Page 29 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

Her voice is quiet, for my ears only, and I’ll admit it does things to me.

“Yep,” I say, more for my benefit than hers. “Ralph, let’s go.”

As I make my way towards the door, I hear her soft footsteps following me. “What are you doing?” I ask over my shoulder. My tone is more gruff than I intended, but at this point I just need to get out of here and be alone with my thoughts.

“I’m coming with you.” She pulls her shoulders back and barges past me, making her way through my house as if it’s her own—fuck if that doesn’t kind of turn me on. She marches out the front door, her message clear as day. This isn’t up for discussion.

Ralph falls into step beside me and grabs my bag from inside the front door on the way out. Martha must have been in on their plan if it's already packed and ready to go. He stops me before we get to the SUV parked in the drive. “Don’t take this out on her. It was my idea, but when you remember, I think you’ll be on board with my reasons.”

He levels me with his intense stare. Ralph has been there for me since day one. Yeah, I was a little shit as a kid and he put up with a lot, but he’s been the one constant in my life for as long as I remember. Which is what makes this hurt so much. I trusted him with everything, and he goes behind my back and marries me off to a girl I don’t even know.

“I don’t think there’s anything that will make me believe that,” I respond. I’m distant, and he can see it.

“Iknowyou. This is what you would have done if you were the same Arden from six months ago.”

“What if that Arden is gone forever?” I ask before I even think about what I’m saying.

Is that what scares me? That the Arden everyone knows and loves might be gone forever?

“You’re still in there. I just think the new version of you will be even better than the old version. You can be mad at me, Arden, but talk to her. You have no issue talking to her when you’re drunk. I suggest trying while you are sober.”

He moves to open my door, and I can see Ella already sitting in the back seat. She’s looking out the window, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Ralph doesn’t say anything else, and his last statement replays in my head.

What the hell does that even mean?

I don’t remember ever talking to her when I was drunk.

Granted, I remember little from most nights, but I’m positive I’d remember if I spoke to her.

I slip into the car and buckle up, completely consumed by my thoughts. Ralph opens and closes the boot, no doubt putting my bags away, but it’s Martha opening Ella’s door that pulls me out of my head.

“Here you go, Ella,” she says, passing her a heat pack, and Ella offers her a small smile.

“Thank you,” she murmurs as she kicks off her slippers and curls her feet underneath her, placing the heat pack on her stomach. She rests her head on the now closed door and sags back in her seat.

“What’s wrong?” I ask before thinking. Again. Maybe there is still a part of the old me in there.

“Nothing, it’s fine.” I can hear the pain in her voice, although she’s trying to mask it.

The car starts down the driveway, and Ralph puts up the privacy screen.

I guess he wants us to talk. His words still linger in the back of my mind, and I take a moment to decide my next move.

I don’t buy for one second that she is fine.

“Do you need to go to the hospital?” I soften my voice and stare at her like a creep, waiting for her to finally make eye contact.

When she does, she literally knocks my breath from me.

I can see the hurt, the pain, theeverythingshe is hiding, and it’s like it physically hurts me as well. We stare at each other for who knows how long. She winces, which breaks the weird spell.

Instinctually, I reach out and touch her hand. Electricity shoots through my fingers at the touch. Just as I think she is going to pull away, she turns her hand over and allows mine to envelop hers. I’m unsure what this is. I’ll add it to the list of things in my fucked-up head that I need to sort out.

For now, though, I have some questions, and I’m hoping she’ll answer them.

“Can you tell me if I need to be worried about the dude bro that was licking my sister?”

It was evident that she knows him, and for a weird reason, I trust her judgement.

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