Page 157 of Champagne Fizz

But it’s not like Simon and I have had time to talk about the future. We just got together again. Actually, we just got together atall. And he said he loved me. He wouldn’t say that if he didn’t mean it.

Arie laughs. “It sucks to be the naive virgin, doesn’t it?”

My eyes cut to her and she pretends to be spooked by me, only she’s reveling in the fact that she gets to rub this in my face. Only, her childish behavior reminds me that she doesn’t have a clue what she’s talking about. Yes, Simon didn’t tell me about a franchise in Los Angeles, but if he was actually serious about leaving Flambé, he probably wouldn’t do it without a plan. It’s notmehe’s deceiving.

“You don’t get it, do you?” I say to Arie, throwing my hands on my hips in an attempt to strike a power pose. “It’s not me he’s leaving for California. It’s you.”

She rolls her eyes again like I’m rehashing old stuff.

“I admit,” I continue, “that what Simon and I have is new. We still have to figure ourselves out and what our future holds. But he’s made a decision about you. No, he’s actually made a decisionbecauseof you.”

That makes Arie frown.

“And maybe we’ll both lose him in this,” I say. “Butyou’rethe one who’s going to make him go. Frankly, I’d love for him to stay here in Hawaii. But if he actually decides to leave, it’s going to be because you’re being a bitch.”

“Wow!” Arie’s eyes widen in mock horror. “What was that?” she sasses. “Did you actually say the word bitch to me? No witch?”

“You’re not listening,” I reply, but Arie latches onto that one word and goes to town. “You’re not going to say ‘I’m going to kick your fluffing witch A-dollar-sign-dollar-sign to the curb?’ Where’s all your sweet adorable mincy-mince words? Huh?”

“A-dollar-sign-dollar-sign?” I frown at her, confused.

“Ass,” Arie clarifies. “Kick your fucking bitch-ass to the curb.”

“Oh,” I nod, catching on. Arie smirks like I’m an infant, but I won’t let her belittle me. “You know what,” I say, “I kind of like that one: A-dollar-sign-dollar-sign. I’m going to use that. Thanks.”

“Or you could just say ass,” Arie snaps, because I’m missing her point.

“I could,” I agree, “but I love how much it pisses you off.”

“What is going on in here?” Simon’s voice echoes through the kitchen, and all three of us turn to see him standing near the walk-in freezer.

Who knows how long he’s been standing there.

“The infamous best friend appears!” Arie exclaims in a cheery voice that’s laced with deception. “What’s going on is your canary-pom-pom-virgin over here was telling me I’m a bitch.” She smiles, walking toward him like she loves the fact that I called her the B-word. “Oh, and she said you two are together—or fucking—or whatever it means to betogetherwith a virgin.”

Simon’s whole body goes rigid. He glances at me with fear clenching his jaw, terrified I’m going to storm out like I did the first time.

“I told you to leave her alone,” he hisses at Arie.

“I did leave her alone,” Arie says smugly. “I haven’t seen her all night.She’sthe one who walked intomykitchen.”

“You know what I mean,” he growls.

“And you know how I feel about the sanctity of these stainless steel walls,” she sasses, motioning to the room. “My territory, my rules.”

“Stop!” I say, stepping forward between the two of them.

“Kendall,” Simon says, his voice full of apology. “I’m so sorry for—”

“It’s fine!” I say sharply. “You don’t have to apologize for Arie. You can’t control what she says. She’s in charge of her own destiny.”

“Oh, my own destiny!” Arie mocks. “How sweet.”

“I said, stop!” I point at Arie. “You can keep saying BS that’s just going to make Simon more angry at you, or you can shut up and listen.”

“Really?” Arie mocks. “I can have the pleasure of—”

“Shut up, Arie!” Esme cuts in. “You’re making this worse.”

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