I blink a few times, not sure what to say. I don’t know if she has the money to pay for my school but I’m assuming that if she’s saying she will, then she can. Maybe she has more control over the family finances than I realize.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“It’s the least I can do for your schooling—”
“No, Mom. Thank you for getting us out.”
She grabs me then and hugs me harder than I’ve ever been hugged before. And I hug her back. It’s not going to be a quick fix for everything but it’s an amazing start.
Mom stays for dinner, and Arden cooks her his signature pasta primavera dish, the same dish he made for me when he was trying to impress me.
Turns out the Freeman women are easily impressed because it works like a charm on my mother too. By the end of the evening, Arden has her eating out of the palm of his hand with promises of recipe sharing and visits to Vermont vineyards when we come out to see her and my Aunt Kat.
Arden clears off the table too—even though it’s technically my job.Kiss ass—before joining us on the couch. Since it’s late, Mom has to stay for the night and we plan a slumber party in my room, even though I’d much rather leave her by herself in there and I’d happily share with Arden.Baby steps, Danika.
“You two have made a lovely home here,” Mom comments as we get into the bed that night.
“Thank you,” I reply, pulling the covers up to my chin. “Did you ever think that I would end up with my best friend’s older brother?”
Mom scoffs. “Oh, of course I did. You’ve been in love with that boy since you were twelve years old.”
“Mom!” I squeal, swatting at her. “That is so not true!”
She breaks out in a fit of giggles that I can’t help but join into. When I look over at her, she’s wiping happy tears out of her eyes and I can’t help but smile.
I knew I was missing my girlfriends but what I didn’t realize was what I was really missing was my mom.
Chapter Forty-Six
Arden
“Andthisistheapp with the techniques I’ve been using.”
Pulling up the CalmMe app, I show Danika my favorites and she scrolls through mindfully.
Ever since we’ve been back from Thanksgiving, everything’s been different. In the best way. There are no secrets between us, I’ve told her everything about Melissa and how much she’s helped me over the years. I’ve told her about Katrina who showed me the app and we hashed out any misunderstandings that were there. I totally understand her reservations about Katrina and I vowed to introduce them at the earliest possible time. Whatever makes Danika comfortable is what I’m aiming to do.
As she scrolls through the app, I take the moment to really look at her. We’ve been studying all day and now we’re sitting on the couch with our pajamas on and her messy red hair is thrown haphazardly in a bun. She’s never looked more beautiful.
“What?” She asks me and I realize I’ve been caught.
“Are we still fake dating?”
“What?” She asks again, her tone entirely different. I’m not sure where the question came from but it’s something I’ve been burning to ask for a few weeks now, if I’m honest.
“This thing between us, is it still…pretend?”
Danika puts my phone down and grabs my face with both palms, pulling my focus entirely on her, not that it wasn’t already.
“Peepants,” I roll my eyes but she doesn’t relinquish her hold on my face. “Let’s face it. We were never pretend.” She pulls me to her before I have a chance to respond and it’s for the best because she’s one hundred percent right.
Danika and I were never pretend. We were inevitable.
Epilogue
Danika
“Can’twepickadifferent movie? We literally always watch this one,” Margot complains but I don’t care. It’s my birthday and I want to watchPride and Prejuidice—circa 2005. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, that double take when Mr. Darcy notices Elizabeth for the first time always gets me.