Page 5 of Broken Beauty

“Does he kill the wife?”

Ariella gives me a teasing smile and I swear I could go on my knees for her to do that again.

“If I told you it would ruin the book.”

“Guess I'll have to finally buy it then.” I give her a small smile. The waitress ends up coming back with the tab and I don't even think twice before giving her my black card. She takes it and Ariella just gives me a frown. “What?”

“I could have paid for mine.”

“No. I'm having fun talking to you. Why would I let you pay if I'm having fun?”

“Because I can pay for my own stuff?”

“You don't need to when you are hanging out with me.”

Ariella blushes again and I see her scratch her wrist. “I need to ask you something.”

“Does this mean we should get some dessert?”

“If they have mousse cake then I think dessert is definitely a good move.”

The waitress ends up coming back and I ask her to bring two mousse cakes to the table. I tell her to charge it on the same card and when she comes back with my card she also comes back with two mousse cakes.

“So Ariella, what is so important you have to ask me?”

Ariella scratches her wrist again and I see her throat move from swallowing. “I told you that I want to start experiencing new things.”

I nod my head and take a bite out of the mousse cake.

Ariella does the same.

“That's right.”

“This summer I made a bucket that I want to complete before going to college.”

“Okay. What's on this bucket list?”

Ariella blushes but she grabs her bag and pulls out a piece of paper to hand to me.

2023 Summer

- Go on a date with a stranger

- Kiss a stranger

- Go to a club and dance with a stranger

- Ask a hot person for their number

- Have sex with a stranger

- Go to New York

- Go watch the fireworks on the tallest hill

- Go star watching

- Go to the fair