Page 35 of Truth Or Dare
I’m reminded of the fact that Gabi confided in Aiden with something she felt like she couldn’t tell me. But the fact that she also talked about me, to the point where Aiden feels like he knows me, makes me smile.
“She does?” I ask him.
He smirks, nodding. “Yeah, man. She doesn’t really talk about much else.”
Grayson groans, sitting on the couch. “I find that hard to believe,” he says with a dry look. “Gabi loves to talk.”
I let out a laugh, knowing that’s true. Nights of us talking until the sun rose come to mind. Gabi somehow always had something to say, something to tell me, to talk about. And I just loved hearing her voice until we both drifted to sleep.
“How’s it been?” Aiden asks. “Living with her?”
“Great,” I tell him, glancing back at Gabi who’s now fighting Madi for the corkscrew. Madeline’s boyfriend, Lucas watches with an amused look on her face. “She’s my best friend, I missed the hell out of her.”
He hums, nodding thoughtfully. “Is that all?”
I turn my attention to Aiden, furrowing my brows at his question. “What do you mean?”
“Is she only your best friend?” Aiden clarifies.
My pulse quickens as I lick my dry lips. “I don’t—”
“You don’t have to tell me,” he interrupts, raising his shoulder. “You can if you want, but I think I already know.”
“You…” I furrow my brows. “You know?”
“Yeah,” he replies with a smirk. “I can tell.”
I frown. “How?”
He grins, and I don’t even mind that I’ve basically confessed my feelings for Gabi to a guy I hardly know. “I’m good at this stuff. I could tell with him,” he says, gesturing toward Grayson.“It was as clear as day how he felt for Rosie, even if he was an idiot about it.”
“Fuck off,” Grayson replies with a scowl.
“And I could tell with Lucas and Madi,” Aiden continues. “Those two were about as subtle as fire.” He chuckles. “And I can tell with you.”
I swallow, feeling a knot form in my stomach. “She’s my best friend,” I tell him. “That’s all there is between us.” It’s not a lie, not technically. But it’s definitely not how I feel about her.
“If you say so,” he grins, clearly not buying my attempt to hide all the feelings I’ve kept buried all these years. “But if you want some help, I’m your guy.”
“Stop trying to meddle in their relationship,” Grayson interjects. “You’re not a love guru.”
“I could be,” Aiden counters. “I got my girl like that,” he says, snapping his fingers.
Grayson scoffs. “Such bullshit. She didn’t even like you at first.”
Aiden sighs. “Okay, fine. That’s true. But after a few months and alotof convincing, it was as easy as that.” He snaps his fingers again, and I let out a laugh. “Trust me. I can help you get her.”
“Oh great.” I snap my head at Gabi’s voice. “Aiden’s found a twin.”
Leila snorts. “He’s about five inches taller than Chris. Wouldn’t exactly call him a twin.” She lowers herself down on his lap and Aiden grins, snaking an arm around her waist to pull her back into him. It’s a little shocking to believe she didn’t like him when they’re attached at the hip.
Gabi finds her place beside me, holding a glass of wine. “I thought they’d bring food, or beer, not this,” she says, taking a sip.
I let out a laugh. “Not much of a wine drinker?”
She shrugs. “As long as it can get me drunk, it’ll do.” I catch the uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she lifts her wine glass, holding it up to me. It’s a moment just between us, a reminder of the memories we share. Without a second thought, I reach down, taking her glass, and bring it to my lips, taking a sip, reassuring her that nothing has changed between us.
“Are you telling me I’m going to have to deal with drunk Gabi?” I tease, letting out a soft chuckle.
