. “You’re one of the best friends I’ve ever had, but it’s not worth talking about.”
“You’re sure?” she asks.
“Very sure.” I manage a small smile. “I’m glad you came over.”
“Me too.” She sets Dudley down at her feet. “Did you eat dinner yet?”
My stomach has been grumbling a reminder to do just that for the past hour. The last time I ate was this morning when I polished off the cold spaghetti. “Not yet.”
“Let’s go out and grab something,” she suggests, tucking a strand of her blonde hair back into the messy bun at the base of her neck. “My treat.”
“Don’t you need to get home to your handsome fiancé?” I wiggle my brows. “Isn’t he waiting for you?”
She lets out a soft sigh. “He’s working late. He’ll eat when he gets home.”
“You?” I laugh because talking about sex with Arietta always brings a blush to her cheeks.
It works its magic this time, just as it always does.
She runs her fingers over her reddened cheek. “He did that this morning.”
Surprised that she confessed that, I can’t hold in a giggle. “Seriously?”
Her head bobs up and down. “He’s kind of insatiable, Sinclair. I kind of love it.”
“You kind of love him.”
“I really love him,” she corrects me as her gaze falls to the engagement ring on her left hand. “I can’t wait to marry him.”
Between Berk’s upcoming nuptials and Arietta’s, I’m surrounded by soul mates.
She gives her head a little shake. “Enough about me. Let’s get some dinner. I’m starving.”
I glance down at the jeans and red blouse I’m wearing. “Will this do?”
“You look beautiful.” She smiles. “Grab your keys. Maybe your roommate will be home when you get back, and you two can work out your issues.”
If only it were that simple.
I keep that thought to myself and grin. “I needed this, Arietta. You can stop by whenever you want.”
She shoulders the strap of her oversized purse. “I’ll hold you to that. You know I love seeing you and…”
“Dudley,” I finish her sentence.
“I do love seeing Dudley too.” She smiles. “I was going to say that I love seeing you and can’t wait to meet Jameson Sheppard. I know there’s more to that story than you’re telling me.”
I don’t respond to that. Instead, I smile as I point at the door. “Let’s go to dinner. I’m in the mood for a steak and a glass of wine.”