Page 21 of Blush Crush

“Cole.”

I stop, hand on the doorframe.

“And remember—not just some random girl. I won’t have the family pictures we take with the bride and groom tainted by someone you’re not serious with. If you don’t meet someone soon, I’ll be forced to take matters into my own hands.”

I don’t doubt it for a second. Once she sets her mind to something, there’s no telling what lengths she’ll go to make it happen. And the last thing I want is to be subjected to countless setups and more of her meddling.

I’ll find someone myself. I have to.

CHAPTER 6

Ariana

YOU DON’T ORGASM

“Ican’t believe he called you to come in,” Layla says, shaking her head.

After the tasting room closed for the evening, I felt too fidgety to go home and instead decided to get a head start on prepping some baked goods for the week. I didn’t expect Layla to join me, but she saw my car parked out front when she was driving by after her shift. She’s dressed in scrubs, her long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, and of course still looks perfect even though she’d been working for twelve hours.

I shrug. “It’s really not a big deal.”

“It’s literally your only day off.”

“And I don’t mind. At least not very much.”

Unsatisfied with my answer, she starts vigorously texting.

“Don’t text Ethan, please. I’m not in the mood for a whole argument.”

“So instead you’re just going to let him walk all over you?”

She’s the second person this week to tell me I let people walk all over me. And I’m not sure what that says about me. Nothing good, that’s for sure.

“Look, I’m having a not-so-great day. Can you just let it go? Please?”

Layla sits up straighter, her smile dropping. “You’re hiding something. Spill.”

Sometimes I hate being a twin. With most people, I can hold myself back, hide the parts of me I’d rather keep hidden. But Layla sees everything. She feels everything. It’s like we share a soul.

“It’s not a big deal. Just some guy I had a thing for isn’t interested in me, so I got a little sad about it. It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Her face twists, a painful expression marring her features. “Oh, Ariana.”

I close my eyes, wincing. I hate that tone, the sadness between syllables. She feels sorry for me. Poor Ariana, who never quite gets it right.

“I’m really fine, I promise,” I say, trying to sound brighter, trying to move on from the subject.

“Who is it? Because I’ll kick his stupid ass if you want me to.”

I laugh despite myself. “It doesn’t matter. None of it matters.”

“Can I say something and you promise not to get mad?”

My shoulders tense. “What?”

“I think your heart outruns your head,” she says gently. “And you’ve got to protect it. Slow down. Actually—maybe don’t lead with it at all for once. Have some fun. You don’t let yourself do that. You don’t put yourself out there unless you already see wedding colors and a shared last name.”

My mouth pops open to argue, but she keeps going.