"What?" Dylan exclaimed in shock. "Where did that come from?"
"I'm just saying," Trey replied. "I do have an extra room."
"So do I," Dylan said. He couldn't see where Trey was heading with this.
"Sure, but that's not the same. If Ari were to share with you, it would be akin to the two of you moving in together, and I think you two are still far from that. If she were to share with me, it would just be like a flatmate arrangement."
"Why are you considering getting a flatmate all of a sudden? You don't need the extra money and you love your privacy," Dylan said, trying to sound neutral although he was miffed with Trey. What if Ari took Trey up on his offer? If she were to share with another guy, it would be with him. He didn't care that Trey was one of his oldest and most trusted friends. He wouldn't be happy if his girlfriend lived with another man.
"You know me, Dyl. Always looking for income-earning opportunities," Trey said with a ghost of a smile. "What do you think, Ari?"
"I don't think so, Trey. But thanks for the offer."
"I guess you'd prefer living with Dylan than with me, huh? I'm sure he won't charge you any rent, unlike me," Trey said innocently.
Ari blushed and her brows furrowed. "Like you said, Trey, Dylan and I are still far from that. We just started dating, you know. That kind of discussion shouldn't even be brought up," she chided.
Dylan breathed a discreet sigh of relief.
"Well, I'm sorry to hear about your situation, Ari," Adam said.
Ari shrugged and smiled. "Thanks. I'll be fine."
"This moving thing: is this something you're just thinking about or is it something that has to happen?" Adam queried. "The reason I ask is I'm good friends with a couple of real estate agents. I could ask them if they have one-bedders on their lists."
Ari's eyes lit up. "That would be great, Adam. Thank you."
"So which area are you looking at? Burwood and surrounding suburbs?"
"Preferably. I don't mind going further away from the city as long as it's a decent suburb and a well-maintained apartment block."
"How far away are you considering?" Dylan asked. Surely, she wasn't so cash-strapped that she needed to move to the outskirts of Sydney just to lower her rent?
"I don't know. It would really depend on when I find another job," she said, looking a little embarrassed.
Hell, he couldn't let her suffer. She was his girlfriend now.
"You need your other room, Ari," he said. "You couldn't possibly work well in a cramped space. Stay where you are in Burwood. We'll figure something out."
Ari smiled at him but shook her head. "I'm not just talking about a couple of hundred here and there, Dylan. I do need to lower my expenses."
"For what?"
Ari pressed her lips together, as if considering something. "My sister and my nephew. I help them out financially."
Trey's eyebrows arched and Dylan could almost see cynicism coming out of his buddy's ears. He couldn't say he was surprised by that reaction. Trey had heard it all before.
But something warred within him, too: concern and suspicion. He had been sold a fake heart-wrenching story in the past, and he'd stupidly bought it. But surely Ari was not like that woman?
"I'd love to meet your sister and your nephew, babe. Can we go visit them?" he asked. At least he'd be able to determine if what she said was true.
"That would be good," Ari replied readily. "Maybe in a few weeks when I go there for a visit."
"A few weeks? How about tomorrow?"
"Didn't I tell you? They live in Port Macquarie. That's almost a five-hour drive from here."
"We could fly."
"No, it's okay. I already told Sylvie I won't be able to see them for a while, as I need to make sure I finish Jasmine's orders on time."
How convenient.
*******
Dylan sat back on the couch as he stared at Ari standing outside on his balcony. She was talking to Jasmine on the phone.
"I think it was a good idea to suggest you visit her family, Dyl," Trey said in a low voice. "At least you'll know if she's telling the truth about them needing her support."
"I still don't believe Ari's a gold digger," Adam said. "I know we don't know her well enough, but from what I've seen so far, she seems genuine."
"So you believe her story?" Trey asked. "It's the classic I-need-to-support-my-family line. That was exactly the line Dylan was fed by that woman, in case you've forgotten."
"Well, that's easily proven, isn't it?" Adam replied. "She didn't seem scared when Dylan suggested they visit her sister and nephew."
"Yeah, but then she said they couldn't go for another few weeks. How long is a few weeks?" Trey pressed.