Sloane leaned against the bench and pointed to a huge colonial style two-story house across the small park. “My grandma lived in that house over there until my dad sold it the second she died instead of keeping it in the family. My absolute favorite childhood memory is spending a few weekends a year at her house and waking up early to run across the street and play here all day.”
Ari turned her body to look at the house. Sloane’s arm wrapped around her shoulder to hold her against her chest like she’d been made to fit in that spot.
“You should buy it,” Ari decided, focusing on a pair of large Gardenia trees on either side of the path leading from the sidewalk to the front door.
Sloane laughed. “I tried. The best I can do is put a Google alert on it. The moment it goes on the market it’s mine. She passed away when I was in high school or I would never have let it go. I think if I’d been older she might have transferred it to my name after she had her first stroke.”
Ari’s heart dropped at the sadness in Sloane’s voice. She turned to face her again. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
Sloane laughed. “Oh please, don’t give me therapy speak.” After a beat she pulled Ari against her chest again and rested her chin on Ari’s shoulder. It was the best feeling Ari had ever experienced. In that moment, she belonged to Sloane so completely she could barely breathe. “How would this work? Can you forget how much we fought these last few years?”
Ari feigned confusion. “Fought? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Sloane nuzzled against her neck, replacing the dread that had been su ocating her with a warm, syrupy fullness she hoped would last forever.
“Tell me more about baby Sloane,” Ari said, draping her arm across Sloane’s thighs.
“Do you still have errands to run?”
“Yeah, why?”
Sloane detached herself from around Ari’s back and stood.
“Come on. I’ll run them with you and regale you with stories from my childhood.”
“You want to run errands with me?” Ari sco ed. “Why?”
Sloane rolled her eyes. “You’re going to have to be less di cult, Arwyn. Allow me to do girlfriend-y things without being cross-examined at every turn.”
Ari raised her eyebrows. “Girlfriend? I’m sorry. Did I somehow miss you asking me to be your girlfriend?”
“Oh, geez. What are you twelve? Do you expect me to slip a note in your locker asking you to circle yes or no?” Sloane reached out to ask for Ari’s hand.
Ari stared at it for a moment. “You know, no one has ever muscled me into a relationship before.”
Sloane stared at her blankly. “Really? You’re going to make me do this?”
Ari crossed her arms over her chest expectantly, biting back the smile itching to burst onto her lips.
“Ugh, you’re a child.” Sloane perched her hands on her hips. “Arwyn, will you be my girlfriend or do I have to ask your dad for the honor?”
Ari grabbed her, crashing into her lips. “Oh, Sloane. I never thought you’d ask.”
CHAPTER 36
SLOANE SAUNTERED into the o ce with her paper bag rustling as she walked. After a week and a half of dating Arwyn, her mood had improved significantly. Seeing Dr. Lerner again was boosting her strut as well.
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She was flying so high that even Ralph’s pinched face leering at her like a naked mole rat did nothing to dim her shine. As Sloane passed him and the other lawyers in their division talking in the hallway, he stopped her. She’d been expecting it, but she made sure to look put out by the interruption just the same.
“Hey, are you and Ari trial partners for the next three trials?” he asked in the clipped tone people use when asking a question despite already knowing the answer.
There were few things that annoyed Sloane more than passive-aggressiveness, but she let it slide. “Two of hers and one of mine, yeah,” she replied, repositioning the bag in her hand so the container didn’t burn her.
Ralph’s lip twitched. “Irrespective of whatever personal relationship you two may or may not—”
“She’s my girlfriend, Ralph. Pretty sure we confirmed it’s not against the rules as long as it doesn’t interfere with our work, but go on,” she interrupted like she’d corrected a minor, technical error.