Page 81 of Forty, Flirty & F*cked

"When I was sixteen," she starts, voice faltering. "I lost someone too."

Her fingers tighten on the edge of her blazer.

I step closer, instinct taking over. "Ariana..."

She blinks hard, looking up at me. "I still remember what it was like, watching someone you love disappear in pieces. Trying so hard to hold on, even when they don’t know who you are anymore."

She swallows, and for the first time since I’ve met her, she looks completely, devastatingly vulnerable.

The elevator beeps.

"I should’ve done more," she whispers. "I should’ve—" Her breath catches. "Connor..."

"Stay."

"What?"

"Stay." I pull her closer. "Let me order lunch. Let me help with your dad's protein powder empire. Let me..."

"Let you what?"

Love you, I think. Let me love you.

But before I can answer, the elevator beeps again.

"Connor?" My mother's voice rings out. "Darling, I brought healing crystals for the IPO! And your father said something about inappropriate workplace relationships..."

Ariana's eyes go wide. "Is that?—"

"Hide."

"What?"

"Hide!" I push her toward my bedroom. "Unless you want a two-hour lecture about aligning your chakras..."

“Ryland Connor Reeves!” Mom calls. "These crystals won't charge themselves!"

Ariana ducks into the bedroom just as my mother appears, arms full of what appears to be several thousand dollars' worth of rocks.

"There you are!" She beams. "Now, about your energy centers..."

I glance at the bedroom door, where I swear I can hear muffled laughter.

Professional distance is definitely overrated.

20

RUNNING IN HEELS (AND OTHER BAD DECISIONS)

ARIANA

Hiding in Connor Reeves' bedroom while his mother attempts to cleanse his chakras with rose quartz wasn't exactly how I planned to spend my Thursday afternoon. Then again, nothing about the last twenty-four hours has gone according to plan.

"The amethyst needs to face north-northwest," Connor's mother insists from the other room. "Otherwise, the energy flow will disrupt your abundance mindset!"

"Mom," Connor's voice carries that special strain of someone being crystal-therapied against their will, "I really need to get back to work..."

"Work can wait! Your spiritual alignment cannot!"

---