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“And just how do you expect me to—”
“With us, of course,” Tyler chimed in.
~ 8 ~
TYLER
She had no idea how cute she was, all curled up and comfy on our big leather couch. Then again, Ariana had no idea about a lot of things. With some of them, she was downright oblivious.
“Practice dating…” our friend repeated again. The words dangled precariously for a moment as she leaned forward and set her wine glass down on the coffee table. “With you.”
She tilted her head. “Like actually go out on dates?”
“Not ‘date’ dates,” I replied quickly. “Just… practice dates.”
I watched as she curled into a ball, bringing her knees up to her chin. Most of the time the move was a defense mechanism. Every once in a while though, I’d seen her do it in deep contemplation.
“Which one of you would take me out?” she asked.
I didn’t need to look to Axel or Zane. The answer was obvious.
“All of us.”
Her brow grew even more furrowed. “Together?”
I laughed inwardly at how adorable she was. “That could work, but no,” I shrugged. “It would probably be more like three separate dates. That way it would seem all the more real. It would feel more like a romantic date, and less like friendship.”
“Plus we could compare notes afterward,” Axel reasoned. “Identify commonalities. See where you’re going wrong.”
“Or where you might be going right,” I added.
Ariana glanced over at Zane. So far he’d said nothing.
“And what do you think?” she asked, keeping her voice playful. “Wanna ‘date’ me?”
Zane smirked and raised an eyebrow. The two big arms already folded across his chest tightened. “What do I get out of it?”
“The satisfaction of helping out a friend?” Ariana grinned.
Zane huffed. “I get that all the time anyway,” he countered. “I got it when we helped you move. I got it when I loaned you that money three months ago.” He seemed amused now. “And then there was that time you needed—”
“Alright, alright,” Ariana relented. “Jeeze. I’m gonna pay you back.”
“Oh, I know,” Zane smiled.
“What else is there, then?” she asked. “I mean, it’s only a practice date.”
Zane said nothing. Ariana bit her lip through the silence, and thought for a moment.
“I guess there could be a goodnight kiss in it for you,” she teased. “If you play your cards right, that is.”
The flirty way she added that last part sent a pinprick of jealousy rocketing through me. Zane and Ariana stared at each other for an uncomfortably long time. There was a strange look in her eyes I hadn’t noticed before.
Oddly, there was one in his eyes too.
“Look, I know I suck at this,” Ariana sighed. “And I know you guys are just messing around with me—”
“We’re not messing around,” I cut her off. “And we’re not kidding. Three practice dates, and more if you need them. It’s the only way you’re gonna learn.” Just so the last part didn’t sound insulting, I added a friendly grin. “It’s not like it can hurt, can it?”
