“It might, but what kind were you looking for?”
“Crushed peppers.”
I purposely don’t say a word, and she looks to me. “You know, like pizza peppers?”
I fight a grin, my pulse flipping. “Right, right. Pizza peppers.”
Ari’s hand freezes mid stir, her head snapping my way. A small frown builds over her brow, but a small smile slips in the next second. “Wait!” She walks over to the side drawer and digs around, pulling out a few packets of peppers from Benito’s pizza. She holds them up in triumph. “I knew these would come in handy.”
She comes back, tears them open and pours them inside.
I lean my elbow on the counter, facing her. “That should give it a nice little kick, huh?”
Her smile is wide. “Exactly.”
Her eyes freeze on mine and a knot forms in my throat.
God, she’s so beautiful.
“Oh, shit!” Brady comes in with a shout and damn it if it doesn’t break the spell. “We got fire extinguishers, right?”
“And homeowners’ insurance?” Cameron adds.
“Ha, ha.” Ari shakes her head. “They swear I’m useless, Noah.”
I slip a little closer, her elbow brushing along my chest as she stirs, and her chest rises with a full inhale.
Her eyes lift to mine, her long, dark lashes fanning along her cheekbones.
“Looks like you’re doing just fine.” My tone’s a bit huskier than I’d have liked, but I don’t care.
She blinks, a flicker of something flashing across her face and then she tips her chin, that sweet shyness I love coming through.
I miss you.
She frowns, but quickly washes it away, jerking her head over her shoulder. “Yeah, I’m doing just fine. Maybe I don’t suck so bad after all.” She pauses. “Mother.”
“Hey.” Mrs. Johnson leans against her husband, pulling a coffee mug to her lips to hide a smile. “I didn’t say it.”
The room laughs, and before I look away, Mr. Johnson catches my eye.
He winks and goes back to his reading.
My eyes don’t move off of her after that.
She’s working off of memory, one that I gave her, and she doesn’t even know it.
Mason and I are tossing the football around in the street when Ari stumbles out of the house, tripping over Mason’s shoes.
“Shit, Mason!” She laughs, catching herself on the chair by the door.
“My bad!” he shouts, glancing behind him when the roar of Nate’s Hummer grows near.
“Crap, tell them to wait. I forgot my phone!” She hustles back inside, and we turn to face the girls.
The windows are rolled down, the music is loud, and Lolli doesn’t press the brake until she’s right in front of the house, finally coming to a screeching halt.
Payton and Lolli’s cousin Mia smiles from the back, leaning half out the window.
“Sup, boys?”
“Not much, playing some catch.” I point to Mason, who walks up with a frown.
“Where’s little D?” He tucks the ball beneath his arm.
Payton looks to him, her eyes briefly flicking past mine. “Ari seems to be keeping her distance from him so I—” Her eyes flick to mine, and her lips press into a tight smile. “Sorry, Noah.”
A sharp pain stabs at my chest, and it doubles, knowing Ari is avoiding being around Payton’s son, but I shake my head, not wanting to make her feel guilty when she shouldn’t. “It’s okay.”
“I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, so I left him with my brother.”
“I could have helped,” Mason argues.
Payton’s cheeks turn red. “I didn’t need your help.”
Mason turns to me, tosses the ball, and jogs back into the house.
Lolli flips round in the front seat, lifting a brow at Payton.
Payton busies herself in her phone.
“Sorry, ready.” Ari rushes over, her hair dripping wet and tied in a knot on her head.
“Girls’ day?” I wonder.
“Yes. It should be fun.”
I grin, happy to see her getting out for some fresh scenery. She hasn’t left the house much since we got here, other than to walk down and be near the water.
“I’m here by force, in case you were wondering.” Lolli frowns.
“Shut up, Lolli. We’ll feed you Patron. Don’t worry,” Mia teases.
“We’re going into the city to look at some boutiques,” Payton says, without looking up. “Kenra heard about the ‘gala’ and lost her mind.”
My muscles lock, and it takes effort to pry my lips open.
I look to Ari. “Gala?”
She smiles. “Yeah, your team event is coming up super-fast, so I’ve got to go find something now or I’ll be screwed.”
My stomach stirs, my limbs tingling.
“You—” I swallow.
She remembers?
I must look crazy because she giggles.
“At first, I wasn’t sure I was up for it, just in case, you know?” she says, and I eagerly nod, desperate to reach out and brush the loose hair from her face. “But then I decided, screw it, I need some fun.”
“Yeah. You do.” We do, baby.
“So I said I’d go.” She shrugs, tugging the door open to the back seat.
“Said you’d go.”