Can a man and a woman be merely friends?

(ARIELLE'S POV)

momentarily speechless.

I looked up to stare at the person I had bumped into. It turned out to be a young man, and in the fleeting moment I looked at his face, I couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. His eyes were a drowning emerald green, and his features, chiseled and rugged, left me I shook my head, snapping out of the spellbound. "I'm so sorry," I quickly began to apologize.

My eyes darted a short-distance away, and I saw a phone lying on the floor. "Is that your phone?" I asked, not waiting for an answer as I scurried towards it, picked it up, and handed it back to him. "Fortunately, no harm was done to the phone. I'm sorry again."

All this while, the young man had not uttered a word. And when he finally did, he had an amused smile on. "No need to apologize, really. I should be the one apologizing."

I shook my head, "No, I was the one who wasn't looking and bumped into you."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. "Then let's call it even. I wasn't paying attention either."

I couldn't help but smile, caught off guard by how effortlessly charming he seemed. He extended his hand. "Dwayne, by the way."

Just as I reached out to shake his hand, Ashley's voice called out, cutting through the moment. "Arielle, where have you been? I told you I'd be right back after the call!"

I withdrew my hand quickly, giving Dwayne an apologetic look before turning to Ashley. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wander off."

Dwayne's gaze lingered on me, his smile not fading. "That was Jared Smith in that garden, right?"

Yeah, with his best friend. I held that sentence back but nodded, a bit surprised he recognized Jared, but that's not a rare thing since Jared is quite famous in New York city.

I hesitated, "Um, do you come here for him?"

He smiled, "No. I just had a feeling that you and me, we'd cross paths again."

His words struck me, but before I could respond, Ashley pulled me along. "Come on, we need to go."

!!

As I walked away, I cast a glance back at Dwayne. He stood there, watching me with a gentle yet unreadable expression.

Ashley gave me a curious look. "Who was that alluring fox?"

I couldn't help but smile at her choice of words-classic Ashley. Shaking my head, I replied, "Just a weirdo I bumped into."

She laughed, giving me a teasing nudge. "Really? Isn't it always the case that the hottest guys are the craziest? Total package."

I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "I don't know about all that."

Ashley raised an eyebrow, her playful grin returning. "So... do you still want to explore the garden?"

I thought of it, but the image of Jared and Sofia conversing flashed in my mind, and I quickly shook my head. I would rather not bump into them again. "No, I'm tired. I need to rest." "That's right. Let's head back inside," she said and led me back to my hospital room. We got inside, and she helped me into bed.

"Try to rest, okay?"

and Sofia in the garden alone kept blocking

I didn't realize I

you okay, Arielle. You seem restless, should

"I'm fine -"

in the garden while I

nothing happened," I quickly said, trying to brush it off. I can't tell her I saw Jared and Sofia in the

made to say, but the door swung open, and the doctor

on you like I promised, Mrs. Smith," Doctor Wade said, flashing me

braced myself for the examination. She was done in no time and straightened

expression turned serious as the nurse handed her the file. "Mrs. Smith, these results just came in from the

a knot in my stomach, and my heart raced with anxiety. What was I expecting? This was a hospital, and they were bound to find out. I'm even surprised it took them this long. Ashley broke the silence, sounding surprised. "Are you sure, Doctor?" She asked, her eyes darting from

nodded, "Yes. Very

let out a loud scream and jumped on me, "You're pregnant, girl! I'm going to be a godmother!" She wrapped her arms around me, and I managed to smile, trying not

not telling her sooner. Seeing her this

smiling, said, "Congratulations, once again. I will take

surprised them, and me, by blurting,

around me, stiffen. "No, I haven't

shocked them further with my next words. "Can you please not

Wade's face stiffened, "Why, if

break the news to him myself." I winced inwardly at how

face relaxed, and the smile returned to her face. "Alright, I wouldn't ruin the surprise for you. Congratulations once again," she said before leaving

to respond. She eventually stopped when she noticed I wasn't as excited as her. "What's the

"I

And you don't even look surprised by

things from her. "I knew I was pregnant, Ashley. I have known

excitement to shock, as her arms around me

to the caller turning out to be Sofia, down to how I have not been able to break the news to Jared because Sofia kept

you have kept all of these from me. How many more secrets are you hiding from me, Arielle Smith?"

I promise. I'm sorry, Ashley. Believe me, I

past few days have been hectic for you, and I can't blame you.

It's never

Your little secretive ass is

"Thank you."

then her expression turned serious. "On a serious note, I think you should inform Jared. You can't keep such a secret for long. Pregnancy is not

know, and I do want to inform him, but with his attitude lately, and Sofia clinging on to him like a life jacket, it seems impossible. I feel he will not react

on Sofia because she is pregnant. Realizing his own wife is pregnant too, could do the magic. Don't

towards me is because of the

"I don't think -"

I ask a question?" I

looked surprised, but nodded. "Sure.

woman can be together for a long

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