(ARIELLE’S POV.) I sat at the dining table, messing around with my laptop, trying to nail down an idea for a food blog. But so far, nothing was really clicking. I was just staring at the screen, at some animated chef holding a tray of pasta. The smile on his face felt almost ironic, given where my
“Ok so now this one is J, and this one is D.” she acted like a real teacher. “J hurt you deeply in the past, and you can’t forgive him.” “I can.” I murmured. “Hey listening!” I sighed. “And here’s D, pursuing you. He suddenly revealed his shocking identity and confessed his feelings.” she pa
(Arielle’s POV) After exchanging cheesy lines, we both grew shy, embarrassed by our emotional outburst. Then Ashley, ever the opportunist, brightened up. “I’ve got the perfect therapy for today’s drama—a movie night!” she declared, practically glowing. “I can’t Ash. I’ve got to finish this thing I
“Priceless,” I finished, grinning. “From that moment, I knew you were impossible—and super interesting,” she said with a fond smile. I smiled back. Was it amazing how far we’d come? After that day, she’d skip class to try my wild kitchen experiments, and I’d save her food whenever she got kicked o
(ARIELLE’S POV) I froze, locking on the figure heading toward us. It was Dwayne, looking effortlessly sharp in casual black that showed off his lean, athletic build. In his hand was a leash attached to a big German shepherd, the dog pacing beside him. Dwayne wore a huge, carefree smile, like not
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He chuckled softly, his gaze steady. "I told you why I came back, Ari. Jared doesn’t get to walk away so easily. I hope you can understand that." I narrowed my eyes. "I don’t care about your drama with Jared. Just make sure it doesn’t mess with my life—or Maverick
(ARIELLE'S POV) I felt my face heat up. Before Dwayne could notice, I quickly said, louder than necessary, "Okay, so much for this. I really need to go, or Maverick and I will be late." I stepped forward, ready to make my escape. Dwayne nodded, as calm as ever. "Of course." I nodded back and st
"Are you going to talk to Mom about...you know?" Maverick asked, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. I stopped myself from playfully rolling my eyes. Children are indeed innocent; what was the point of whispering when we could all hear him? Dwayne chuckled, playing along by lowering h
The possibility of getting to cook again filled me with strength. “Let’s make a stop at a grocery shop,” I said to Ashley. “Of course. We’d also pick up something for you to eat as well. You haven’t..” “No!” I said more sharply than intended. “Please. I’ll eat when I’m done cooking,” I maintained
(ARIELLE’S POV.) It felt like stepping out of a dream. A long one. The world was a blur around me, full of bright colors swirling into each other in a dizzying dance in the corners of my eyes. Slowly, my vision settled and the colors faded into the fluorescent bulb hanging down from the ceiling. I
(JARED’S POV) The next day, I pulled out of the hotel's driveway, Arielle and Ashley chatting away in the backseat. The atmosphere was lively, with Arielle's infectious laughter and Ashley’s bright smile. I was glad to see Arielle so carefree, even on a day like today. Ashley's presence was a bless
“Okay, how about… the bartender from that rooftop dinner we went to?” “Arielle!” Ashley exclaimed, feigning offense. “Seriously? A random bartender?” I shrugged. “Hey, you never know. Besides, you said it yourself that he was your type.” She rolled her eyes and didn't say a word. I continued the
(ARIELLE’S POV) I halted, my mind going blank. Pregnant? Ashley? It felt unbelievable. The Ashley I know would never let a man knock her up without marriage, she was that uptight. My eyes darted from her beaming face to the hand she was now placing on her stomach. “Pregnant?” The word escaped my l
(ARIELLE'S POV) “Surprise!” She exclaimed, her face beaming with smiles as she stepped fully into the room, pulling a small suitcase behind her. My jaw dropped, and my eyes widened. She looked tired from her trip, but her radiant smile masked it well. “Ashley, what are you doing here?” I asked, st
(ARIELLE'S POV) Back in my room at the hotel, I sat in front of my phone that was placed on the bed’s dashboard, waiting for my mom to answer the phone. Excitement coursed through my system like an unending river, and I couldn't wait to share the good news with my loved ones, my mom topping the cha
“I won’t be long in the shower,” he promised as he dashed into the bathroom. I picked up my phone and found a couple of missed calls from Michael Langley. A little frown crossed my face until I realized he might’ve worried after checking on me at my suite. I didn’t owe him any explanations of cours
(ARIELLE’S POV) I was awake—eyes closed, but very much aware of my surroundings. I could feel the gentle early morning breeze dance over my skin as it traveled across the room. The warmth of Jared’s skin against mine, his spring arms wrapped around me like a second blanket, brought back very vivid