Page 23 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

Arden is in a mood tonight. He seems a little worse than usual, which is saying something. I decide to play nice—we’ve already established he has no memory of our conversations while he is here.

“What’s eating at you?” I ask as I slide my bar stool over to where he is sitting.

He looks up at me, his bright blue eyes fighting to focus. “Nothing.”

His answer is short and abrupt.

Is he angry at me for the pranks I’ve pulled this week? I knew he would be pissed about the bow ties, but honestly, I thought the bubbles in the pool would be the thing that set him off.

It didn’t.

He didn’t even react.

I grab my phone and shoot Ralphie a text. Yes, he is sitting in the booth across from the bar, but I can’t exactly march over to him while Arden is here.

Ella: Do you know what’s eating at him tonight?

I look up and Ralph makes eye contact, shaking his head.

Right. Guess I’m not getting any help from him tonight, but at least he acknowledged me.

“What’s going on, Arden?” I hold his gaze and make sure my voice is gentle. I don’t want to scare him off or cause him to shut down even further.

I can see the anguish in his eyes. He’s hurting. I just don’t know why.

“What happened?” I whisper.

He loses focus before sighing and slumping further into his bar stool. “It’s all my fault.”

It’s clear he’s broken, and whatever he’s blaming himself for has made him this way.

Arden

“You just had sex!” Ally squeaks from across the table.

I look up from my phone and watch my best friends make their way across the deck. Chase has his arm draped across Yasmin’s shoulders but lets her go at the last minute so she can sit next to Ally, and he grabs a chair near me.

“What? No,” Yasmin responds, but the blush creeping up her neck gives her away.

I can’t help but smirk.

Yep. Ally is right. They finally took the plunge.

“You can try and lie all you want, but I know.” Ally laughs as she takes a sip of her cocktail.

Yasmin’s blush deepens, which causes me to laugh along with Ally.

I turn to Chase. “Yasmin finally give it up?”

I’m joking, but Chase narrows his gaze at me. This sets Ally’s laugh off again, and even Rhys chuckles.

“I hate you all.” Yasmin takes a sip of her own drink that Chad places in front of her.

“No, you don’t. You love us. But it’s about time,” I reply, still in teasing mode.

I watch as her embarrassment disappears and in its place is the Yasmin we know and love.I feel bad. I haven’t been there for them like I should have been. I have no idea why everyone’s home this afternoon, but they pulled all their cards to get me here.

“I’ll have you know, Chase was the one who made me w—” I don’t even let her finish speaking.

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