Page 50 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

“Well, I’m sorry, but I won’t be going tomorrow. You realise a marriage is all about compromises, right?” It’s hard to keep my expression neutral, especially when he frowns, and I can tell he’s thinking it through. I get what it means to Arden, and I’d do it for him, but he needs to learn I’m not just going to agree with everything he wants, even if he thinks it’s for the best.

“Fine, I’ll wear jeans, but can I at least wear a button-down shirt?”

I smile and reach up on my tiptoes to pull his face down to mine, planting a kiss on his lips. “Deal, but no bow tie.”

He totally thought he found a loophole, but I’m already one step ahead of him.

He hesitates for several more seconds, then finally concedes. “Okay, but you have to do the full experience tomorrow: dress, hair,andmakeup.”

Wait, what? He’s organised hair and makeup? That’s just crazy. However, I won’t argue. I’ll enjoy my Cinderella experience tomorrow, and maybe I’ll be feeling a little better and let him peel the dress off me tomorrow night.

“Done. I can’t wait to see you in a pair of jeans.” I smack his butt playfully before stepping out of the shower.

Arden still insists on drying my hair, then surprises me with my very own pair of pink princess PJs that match Yasmin’s and passes me my “Sorry I’m late, I didn’t want to come” tee.

“The girls all have matching PJs. There was an incident last year, and I had a pair made for everyone so we could help Chase win Yasmin back. I didn’t want you to miss out. I figure they will all be wearing theirs tonight,” Arden offers in explanation.

I think I fall a little more for him in this moment. He really is trying to make me feel comfortable and like I fit in, while also filling me in on a bit of their pasts.

“Thank you. Does this mean tonight is a casual night? Because I may need to take some of the slow-release pain meds the doctor gave us. It’s bearable at the moment, but I’m feeling a little off and would rather get on top of it now so I can still enjoy the weekend.”

Arden walks over to the drawers in the room and pulls out my bag of prescription meds Shamus picked up for me on our way down here. I didn’t even realise the limo had stopped—I was completely distracted.

“I was planning on ordering fish and chips since Martha technically has the weekend off, but I can guarantee she won’t be able to help herself,” he says as he comes back with a bottle of water and holds out some tablets. “Especially since we’re all together for the first time in months. But it will be casual, and whenever you’ve had enough, you just say the word and I’ll bring you to bed.” I internally swoon.Why must he say all the right things?“Here’s the slow-release med, some Panadol, and your anti-nausea tablet.”

I take the pills and swallow them in one go. “Thank you.”

Stepping into his embrace, I let the smell of coconut, lime, and Arden envelop me.

A girl could get used to this.

Arden

I watch Ella across the deck; she’s curled up on the outdoor sofa, Yasmin on one side and Julia on the other. Millie, Ally, and Mumma Nat are all close by. Mumma Nat hadn’t met Ella yet, but the minute she did, she was immediately smitten. She took her under her wing, just like she did with the other girls. She may not have had any girls of her own, but now it seems she’s acquired five of them.

I’ll always be thankful to Mumma Nat. She took me in when Chase brought me home one day and didn’t bat an eyelid when she found out who I was and that I came from money. I spent more time at their place than my own growing up. She was the mother figure in my life that I could count on. She flat out refused to take money from my dad. Martha was always sending over food, which she never turned away, but Dad offered to help with the mortgage and bills on more than one occasion, and she refused to take him up on it. Once I was old enough, I started buying groceries for the house and did what I could to help them out. I tried to give Chase money, but he was as stubborn as his mum. So, we compromised over the years. I promised not to offer if he promised to let me do my thing, which included rebuilding us the perfect house and covering all the living expenses. He knows I like to look after my family, and he’s practically my brother.

“How are you doing?” Dad asks from across the table. He glances towards where I was staring before turning around and giving me a soft smile. I know what he’s asking. I haven’t seen much of him since I got home because I’ve been preoccupied with looking after Ella.

“Better. I never apologised to you.” I look around the table at Chase, Rhys, and Ralph, making sure they know this apology is for them as well. “To any of you. I’m sorry for what I put you all through. You didn’t see the worst of it, Dad, but I’m sure you’ve heard enough by now. I lost myself and it was hard to find my way back. I let everyone down, and I cannot apologise enough. I promise I’m okay now. I’m still the same old me, just a little more grown up.”

“You know you never need to apologise to us. We’ll still support you, even when you act like an asshole.” Chase’s response is what I’d expect him to say. He and Rhys really have my back.

“I agree with Chase.” Dad’s gruff voice drifts across the table. “It’s not us you need to apologise to. We’re your family. We’ll always be there for you, and that includes Julia. The question is, have you apologised to Ella?”

His frank words surprise me. Julia did mention he’d started to loosen up a little now that he was home more often—I just didn’t think I’d ever see it.

“Yes, many times, and she pretty much said the same thing: there’s no reason to apologise. I honestly don’t get why she didn’t kick my ass multiple times over the months I was showing up at Grumpy’s. I totally deserved it—some nights I was an absolute asshole.”

“I actually asked her that question, back when I found out what she had done to get you into rehab.” The look on Dad’s face is unreadable as he admits that.

“What did she say?” As much as I probably shouldn’t ask, I’m interested in seeing what her response was. Because this was before she got to know the sober me. Before I steamrolled into that hospital and told her we weren’t getting a divorce.

“She told me that drunk Arden was an asshole, but she could see you were hurting and broken, and broken people needed someone to look out for them sometimes. She said even though some nights you were rude, she would never dismiss your feelings, and you still listened to her when she was having an awful night, even if you didn’t actually care. It was sober or hungover you she had the problem with. She didn’t like that you just pretended she didn’t exist, and you still tried to evict her. That is, until Ralph filled her in on the fact that you didn’t remember anything in the light of day. Seems that’s when she decided to get even. She said something about bow ties, cookies, and unicorn slippers.”

Ralph chuckles at the last bit. All eyes turn to him. “Hey, what can I say? The girl can bake cookies, and these slippers are super comfy. You guys should try them.” He sticks his leg out from under the table and wiggles his large unicorn-covered foot at us.

“I heard that,” Martha yells from the kitchen window.

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