Page 45 of The Pursuit of Happiness

“What do you think is gonna happen? You know…after tonight,” I bite my lip in an attempt to staunch my anxiousness.

He takes a deep breath and looks off to the side, contemplating his response before he shrugs, “I honestly don’t know, but whatever happens, I won’t let anything happen to you.” He says it with such sincerity, conviction that I want to believe him and I almost do.

The problem with his promise is that I don’t want him to worry about me. I want him to worry about what this is going to mean forhim. I open my mouth to protest but he beats me to it by soothing, “Go to sleep. You can worry tomorrow, but for now get some sleep.”

He retreats back into the hall, closing the door behind him and as his footsteps sound from down the hall, more and more distance growing between us, I drop my head to the pillow and worry about what tonight means for myself and for the gorgeousblond man I can’t stop rejecting, but also can’t stop slipping with.

Chapter 10

Slater

I feel hungover asfuck, but I barely drank anything. I know my current headache is in part caused by the overthinking I did last night and from not sleeping. My mind kept retracing the events of last night. I’m always even tempered. I never fight, I never snap, and I never argue. But last night, something inside of me broke. I lost my shit and snapped. I could’ve potentially killed that guy and part of me regrets that I didn’t. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.

What that man said about Aria pushed me over the edge. I’m starting to realize that the way I feel for her can be dangerous. Not for us, but for other people. I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting her, especially not when I know what this does to her. She’s struggling over this whole situation and I’m wondering if that’s why she’s been pushing me away, but I also wonder if my wounded pride is making me question her motive.

I had breakfast delivered for us this morning and plated everything to keep myself busy while Aria still sleeps. I’m afraid she’ll be angry at me after her worry has had time to settle. I haven’t turned my phone on yet because I know what awaits me when I do. I’ll have a million missed calls all from Steve, Selene, my mom and dad, Nate, Miles, and possibly even Rogan. The thought of discussing what happened or being yelled at for it isn’t on my to-do list for today, so I’m avoiding the problem until I can’t avoid it anymore.

I hear footsteps padding down the stairs slowly and I anticipate Aria’s presence. I feel my chest tighten with worryover how she’s going to look when she sees me. I worry over just how angry she’ll be with me.

When she enters the kitchen, her hair a mess from sleep and her arms wrapped over herself as she wears my clothes, my dick immediately springs to life. I imagine for a split second what it would be like to have her here every morning wearing my clothes. I silently thank the universe that I’m standing behind the counter so she can’t see the hard on I’m sporting right now. I feel like a pubescent teen getting hard over the sight of his crush. I need to get it together.

I wait for her to give me a look of distaste, disgust, anything, but she doesn’t. She just gives me a weak, exhausted smile. “Good morning,” she greets. Her eyes are puffy from her crying last night and there are remnants of mascara around her eyes. I feel a sudden rush of guilt knowing that I’m the reason she’s upset. I did this. I put that look on her face.

“Good morning,” I try to hide the sadness in my voice but it barely works.

She gives me a worried look and I gesture towards the food, “I got you breakfast.”

She looks up at me and suddenly doesn’t look tired and sad anymore. She looks excited and cheery. Her caramel eyes brighten and glimmer in the light and I realize that food may be the way to Aria Kane’s heart. “Did you make this?” She asks, impressed.

I laugh, “Don’t let my gorgeous kitchen fool you. It’s never been used.”

Her eyes widen in surprise, “You don’t like to cook?”

I shake my head, “Not only that, but I don’t know how to.”

She stabs at some french toast with her fork and brings it to her mouth. “I love cooking. I could teach you,” the offer hangs in the air between us.

Selfishly, I nod because I want to spend more time with herand I’ll suffer a cooking lesson if that’s what it takes. “Yes, Chef. Thank you,” I joke.

She laughs as she chews and when she swallows, her smile falls. “Have you heard anything? About last night.”

I sigh, “No. But that’s probably because I never turned my phone on.”

“Selene may kill you,” she frowns. I’m aware of that and I’ll admit, that is one of the biggest reasons I did not check my phone. “I’ll say something really nice at your funeral,” Aria grins as she takes another bite.

I start digging into my own plate, “Why is Selene so scary?”

Aria laughs, “Brody said Selene used to be pretty calm and chill back when they were younger. She got super cut-throat and ruthless when she started going to law school. Especially towards when she graduated. I think she had some drama with some other lawyers that went sour.”

I raise a brow, “Why is Selene your manager if she’s a lawyer?”

Aria smiles innocently as if she’s used to getting this question. “Because she makes a fuck ton more managing us and also because we’re all friends. I know it doesn’t seem like it because she scares the shit out of us, but we’re a group, the four of us.”

I nod, “I get that. I’m happy you have that kind of support in your friendships. Especially because…” I let my words trail off, realizing I’m wandering into territory I have no business discussing.

She cocks her head, “Especially because I don’t have good relationships with my parents?”

I scratch the back of my head uncomfortably, “I didn’t mean to-”

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