Page 62 of Rush

My chest is starting to feel tight. I rub my hand over the ache.

“Do you want to know what my type is?” he asks.

Nope. Because the last thing I want to hear is you describe the exact opposite of me.

“Uh, sure.” I stop rubbing the ache and wrap my arm over my chest, ready to protect myself from the intentional blows he’s about to throw at me.

“Usually, I go for blondes. Tall. Leggy. You know the type.”

The exact opposite of me then.

I bite the inside of my cheek and make a sound of agreement.

“Women with zero baggage. Who aren’t too interested in commitment, as I’ve really never had time for a relationship—actually, no, that’s not right. What I should’ve said is that I’d never met anyone I wanted to make time to have a relationship with.”

I nod, still biting the inside of my cheek. I’m pretty sure it’s bleeding.

“But that’s changed now.”

“You’ve met someone?” I blurt out.

He nods, steady blue eyes holding mine. “Yes.”

Knife, meet my heart.

But, of course, this was going to happen at some point, if we were going to be friends. I mean, look at him, for God’s sake. He’s gorgeous, smart, and talented, and he has a good heart once you get past the assholery. It’s not like he was going to stay single forever. I guess I just didn’t expect it to happen quite so soon. And when the hell did he meet her? It’s not like he’s with me all the time, but this last week, we’ve spent quite a lot of time together at my place, watching Dexter. And, in that time, he’s never let on that there’s been anyone…a woman in his life.

Jesus.

God, just the thought of it hurts. What will it be like when I have to see him with her? She must be tall and beautiful and have her shit completely together. Unlike me.

I don’t think I can do this.

Yes, you can. You’re his friend. So, be his friend. Suck it up, Ari. It’s big-girl panties time.

“Wow. That’s great. I’m really happy for you.”

Okay, so that wasn’t so great. I sounded insincere as hell. And, if I could hear the insincerity in my voice, then he probably did, too.

But, if he did hear it, he doesn’t call me on it, which I’m grateful for.

“Well, don’t be too happy for me. She doesn’t know how I feel yet…and she might not feel the same way.”

She will. Trust me.

“I’m sure she will. You should tell her.” I nearly bite through my lip when I say that.

Why did I say that?

“You’re right.” He nods, still staring at me. Actually, he hasn’t moved his eyes off me once since this whole conversation started. “It’s funny though,” he continues, “because of what I said before—you know, about what my usual type is. Well, this girl is the exact opposite of that. She’s brunette. Short as hell. Filthy mouth on her. Has baggage bigger than JFK. We do, however, share the same taste in movies and music—well, apart from NSYNC…”

I suck in a sharp breath.

He can’t mean…

Was Luke right that Ares might see me as more than a friend?

Surely not.