Her question earns a deep, genuine laugh from me. “I used to all the time. It was hilarious. Well, I thought it was at least. Madison and my father didn’t feel the same way.”
“Do you feel like fucking with them right now?” I watch as she nods toward the Cartier store as we pass. “People would go crazy if we walked in there… specifically the ring section.”
“Uh…” I stutter, awkwardly chuckling. “While that may have been funny in the past, it hasn’t quite worked out so well for me in the long run, in case you haven’t noticed.”
I know she isn’t serious, but my body tenses at even the idea of going to look at rings. The only ring I buy will be for the one woman who I can’t actually take into that store at the moment. My concerned expression must tell her everything that’s going through my mind, because she immediately holds her hand up for me to stop internally overreacting.
“I’m just kidding,” she deadpans. “I wouldn’t do that to you. It wouldn’t be fair considering the circumstances.”
I’m able to breathe a little as we pass the Cartier store and it’s out of view. “I hope you don’t take offense to me not going along with the joke. I don’t necessarily mind fucking with the press, but I can’t fuck with them at Devin’s expense. I think that rumor would really hurt her, and she’s already dealing with enough.”
Smiling softly at me, she reaches over and places her other hand on my arm. “You’re a really good guy, Sebastian. Devin is one lucky girl, if you ask me.”
“Thanks, Arianna.”
“So, what’s going on with the two of you anyway?” she asks, stopping us in front of a lone bench and taking a seat. “I got a little bit of the story from my aunt about someone setting you two up and stalking you, but I never got more than that. You must really care about her if you’re pretending to be with someone else.”
Blowing out a long breath, I glance to my left when I see the flash of the photographer’s camera a safe distance away. Arianna looks in the same direction and snuggles into me to make for better pictures. “It’s all a mess. I worked so hard to prove myself to her, and she still thinks of our relationship as a fling.”
“Ouch.” She cringes. “I’m sure she doesn’t really think that. And if she did, I can’t see how she does now after everything you’re doing for her.”
“Her brother told me not to write her off just yet, but I’m not sure if that’s possible. She hurt me pretty bad.”
Arianna locks eyes with me, her expression turning serious. “Sebastian, you are an amazing man, and if Devin can’t see that, I’m not sure she’s worth your time. But I think, if you love her, you need to take her brother’s advice and not write her off yet. I’m a firm believer that almost anything is fixable if you want it to be.”
I soak in Arianna’s words, looking at her in a new light. She isn’t just some young, immature girl; she’s actually a very intelligent woman. And, from the words she just spoke, I can tell she’s been through a lot in her life when it comes to emotion.
“Thank you,” I say, leaning in and placing a peck on her cheek. “I appreciate it more than you know.”
