Ariadne watched their friends’ faces as go from confusion to shock as Asher told them about their plans. “But that’s crazy,” Erika burst out when he was done. “Ari, you can’t be serious about this? Is he blackmailing you or something?”
“Hey, I’m a catch,” protested Asher. “Why wouldn’t she be blackmailing me?”
“Be serious.” She looked up at her husband. When Ted just stood there rubbing the top of his bald head, she whacked him in the chest with the back of her hand. “Do something! We can’t let them get married.”
“Let?” Asher asked with a lifted brow. His tone was casual, but it was well known that Asher took orders from no one.
Ted rolled his eyes. “You talk to Ari, I’ll talk to Ash.” He jerked his head in a gesture that indicated that Ash should follow him as he left the room. Shrugging, Asher winked at her and then fell into step behind Ted.
Silence reigned for a few seconds before Erika sighed. “I didn’t realize you were this upset about the breakup with Daniel.” She reached out and took her hands in hers. “Don’t you think it would be easier simply to skip the reunion ? This is going too far.”
“It won’t be any easier next year.” She squeezed Erika’s fingers before letting go. She reached in the refrigerator and got out two bottles of water. She handed one to Erika before opening her own. “You’re not going to talk me out of this. I already agreed. Ash needs my help.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Since when have you ever wanted to help him? My God, I thought you were going to leave when you found out he was here. Now this? Are the two of you…did he…?
She knew exactly what her friend was trying to ask her. “No, we haven’t slept together and we’re not going to. It’s not going to be a real marriage.”
Erika’s eyes widened and she gestured to where Ash had had her backed up against the counter. “Then what was that all about?”
“It was practice,” she answered, trying and failing not to become flustered at the memory of being in his arms. She sipped her water. “We’re going to have to pretend to be in love.”
Erika shook her head. “Ari, this is Ash we’re talking about here.”
“We’ve discussed this. It’s an arrangement, not real.”
“So you’ll be fine with him sleeping with other women while the two of you are married?”
“There won’t be anyone else for either of us or this won’t work for him.”
“Don’t you see what he’s doing? He’s trying to get you into bed.” Ariadne shook her head, but Erika interrupted before she could speak. “Do you even know for sure that his dad is running for office? This could all be some elaborate scheme of his.”
“Presupposing that you’re right, it would mean that Ash wanted me enough to bother lying to me and he doesn’t.”
Erika opened her mouth and closed it several times. “This is Ash,” she said again quietly.
“Yes, and I know if I offered, I couldn’t beat him to a bedroom, but he doesn’t want me anymore than the next woman.” Erika bit her lip and looked away, but not before she saw what she thought was a gleam of tears. Ariadne capped her water bottle and set it aside. “Erika, it won’t be real. I was hoping you were over him.”
“I am over him, but I don’t know…as long as he’s single…he’s this dream. It’s kind of like lusting after a movie star. You want him to be happy and you know it’ll never be you, but you can dream as long as he’s available.”
She grabbed her friend and hugged her. “Well, I’m merely tying him up for a few years.” She smiled. “Look at the bright side of this situation; he won’t be dating anyone while he’s with me.”
***
“What the fuck?” Ted whispered as soon as they were out of earshot of the girls. “Have you lost your mind? What are you thinking?” As though to ensure their privacy, he continued until they were on the back deck. He closed the sliding glass door behind them.
Asher shrugged. “I’m helping her and she’s helping me.” Ted continued to stare at him as though he’d sprouted a pair of wings. Or more likely horns. Exasperated with the intense scrutiny, he threw his hands up. “What?”
“I’ve seen you lie to your father, your girlfriends and even suspected you might have lied to me a time or two, but I’ve never seen you lie to yourself. You’re shitting yourself if you don’t think you’re begging for more trouble by doing this.”