Page 35 of The Pucking Wrong Guy

But a part of me also felt a little bit better.

Because now it kind of felt like we were connected.

And I couldn’t help but like that.

“Let’s get you out of here, yeah?” he asked, holding out his hand.

Embarrassment settled in then, and I became acutely aware of my disheveled state. Crouched down in this dirty alley, my cheeks stained with tear tracks, and my eyes probably swollen and puffy…I was a mess. In contrast…Ari looked perfect.

His crisp white henley clung to his broad chest, contrasting with the rich darkness of his jeans. His raven-black hair fell gracefully over his forehead, emphasizing his striking features.

My cheeks flushed as I continued to study him.

“Let me take care of you, Blake,” he murmured.

Ari's offer to take care of me, to provide a distraction, hung in the air. He was waiting patiently, like he had all day, even though he must have had a million better things to do than rescue thismessin front of him.

I froze.

"Not like that!" he yelped, holding up his hands frantically. "I mean, yes, I’d like to take care of you like that, but…Fuckkkkk.” He brushed his hands down his face and a giggle squeaked out of me.

He moved his hands and grinned shyly. “You like me making a fool in front of you, sunshine? That make you feel better? Because I’ll do it all day if it’ll make you smile.”

“No one will be mad about us hanging out?” I asked cautiously, Charlotte’s story about his girl from last night front and center in my head.

Ari's confusion over my question was clear, and he shook his head firmly. "No one will mind," he assured me, his tone unwavering. "And even if they did, I wouldn't care. You'll find I'm a ride or die kind of guy, baby."

“Okay, let’s go,” I whispered finally, taking hold of his hand. Remembering another time, with another boy, when I’d felt this same way, like I was stepping off the edge of a precipice, and bracing for the fall.

“That’s my girl,” he smiled, helping me up and then leading me down the alley, back to the road, our hands still intertwined.

I gazed up at him one more time as we made our way to where his fancy black sports car was parked, a ticket on the dash from his illegal parking. "Nothing more than friends, right?" I questioned.

“For today, sunshine. Justbestiesfor today.”

He helped me into the car and reached across my lap to buckle my seatbelt.

”Um…”

“I’m only doing my bestie duties,” he said seriously as he clicked it into place.

He smelled so freaking good. I had to concentrate on keeping my back plastered against my seat so I didn’t lean in and take a bigger sniff.

“Lincoln must really enjoy this part of the friendship,” I remarked.

He threw back his head and laughed, and now I’m the one who seems starstruck, because the sound of it is the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard. “Oh, no doubt, it’s the best part for him, for sure.”

We hovered there, him leaning over me, big, silly grins on both of our faces.

And I suddenly couldn’t remember any of the reasons I was upset today.

* * *

Ari

My hands gripped the steering wheel, but my attention wasn't on the road ahead. Nope, it was fixated onher, Blake, sitting in my passenger seat, her beauty a force that couldn't be ignored. There were still tear tracks on her cheeks, and a desolation in her eyes that made me want to burn the world to the ground for daring to make her sad. Her pain sliced me to fucking pieces. Her tears were the most beautiful and the worst thing I’d ever seen.

She’d always been my sad girl, though. Since the day we’d first met.

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