Aria gives me a sideways hug and grins up at me. “Me too. We’ll get the hang of it.’
“Don’t you think you’re taking this a little too far?” I hear Julianne behind us. She catches up to us and gives us a knowing smile. “Everyone knows you’ve been best friends since forever. What’s with the act?”
Aria’s eyes sharpen on Julianne, then she tilts her head and asks, “Out of all the sperm, you’re the one that won?”
I let out a burst of laughter as confusion mars Julianne’s too perfect features.
“The best relationships start out as friendships. Over the summer break, we realized we wanted more,” Aria explains, and then she gives Julianne an annoyed look. “Not that we owe you an explanation.”
“So, you’re really dating?” Julianne asks, doubt still wavering in her hazel gaze.
Aria loses her temper, and before I can stop her, she glares at Julianne while stepping right into her personal space. Aria might be small, but she’s a spitfire when you piss her off.
“I don’t appreciate you spreading a rumor that there’s something wrong with my boyfriend’s cock,” she snaps at Julianne. “One, our lives have nothing to do with you. Two, the orgasm he gave me last night can attest to the fact that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. Get a life and stay out of ours before I forget I’m supposed to be a lady, and I slap you into next year.”
Julianne instantly looks chagrinned. “I’m sorry I didn’t want to start a fight.”
Yeah, typical of Julianne. The instant someone calls her out on her shit, she becomes all docile.
Aria gives Julianne one last glare before she grabs my hand and pulls me toward the restaurant.
“That went well,” I mutter.
“Ugh, one of these days, I’m going to lose my patience with that girl,” Aria complains, still riled up.
I stop walking and taking hold of Aria’s chin, I nudge her face up. I grin at her before I lower my head, and this time I press a tender kiss to her lips.
My stomach dips, and my heart gives a kick against my ribs, but I write it off as my body’s response to kissing a beautiful woman.
As I pull back, a smile spreads over Aria’s face. “Much better.”
I let out a chuckle but then grow serious as I say, “Thanks for standing up for me. You didn’t have to, though.”
“I’ll always have your back,” Aria states before giving me a hug. “No one messes with my Forest and gets away with it.”
I hug her back before we head into the restaurant. We go to the table that’s always reserved for our group, and taking a seat, I joke, “Let’s get some chocolate into you before you turn into a serial killer.”
ARIA
I lick off the cake fork and let out a contented sigh. “If I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life –”
“It would be chocolate,” Forest mutters. He grins at me, shaking his head. “Where do you put it all?”
“Who needs intestines? I’m filled with chocolaty goodness,” I tease and then take a sip of my cappuccino.
“Did you manage to get all the art supplies you’ll need?” Forest asks.
“Yeah.” A smile spreads over my face. “I can’t wait to start classes.”
Jordan takes a seat at a nearby table, and I feel a twinge of panic and guilt.
Forest reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze, and then he says loud enough for Jordan to hear, “My girlfriend, the artist. As long as you don’t have to paint any nudes. I don’t want you staring at a naked guy.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “Gross, I’d probably giggle right through the entire class.”
“Poor model will be traumatized for life then,” Forest laughs.
Not sure if Jordan is listening in on our conversation, I lean closer to Forest and hope to God I’m pulling off looking all seductive as I say, “If I have to paint a nude, you can always pose for me.”
Shock ripples over Forest’s face, and it has me widening my eyes, so he’ll know I’m pretending.
Understanding dawns in his eyes. “Oh… definitely.” He relaxes again. “My abs deserve to be immortalized on canvas.”
I playfully slap his shoulder. “So damn full of yourself.”
“Babe…” My eyes instantly dart up to his. When he calls me babe, it does this weird tingly thing to my heart. “Admit, I have the best abs you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
I don’t even have to lie as I grin at him. “Yeah, absolutely.”
A waiter comes to clear our table and asks if we’d like anything else. I shake my head and weaving my fingers with Forest’s, I get up. “Let’s go watch a movie.”
“As long as I get to pick.”
It’s a pleasant evening out as we make our way back to the suite. Forest immediately heads for his room while calling out, “Don’t you dare touch the remote. I’m just changing into sweatpants.”