Chapter 51

Aria

Bella lounged on my couch in an oversized hoodie and matching sweatpants, her legs spread out in front of her as I poured us each a fresh glass of wine in the kitchen. It was a peaceful Friday night, despite everything.

The memory of Darren’s almost-kiss still lingered, but he had respected my wishes and kept a distance between us at work today. And besides, I was still processing everything he had told me last night. Come Monday, I was sure things would be back to normal.

Hopefully.

“So let me get this straight,” Bella said as I handed her a glass. “You took care of his puppy eighteen years ago, randomly kissed him in a bar a month ago, and you’re working for him now?” When I nodded, she scoffed and shook her head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that fate was pushing you two together.”

I managed a light laugh, but inside, I was dying. If only you knew, I thought.

Bella sipped her wine. “Seriously, though, it’s crazy. But what’s not crazy is how Sarah took the credit. That’s just like her.”

My chest clenched involuntarily at that. “Yeah. It sure is.” I was still wrapping my head around it, if I was being honest. No wonder she was so hell-bent on getting me fired from Lunar Labs; she wanted to make sure Darren wouldn’t find out the truth.

My friend’s expression twisted with anger. “I fucking hate that bitch. Good on you for standing up to her. And your awful parents.”

“Her awful parents,” I corrected bitterly. “They’re not mine. They never were.”

Bella sighed and lifted her glass. “I’ll toast to that.”

We sipped our wine in silence for a few moments, listening to the cacophony of city noise outside—sirens, voices, music playing through my neighbors’ open windows.

“So,” Bella went on, “what is the deal with you and Darren now?” She wiggled her eyebrows at me. “I mean, it really does feel like the universe is pushing you together. If he keeps kissing you, he clearly likes you. Maybe you should, I don’t know, go out.”

Heat prickled across my cheeks, and I looked away, shifting uncomfortably in my plush papasan chair. “It’s… complicated.”

Her eyes widened. “Complicated? Is that what we’re calling it? Because it looked pretty simple when I saw the way you blushed just now.”

“Oh, stop it,” I muttered, my face going even warmer. “It’s not like that.”

“Uh-huh. So, what is it like, then?” Bella pressed, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. “You’re just sucking on each other’s faces half the time because that’s what friends do?”

“Bella,” I warned.

“No, I’m serious!” she insisted, laughing. “You’re smiling, and I’m sorry, but after everything you’ve told me, I just… I can’t help myself. You and Darren. The mysterious CEO who keeps coming into your life over and over again. That’s not nothing.”

My laughter faded as I thought about the real reasons behind why we couldn’t be together—our different… heritage being a big part of it. But she couldn’t know that, of course.

“Bella, it’s just… it’s different with him. He’s—he’s a complicated person, and let’s just say his… background and mine aren’t exactly compatible.” I looked down, pensively swirling my wine around in my glass.

My friend studied me quietly, but I could see her determination was only growing. “Who gives a flying shit about backgrounds? If he likes you, he likes you, right? And you clearly like him. Isn’t that enough?”

I let out a sigh. “It’s… kind of a status thing. I mean, he’s… well, a billionaire. And I’m just a girl from downtown. It wouldn’t make sense. Not to him, and certainly not to anyone else.”

She rolled her eyes, brushing that excuse away like it was a speck of dust on her shoulder. “That’s such garbage, Aria. Honestly, if you’re into him, and he’s into you, then you should just go for it. I thought you wanted to seem less uptight.”

I stared incredulously at Bella. It was a harsh reminder of the things that Jackson had said to me, and she knew it. But she just shrugged and stared back.

“I’m not looking to be reminded of Jackson,” I bit out.

The name fell between us like a brick, and Bella’s face softened instantly. “I didn’t mean that,” she murmured. “I’m just saying… don’t you want to live a little? Put yourself out there?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “But I’m also not ready for another… mess. I want to date for marriage, not for a temporary thing that might…” I trailed off, feeling that familiar ache in my chest. Before I let myself fall for something that wouldn’t be there in the end, I wanted to say. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.

Bella seemed to get what I was hinting at, and seemed to ease back a little. “Alright. But… How about this? Tomorrow we’re going out, just you and me, and we’re doing a full spa day. That way, at least you’ll look amazing next time he’s all ‘complicated’ and broody around you.”

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. “So that’s your solution to everything? A spa day?”

“Hey, it doesn’t hurt, does it?” she shot back, eyeing me mischievously over her wine glass. “Besides, you deserve it. This past month has been a lot for you. So let’s just relax and pamper ourselves.”

I shrugged, trying to hide my smile. “Fine, but I’m doing it for me—not him.”

“Of course, of course,” Bella agreed, although I could tell that she didn’t believe me for one second.

The next morning, Bella and I made our way to the spa, where we slipped into plush robes and prepared for a full day of pampering. Truthfully, I did need it.

We started with a massage, which did wonders for my tense shoulders, then moved on to mani/pedis, facials, and even hair treatments. It was pricey, but worth it. And I wouldn’t lie; it felt sort of nice to be able to afford such things now when I never had before.

“Oh my gosh, you look amazing!” Bella practically squealed when I walked out of the changing room at the end of the day. “Darren’s going to pass out when he sees you.”

I rolled my eyes as I raked my fingers through my freshly styled hair. It was so soft and silky. “I told you, this isn’t about Darren.”

“Mhm, sure it’s not…”

As we made our way toward the front to check out, Bella’s eyes narrowed on something just below my neck. “Hey, what’s that mark there? I never noticed it before.” She leaned closer, touching the red, crescent-shaped mark on my collarbone that was peeking out above my shirt.

My heart suddenly quickened. “Oh, this?” I choked out, trying to maintain some semblance of calm. “It’s just a… burn from my hair straightener.”

She raised an eyebrow but seemed to accept it. “Ouch. Happens to the best of us, I guess.”

“Beauty is pain,” I replied, laughing it off despite my stomach doing somersaults inside of me.

After we paid, we headed out of the spa. The air was especially warm today, the chill of winter finally receding, and so I tucked my jacket over my arm as we walked down the street. Bella chattered away about being hungry and wanting to try a new cafe a few blocks down, but I hardly heard her.

Because up ahead, I saw an all-too-familiar figure walking toward us.

“Arthur,” I breathed. What the hell was he doing here?

He stopped in his tracks, his upper lip curling into the barest of sneers. “Aria.”

But just as quickly as his look of distaste came, it faded. His eyes widened as he looked at me, and suddenly, he was excusing himself and rushing away, knocking into my shoulder as he passed.

“Hey, watch it, asshole!” Bella called out, turning to look at his retreating form. “What the hell was his problem?”

I swallowed hard. I wanted to think that it was the fact that he’d gotten fired over me, but this… this felt different, somehow.

“I… don’t know,” I whispered, suddenly feeling rather unwell.