Page 23 of For Fox Sake

Did she say Ari?

I stare at Ryan, the name sinking into my consciousness, then look over at the small figure on my left, to her blue shoes kicking up and down, up and down.

Ari.

Not Aria. But damn, that’s really close. What if it’s short for Aria?

It might not be. It might mean nothing. There is this thing that I’ve experienced since my sister died, called frequency illusion. Her name is everywhere. From the lips of a woman talking to her daughter at the grocery store, to a character in a movie or book or TV show. When I was younger, I thought it was some kind of sign, like she was talking to me or sending me some kind of message. I know better now.

When something is on your mind, you’ll notice it more in your environment. It doesn’t mean it’s suddenly more common, it’s just that you’re more aware of it. Like when you really want a Porsche 911 GT3 RS and then you see them everywhere. It’s not that there are more Porsches driving about, it’s that your focus makes you notice them when you otherwise wouldn’t have.

But still.

The fact is, this woman who was exchanging letters with my father just happened to name her daughter something eerily similar to my twin. What are the odds? Then again, Ari could be short for Ariana or something.

Ari’s eyes widen. “He’s not a stranger. We talked to him at the store, and he’s our neighbor, and he has hot dogs on his PJs.”

“She’s not bothering me. It’s fine,” I manage to get out, my voice raspier than intended. I lift my coffee cup to my lips. It’s empty. I set it back down.

“So can you come to my party?” Ari asks.

Ryan speaks before I can so much as open my mouth. “He’s probably busy this weekend. It’s very last-minute.”

“I’m not busy at all. I’d love to be there. That is, if it’s okay with you?”

Chapter Seven

Ryan

Damn him and his politeness and his stupidly cute hot dog pajamas.

“Of course it’s okay.” I force brightness into my voice.

Great. Now I get to spend more time with the hot guy I verbally drowned with all my life’s greatest disasters.

“What time does it start?” Jake’s dark eyes lock with mine.

Heat fills my face. Why is he looking at me like that? Is there a screen on my forehead replaying every dirty thought I’ve had about him over the last week?

I can’t tell him he’s not invited. It would be rude, and Ari would be upset and ask why and I have no good reason other than the fact that I’m monumentally embarrassed.

Besides, there will be a lot of other people there. It’s not like I’ll have to talk to him the whole time. I will be busy running games and monitoring a gaggle of children.

He’ll probably show up for a second and leave. He’s new in town. He doesn’t know anyone.

“It starts at four.” To make it easier on the kids who still take afternoon naps. “Nothing fancy, some finger foods and cake and games and whatnot.”

His penetrating gaze finally moves away, landing on Ari, still sitting in the seat next to him. “What do you want for your birthday?”

I lift my hands. “Oh, you don’t have to?—”

But Ari cuts me off. “I want nail polish, an iPhone, a necklace, a puppy, new bedtime storybooks, three cookies, and new paints because mine got all dried out.”

“Three cookies?” He lifts a brow.

Ari nods emphatically.

I sigh. “I normally only let her have two.”

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