Page 10 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

I hate that I’ve been avoiding them all. It’s not intentional.

Okay, it’s kind of intentional; I don’t want to see their sympathy.

I deserve to suffer alone at the moment.

It’s Yasmin that replies first.

Yasmin: You mean Ella? She’s not crazy.

Arden: How do you know she isn’t crazy?

Yasmin: I let her in. And I know she isn’t crazy.

Arden: Why the hell would you let her in?

I honestly have no idea what’s going on around here. We have strict rules when it comes to letting people in. Especially after last year’s stalker problem.

Chase: Arden.

Shit. I don’t even need to see him to know I’ve pissed off my best friend. I re-read my message to Yasmin . . . damn it. I was rude without meaning to.

Arden: Sorry Shorty.

She replies quickly.

Yasmin: You can make it up to me by joining us for breakfast.

Well played, Yasmin. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for any of them, but especially her. She’s not used to having a family that cares, and she deserves all the love and kindness.

I drag my fingers through my hair, straighten my bow tie, and make my way out of the room, heading down to face the firing line made up of my best friends.

“Look who the cat dragged in,” Rhys drawls the moment I enter the kitchen. He takes a seat at the end of the table, and I shoot daggers at him until Yasmin distracts me by putting a coffee in front of me.

I grab her arm before she can walk away and pull her in for a hug.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. She doesn’t say anything, just rubs my shoulders and lets me hold her. I love this girl so fucking much. If she wasn’t destined to be with Chase, I would’ve snapped her up. She stormed into our lives like she was always supposed to be with us.

I release her, but she doesn’t go far, sitting down in the empty chair next to me. I like that she doesn’t push. If I’m being honest, Yasmin would be the first person I’d confide in about what I’m dealing with mentally. I have a feeling she already knows, though. She’s not pushing. None of them are. But they won’t stay away for long.

Knowing my friends like I do, they’ll have something planned. I just don’t think I can fully explain this to anyone, and I don’t deserve their forgiveness.

Chase walks over and places a glass of orange juice in front of Yasmin while dropping a quick kiss on the top of her head.

“You need to drink that,” he says, taking the seat beside her. As he speaks, my phone vibrates in my pocket, along with everyone else’s.

I know what that means. I pull it out, swipe the screen to open the notification, then glare at Yasmin.

“When was the last time you ate?” Her sensor just notified us all that she is hypo.

She looks away from me. “Lunch time yesterday,” she mumbles, tentatively taking a sip of her juice. Wait, what? She can’t be going over eighteen hours without food. Yasmin’s condition is a little different; she gets hypos a lot and needs to eat regularly to prevent them.

“What do you mean, lunch time yesterday?” I growl at her, then glare at Chase. He’s supposed to be making sure she doesn’t fall into old habits.

“Hey, don’t look at me.Youwere supposed to be hanging out with her yesterday. I had to go home to see mum, remember? I only just got home.” Chase glares back at me and pulls Yasmin into his side.

Fuck.

I forgot.

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