Page 74 of Our Forever Starts Tonight

“Okay. One black coffee, because you’re an eighty-year-old woman apparently,” Arden said, setting a cup of coffee down in front of me on the table. “And one strawberry cream-cheese danish.”

“Thank you,” I said, giggling at her. “The black coffee is to help calm my stomach. If I put a whole bunch of cream and sugar in it, on top of the danish, I’ll be sick all night.”

Arden hunched over suddenly like she was an eldery woman. “Oh, you kids,” she said in a crotchety voice. “That sugar will keep you awake. That and your damn cell phones.”

“Ha ha,” I said.

She laughed and sat down in the chair across from me. “If it’s all the same to you, I’m going to have my hyper-sugary frappuccino with added espresso, and then I’ll just stare into the darkness fearing adulthood until three in the morning like a normal person.”

“How strange. I already do that without the aid of sugary beverages,” I said.

Arden snickered. “Oh, Aria. Our banter is next to none. Never change.”

“If we could just keep it up until Saturday, that’d be good.” I took a large gulp of my coffee. “Thank god we only have two days of school this week, because if I had to look at him all week knowing what was coming, I’d never survive.”

“I don’t get it. You two have come close to fucking, what, three times? You certainly weren’t nervous through all of that,” Arden said.

“No, because all of that just happened. I was on a speeding bullet train and I didn’t have control over what was happening regardless. I was letting my impulses operate the controls. Now it’s like I’m sitting at a stoplight waiting for it to turn green,” I explained. “Besides, this is more than just coming close to hooking up. This is anactualdate. Spending the whole day together. Having to find stuff to talk about that whole time. Not living in constant dread that after all the shit we’ve been through to get to this point something is going to fire up and ruin it.”

“You can’t think like that,” Arden said. “You’re going to sabotage it.”

“Don’t say that!” I yelped. “Now I’m afraid I’m going to sabotage it!”

“Oh my god, you are painful to be around like this. I hope this date goes well, because this is disillusioning.” Arden took a bite of the pastry she’d gotten for herself, then noticed my serious expression and flicked my nose. “Oh relax. You know I’m obsessed with you.”

The tip of my nose stung, but it was oddly grounding. “I really am afraid though. This just feels like another setup. What if we see someone while we’re out and about and he gets all weird again?”

“Someone other than the people he made averypublic display of love for you in front of?” Arden said. “Aria. You’re freaking out over nothing. In my honest and expert opinion, Tristan has finally proved that he’s ready to take this seriously. All you have to do is show up and start off on your road of romance and true love. It’s very exciting.”

“Don’t sound so cynical when you say that please. I know I’m projecting onto you, but it terrifies me,” I said. “Are you sure you’re okay talking about all of this? I don’t want it to be like I’m rubbing it in your face or anything.”

“Aria, I’mfine. Hannah and I have nothing to do with this. Hell, there isn’t even a Hannah and I. That’s ancient history. Right now, we’re focusing on you and you not being self-destructive in what I truly believe, could be a serious thing for you. Thisiswhat you want, isn’t it?”

“Of course it is,” I said. “But isn’t it okay to be a little skeptical after how things have transpired up ‘til now?”

“Sure, be a little skeptical, but not so much so that you aren’t seeing the good when it’s right there in front of you. Just promise me you aren’t going to go in there flinging shit all over the place just to find a reason to not like it. Be vulnerable.”

I winced. “Ooh, vulnerable? I don’t think I can do that.”

“I’m gonna smack you,” Arden said.

I laughed. “I’m just scared.”

“I know, babe, but everything is going to be fine. Trust Arden, you know her. She loves you. She’s your very best friend. She is both incredibly intelligent and unimaginably beautiful. She wouldn’t steer you wrong.”

“That’s true,” I said. “Not to mention an amazingly talented inventor.”

“Oh, Aria,” Arden waved her hand at me. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“You really think Saturday is going to be okay?” I asked.

“Honey, I’m certain of it. This is what all of this has been culminating to. Don’t put too much pressure on it, don’t expect too much or too little, just let it happen naturally. You and Tristan have chemistry that comes from the soil. It’ll do its job. I promise.” She took another sip of her coffee. “But of course—”

“If it goes badly you’re available for a drunken hookup?” I cut in.

She gasped overdramatically. “I am hurt that you would even think I’d say such a thing.” Then she glanced up over her cup at me. “But if that’s what you need, I want you to know I am always there for you.”

“I love you,” I said, glad that I had her. She always knew the perfect thing to say.

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