Page 25 of Small Town Swoo
“Tell meeverything,” she said dramatically.
“Everything about what?”
“About you and Dash! I was dying to ask you about it at the studio but there were too many people around, and Dashiel’s name is so well-known. I didn’t want to start any rumors flying.” She grinned. “But it’s obvious something is going on.”
“Nothing is going on.” I picked up my water and took a sip.
“You’re so cute.” The smile faded, and her tone grew threatening. “Now tell me the truth.”
I laughed. “Nothing is going on, Roni. It’s exactly what I said—he was at the bar when I cut my finger, he took me to the emergency room, then he took me home. I was asshocked as anyone when he showed up Sunday morning and offered to fill in for my absent server.”
Veronica sighed like I was testing her patience and tightened her long blond ponytail. “Okay, but for nearly a year now—as long as I have known you, Ari DeLuca—you’ve done nothing but roll your eyes whenever Dash’s name comes up, and once or twice you have alluded to the fact that you’re not exactly his biggest fan.”
“That’s true,” I allowed. “But honestly, I was just being immature. I had a huge crush on him when we were younger, and one night I did something stupid that resulted in utter heartbreak and humiliation.”
Our wine arrived, but Veronica ignored it. “What did you do?”
“I’ll tell you. But please keep in mind, I was sixteen and crazy about him. Don’t judge me.”
She held up both palms. “Ari, I walked into your diner last June wearing a wedding gown, having just left my fiancé at the altar, and you could not have been nicer. You served me the best burger and fries I’d ever had and told me about the nanny job for Austin’s kids. My life was transformed because of that day. I’d never judge you.”
“Not even when I tell you I snuck into his bedroom and asked him to deflower me?”
Her eyes popped. “You did not!”
“I did,” I said, my face growing hot. “Climbed into bed with him, took off my pajamas, and offered myself up right there on the bottom bunk.”
Veronica slapped a hand to her forehead. “What did he do?”
“Jumped out of bed and turned me down. Said we should just forget it ever happened.” I shuddered. “Let me tell you, there is nothing more tragic at sixteen than havingthe boy of your dreams tell you he just looks at you like a little sister.”
Her expression was anguished. “God, that’s so painful. Then what happened?”
“I snuck back into Mabel’s room and sobbed into the pillow.”
“Did Mabel know?”
I shook my head. “Not until later. I mean, she knew about my crush on him—it had been going on for years—but I hadn’t told her what I was planning.”
Veronica took a sip of her wine. “It’s probably better that he did the right thing, don’t you think?”
“Now I do. But not in the moment. I loved him too much.” I picked up my wineglass. “So what else could I do but hate him forever?”
“Nothing. It was the only solution your poor wounded pride could handle.”
“Especially after he got all famous. Do you know how annoying that is?” I took a sip of pinot and set my glass down. “The guy who rejected you shouldn’t grow up to be a gorgeous Hollywood star,” I said. “He should turn into a toad.”
Smiling, Veronica lifted her wine to her lips. “So how did you go from wanting him to turn into a toad to working side by side at the diner?”
I sighed. “The night I cut my finger, we sort of hugged it out and decided we could be friends.”
“Friends. Hmm.” Her mouth, painted with her usual shade of red lipstick, twisted gleefully.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She lifted her shoulders. “From what I saw at the diner, you two just seem very...cozy together.”
“Cozy?”
