Kris stared at her cousin for long seconds before answering. "I'm hoping for something more with this guy."
"Really? What happened to just wanting to get laid?"
She lifted her shoulders. "That's what I thought. But…"
"Wow. This guy must be really something. You better make sure we meet him next time. I'm dead curious now. You've only just met him and now your head is full of…" Sam waived her hands, looking for the right word.
"Fluff," Kris finished for her.
They laughed out loud.
"Okay, what do you want to know?" Kris asked, readying herself for their reaction.
"Name," Sam prompted.
"Trey."
"Andrews?" Ari squeaked.
"No. Sex God," she joked. "Yes. Andrews."
"Oh, Kris," Ari said in dismay.
"I know what you said about him, Ari. At this point, I just want to enjoy what's left of my holiday with him. If he's not interested in an ongoing relationship after that, I promise I'll move on and not be one of those stupid girls who keep on hanging around where they're not wanted."
"But I thought you said you're done with playboys!" Sam said, almost whining.
"Well, Trey's…"
"What? Different? Just like your last two boyfriends were different from all the other players?" Sam queried.
"Hey, I don't think Trey's like any of those guys," Kris said, her tone laced with defensiveness.
"How is he different from them?" Ari asked curiously.
Kris scanned her brain for an accurate-enough description. "I know this sounds strange, but I think being a playboy is not Trey's true nature."
"How can you tell?"
She shook her head vigorously. "I don't know. It's just a feeling. Call it intuition. Or sheer stupidity," she added, realising how daft she must have sounded.
"I don't know what to say," Ari murmured.
"Me neither," Sam said with resignation.
"You guys don't need to say anything. Just be there for me in fun and tears," Kris said flippantly.
*******
The three of them worked solidly for hours, and by almost six in the evening, they'd packed most of Ari's stuff, apart from some things she would still need for the next couple of days.
"I cannot thank you enough, girls. Thank you, thank you, thank you," Ari gushed as they gazed at the room full of sealed boxes.
"Don't mention it," Sam said. "Now we won't have Dylan texting us in the middle of the night to remind us to help you pack."
"Tell me he didn't really do that!" Ari said in horror.
Sam laughed. "He did. Once. But he was very nice about it and we didn't mind. I'm sure he'll be very pleased to hear you're all set for Saturday. How do you feel about it all?"
Ari sighed, shaking her head in mock exasperation. "I'm really excited. I've been having a hard time concentrating on work this week because all I wanted to do was get ready for the move. I'm nervous, too. I've never lived with a guy before so I'm sure there'll be some adjustments and compromises that both Dylan and I will have to make."
"Think about it," Kris said. "Sometime in the future, you and Jazzie could be sisters-in-law."
Ari giggled. "Would I sound really keen if I tell you I'm already designing my own wedding dress in my head?"
"I'd say just as keen as Dylan when he booked that removalist the day after you agreed to move in with him," Kris quipped just as Ari's phone rang.
"It's Dylan," Ari announced with a soft smile before answering the phone.
Kris watched Ari as she spoke with her boyfriend. The love and tenderness in Ari's expression was clear. She sighed as a longing for Trey hit her.
Trey! She was supposed to call him but the day had been so busy she'd forgotten all about it.
She fetched her phone from her handbag and her heartbeat instantly accelerated when she saw the text waiting there for her.
*Are we still on for tonight?*
She grinned. Trey had sent it almost an hour ago. She was thrilled that he was thinking of her—and that he missed her. That message meant he missed her, right? She dialled his number.
"Hi, Kris," Trey answered.
"Hello Trey," she said with feigned seriousness. "I'm calling to say that no, you're not having the night off."
"Oh, damn. I was so looking forward to a boring night watching senseless TV. Now I have to have amazing sex with a hot, sexy woman all night."
"Well, far be it from me to deny you your well-laid plans. So, okay, if you'd prefer to spend the night watching TV—"
"And be accused of not keeping my word?" Trey interjected. "No. I said I'll be at your beck and call, and since you called and said I'm not having the night off, then I'm not. What time do you want me to pick you up?"