him, please. He’s just showing off in front of Tyler and Marcus because we all know he’s a total prude.”
Erik lifted his eyebrows as he leaned back in his chair. “You are so going to pay for that.”
“I fucking hope so.” Casey grinned back at him and gently changed the subject. The guys started discussing duty rosters and an upcoming soccer game, so I lost interest and fiddled with the food on my plate.
“You’re a million miles away,” Casey said softly as the guys scooted their chairs closer together.
I smiled. “Just wondering how long it’s going to take to get a court date and if Madeline can win so I can have some semblance of a life. Not to mention, access to my money. I hate feeling broke.”
“Did your dad cut you off?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I haven’t tried to use any of my cards since we left Vegas.”
“If you need anything, let me know—it’s just a loan,” she added when I started to protest.
“I feel so needy,” I whispered in frustration. “I don’t have enough clothes or cash or credit cards or anything. It’s ridiculous to be worth what I’m worth and have to borrow money from my boyfriend.”
“It’s temporary,” she soothed. “Don’t think about all that. I know you’re good for it. Spend this time getting closer to Tyler and enjoying Hiskale. There’s a lot to see and do, even as it gets colder. There will be a million events coming up for the holidays, and you two are welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“Tyler has to think about the band back in Vegas, and if I’m going to challenge the conservatorship, I need to get back to L.A. I don’t know how long we’re going to be here.”
“Well, for as long as you’re here, worry less and enjoy more. You want to do a spa day? Erik’s cousin, Elen, and I were talking about going. You want to join us?”
“I’d love to.”
“I’ll book it tomorrow and let you know.”
“Thank you, Casey. Your friendship means so much.”
“To be honest, I don’t have that many friends either, so I’m glad to have you here.”
“You’re really not upset about…what we did in the garden?” I whispered.
“Why would I be upset?” she whispered back. “I wish Erik and I could do stuff like that. We have a lot of leeway, but sex on camera is a little beyond what we can get away with. It’s private, but there’s always a risk with something like that getting out.”
“And that’s why I feel bad, because we’re your guests and should have been more considerate than that.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m worried about everything right now.”
Her eyes met mine. “I know, hon. Just remember you’re not alone, okay?”
“Thanks.” I smiled, but part of me didn’t completely believe it.
27
Tyler
I’d been surprised when Ariel apologized to Casey and Erik. I’d already spoken to Casey, and she’d said not to worry about it, and I’d told Ariel, so it had caught me off-guard when she’d apologized again. I had a feeling it was more for Marcus’s benefit than Casey’s, and I felt bad about that, but maybe this was the opening I needed to discuss a few things that had been on my mind.
“So what made you apologize to Casey?” I asked her once we were settled in bed.
“I felt like it needed to come from me, not just you. You didn’t do it alone, and I’m enough of an adult to admit it when I do something wrong.”
“I told you she wasn’t upset about it.”
“I know, but that’s not the point.”
“Are you okay?” I asked slowly. “I’ve been a little worried about you.”
“Depends on what you mean by okay,” she said. “I’m a wreck worrying about what’s coming, what my dad is going to do next, what’s going to happen when we go to court. But if you mean in general, I’m fine.”
“Ariel, I…” I bit my lip, trying to find the right words. I’d started this conversation with her a dozen times in my mind, but now that I was trying to verbalize what I was thinking, it was hard.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, lifting her head from where it had been resting on my chest.
“I just want to be there for you if you need me,” I said. “We’ve never talked about the potential for you to have a bipolar episode, and I think we should.”
She froze, frowning slightly. “Is this because of the other day in the garden?”
“Hypersexuality can be a sign