Page 25 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

I heard the doorbell ring and the front door open ten minutes later. “I’m here! Hazel, where are you?”

I leaned forward on the couch, waving a hand at her. She smiled as she shut the door, turning to me. She was holding two cups in one hand and a bag in the other. “I brought goodies.”

I raised an eyebrow. She must have already been out the door when I called if she stopped and bought stuff.

“Coffee and bagel sandwiches.”

“Oh, that sounds yummy.”

She slid her shoe off and walked into the living room. She threw herself onto the couch next to me, dragging half of the blanket over her lap. She leaned back like we had done a hundred times before.

“Whatcha watching?” she asked as she handed me a cup and turned her eyes to the show I had on. I hadn’t even been watching it. My mind was everywhere else.

I shrugged. “Not sure. I just flicked something on.”

She leaned back on the couch and sighed. “So, how have things been between you two? Are you getting along?”

I nodded my head, not wanting Gabriella to worry more than she already was. She’d been messaging me every day asking the same questions. I knew she was here to make sure I wasn’t lying.

“We’re getting along.”

“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?” She glared at me, and I half expected her to know I wasn’t telling the full truth. We learned how to pick up on each other’s bullshit.

I rolled my eyes. “No. If I hated it so much, I would tell you. I would have arrived at your front door with all my crap and taken up the spare bedroom again.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Asher gave me space, which is what made this bearable. He wasn’t hounding me or constantly bothering me. It was nice to have alone time. But he was around if I needed anything. That was what annoyed me. I felt like I was being watched, but he wasn’t watching me.

I knew she needed more if she was going to believe me. “We went out skating yesterday.”

Her eyebrows went up. “Really? You went skating?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Fell on my ass a few times, but I had a good time. It was fun. He used to play hockey, so he was really good on the ice.”

“Oh, well then, maybe you are doing fine.” She took a sip of her coffee and pulled out a bagel. “And you two have been getting along? He’s been treating you nicely?”

I nodded. “Yes, Gabriella. He’s nice. He’s respectful.”

I could see her shoulders relax at my words. “Good, that makes me feel better.”

We ate as we watched TV. Gabriella told me how the house felt empty without me and that she missed having me around.

“I don’t have anyone to chat with in the morning,” she whined as she pulled her feet up, scooting them underneath her. “No one to side with me when Westley won’t admit he’s wrong.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to hold back a laugh. I didn’t even side with her that often when I was living there. “You’ll survive. Besides, I enjoy not listening to a headboard bang against the wall and you panting your husband’s name.”

Her face went red. “That happened once. One time, Hazel.”

I scuffed. “That scene, maybe, but I have heard you guys having sex more than once. I can’t forget the waffle morning when you bent over, and you had no panties on. Thanks for that, by the way. I’ll forever have the image of your vagina engraved into my brain.”

She giggled into her coffee. “You can’t get mad. We’re in love. We at least never did it around the house.”

I snorted. “That I know of. You could have, but I just never caught you. And now that I’m not living there, you guys can fuck in any room that you want.”

She laughed. “Speaking of our house, do you want to join me? The girls are coming over for lunch, and it’s been a while since you’ve joined us.” I could hear the hope in her voice.

I frowned, unsure if I wanted to. “I don’t know. They are more your friends than mine.”

“Oh, don’t say that. They like you just as much as they liked me. Come on, please. You haven’t been back to the house since you moved out.”