Page 55 of Dismantle & Prevail

“Wait here.”

Ari runs back to his truck and pulls out two lawn chairs, a large plush blanket, and a backpack.

“Sorry. I know it's not some summer picnic at the park, but this is the best I could do when it snows over half the year here.”

Laughter escapes me and I watch as he sets the chairs up, making sure they are still in the perfect position to look out at the snowy canyon.

Setting the backpack and blanket in the other chair, he reaches his hand out to me and I allow him to guide me to sit and cover me with the cozy blanket.

“Warm?”

“Plenty.”

Ari takes a seat in the chair nestled close to mine and starts digging through the backpack.

“Where did you get that bag? Mary Poppins?”

“Haha. Very funny.” Sarcasm laces his voice as he pulls out a bag of Jolly Ranchers. “Here. I know it's not the healthiest thing, but I also know they’re your favorite.” His voice trails off and my mouth waters at the sight of the candy.

I dig into the bag when I stop and freeze. It’s full of only blue and red jolly ranchers.

My head snaps up to Ari and I feel tears welling in my eyes.

Reaching over, he slides my chair closer to his and lifting my legs to rest on his. Ari covers himself with the remainder of the blanket before resting his hands atop my shins. “You only like the blue and red, right?”

“Yeah. How did you know that?”

“I see you, Taylor. You are a creature of habit and love to work in the same places. Most of the time you are so locked in on your computer, a war could start behind you and you wouldn’t know. You think I haven’t seen one of the many times you buy three bags just to pick out two colors?”

I blame today for making me an emotional wreck over some goddamn candies.

“B-But why? You have more important shit to do than worry about me.”

Without missing a beat, he says, “Because you are impossible to miss. Strength radiates off you in waves, which would be hard for anyone to overlook.” He pauses, leaning closer to me, his voice almost a whisper. “Never tell me I have more important things to worry about. I meant it when I said I wanted you in my life, whether you're mine or just my friend. You are everything to me, Taylor. Never forget that.”

“Ace.” My chest deflates and I sink further into the chair. My mind goes a mile a minute, trying to decipher how I feel about this man who is doing a damn good job at convincing me he’s the man for me.

Ari relaxes in his seat and squeezes my leg. “Don’t. We are not here to talk about us. We are here to talk about you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I have a secret that I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while, but it never was the right time.”

My stomach drops. What the hell could he be keeping from me?

“Stop. I see that look. It’s nothing bad.”

I throw a piece of candy at him. “You're an ass. Don’t you know not to say that shit? Especially to a woman! It's in our DNA to overthink literally everything.”

Ari chuckles and runs his hand up and down my leg absentmindedly. “Sorry Hellhound. Won’t happen again. Can I tell you now, or do you need a moment to overthink some more?”

My eyes roll and I throw another candy. “Ass.”

“Whatever you say.” Pausing to adjust his beanie, he says, “I want to preface that this isn’t a secret. More like a fib. So you may get pissed, but I need you to know, I promise I did it for the right reasons.”

“Okay?”

“Do you remember the first anniversary you came to Braveheart? You kept to yourself, but the next day you saw I had a black eye and made fun of me?”