Page 87 of Friend Zone to End Zone

But it wasn’t a bad hug, either.

I pulled away and tucked some hair behind my ear. “Good luck with your life, Chad.” I looked up at him, memorizing his face one more time. “I wish only good things for you and your future.”

“Thank you.” Chad nodded solemnly, and when he met my gaze this time, there was a finality in his expression that said he understood that this really was the last time we’d ever talk like this. “I hope you and Cole will be very happy together.”

“You do?” I asked, not quite sure I could believe that.

But he lifted his shoulders and said, “I think I always knew deep down that you and Cole would end up together.”

“Really?” I asked, not believing he was admitting that.

“It was obvious to anyone who saw you two together.” He sighed. “Did it irritate me to no end? Of course.” He shrugged. “But it is what it is, I guess.”

“I guess it is.”

He pressed his lips together, looking like he had something more to say. And after a moment, he met my gaze with solemn eyes and said, “I, um, I’m sorry for cheating on you.” He ran a hand through his hair, looking more uncomfortable than I’d ever seen him. “And I know it’s probably not much of a consolation, but I just want you to know that while I did kiss Amber on that trip, I left her room before things went farther. And I—“ He sighed and looked to the side like he was gathering his thoughts. “I just thought you should know that I really did care a lot about you even though I screwed up a lot.”

It took me a moment to find my voice, because I had not been prepared for his confession. But then I said, “Thanks for telling me that. I guess it’s good to know everything hadn’t been completely meaningless to you.”

He shook his head, and the sorrow in his eyes had me feeling more sorry for him than I ever expected to feel. “I obviously have a lot of things to work on still.”

We stood there for a few seconds longer, just taking one another in for a moment. And then with my hand on the doorknob, I said, “I really do wish you all the best in the future, Chad.” Unable to resist, I added, “And that someday you’ll find a woman who will steal your heart enough to make you want to graduate from relationship community college and head off to Yale.”

His eyes widened momentarily, like he wasn’t quite sure how to take it. But then his expression lit up a little and a half-smile formed on his lips. “So that’s going to be our little inside joke now?”

I shrugged and returned his smile, so he would know I was trying to end this on a playful note instead of a serious one. “What can I say? It’s a great metaphor.”

“You’re hilarious, Arianna.” He slipped his arm around my shoulder and gave me a quick squeeze. “Maybe we should have tried being friends a long time ago.”

“Maybe we should have.”

39

Cole

I was just drainingthe last of the water from my cup when Arianna and Chad walked back into the room.

I didn’t know exactly what I’d expected when they returned, but certainly not for them to be smiling and laughing with each other, or for him to have his arm around her shoulders when they stepped back into the great room.

What the heck had happened in there?

I knew I’d been slightly paranoid that Chad would somehow find a way to wiggle his way back into Arianna’s all-too-forgiving heart, but I hadn’t actually believed it would happen.

I should have gone in there with her. I should have laid everything on the line before she went back there instead of waiting until after the party.

Waiting until it was too late.

When Chad had first walked in the house, Arianna told me to make sure she didn’t go back to him. Had I completely failed? Was it really that easy for him to say a few sweet words and get her to forgive him for everything he’d done to her?

I blinked my eyes a few times, hoping that the scene ahead of me would change if I just looked at it a little differently.

But no, they were still walking side by side and smiling at each other like they had some sort of inside joke.

I tossed my plastic cup into the trash can nearby and blew out a long breath as I wondered whether I should just check out of the party now and head off to California early.

Because if Arianna was still going to choose Chad after everything we’d done the past twenty-four hours—after that kiss this morning—there really wasn’t anything else I could do to convince her to choose me.

Nothing short of getting on my knees and begging her to love me.

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