Page 63 of The Pursuit of Happiness

I know right away what he’s talking about and start to laugh, “I love you, Slater Nicks.”

I laugh as he kisses my neck, my face, my lips. I laugh as I realize he’s the only one who can make me go from hysterically sobbing to laughing. I laugh as I realize what a fool I was not to see what was in front of me all along and I laugh as I realize that tape may have been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Well, aside from Slater Nicks.

SLATER

ARIA SLEEPS DEEPLY WITHher head on my chest, my hand threaded into her hair, twirling the auburn and azure strands. She’s sound asleep, breathing steady. She’s been asleep for a couple of hours and I’ve just been watching her. I’m too restless to sleep right now, my thoughts swirling like a tornado has circled around my head with no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

All I can think about is Duncan, her ex, and how he’s been harassing her. The things that he’s said about her…they set me into a blind rage similar to the one I was in when I nearly killed that pap. I want to tear him apart limb from fucking limb and I want to do it with my bare hands. I want to cut out his tongue and hand it to her on a tray of diamonds, a gift and an offering. Perhaps without his tongue he’d have less to say about her, though he has been texting everything. Maybe I’ll just have to settle for his thumbs.

My anger stirs anew and I’m suddenly unable to stay in bed. I need to move. I carefully remove her head from my chest and prop it up on a pillow. I don’t move until I know she’s still soundlessly asleep and then I get up and grab my phone. I glance at Aria over my shoulder before I walk to the balcony and step outside, the chill of the night air causing the hair to rise on my bare arms. The moonlight pours into the room, illuminating the side of Aria’s face and I watch as she rolls onto her side in her sleep, her back now to me. I take a long breath, trying mybest to force my anger at bay, but it doesn’t seem to settle.

I’m already pressing the call button on my phone before I can think better of it. There’s an answer after the fourth ring, “There better be a good reason that you’re calling me at two in the morning,” Selene answers sounding wide awake. “I’m very busy,” she complains.

I make a confused expression even though she can’t see me. “I’m alarmed that you’re wide awake right now, but also curious as to why.”

“I’m flattered you’re interested in my whereabouts, but I’m happily married, thank you. Is there something you need or did you just call to bother me?” She asks impatiently. I remember Aria mentioning Selene was married. She said that Selene and her husband Dylan have been together since they were fifteen and sixteen. They got married when Selene graduated law school and Dylan had already been a practicing accountant at the time.

I look at Aria again over my shoulder and know that what I’m about to do, I can’t tell her. At least not right now. “I need something.”

I can practically hear the smile on the other end, “I was hoping you needed something. And I assume Aria’s sleeping right now?”

Okay, not closing the door on the possibility of Selene having hidden cameras in our homes. “How did you-” I shake my head and roll my eyes at myself, “You know what? I know better than to ask questions.”

She snorts a laugh, “You’re learning so fast.”

I pause for a moment and then give in, “Okay, seriously, do you actually have cameras in our houses or was that a joke?”

“Whether or not I have cameras will never be revealed to you. Now, what do you need and why are you not telling Aria?” She asks, suddenly all business.

I lean my back against the edge of the balcony, my eyes never leaving Aria’s sleeping form. “I need Dallas Carter’s contact info.”

Selene pauses on the other end. She answers a minute later, “Why?” We all know Dallas’ reputation, especially after everything going on with the tape. He’s not the kind of guy you call for a simple favor, but rather the kind of guy you call when you need something bordering on illegal. The guy operates in the morally gray area that Harvey operates in, but there’s a different aura of intensity around Dallas. He’s more of the killing calm type.

“Aria is getting texts from her ex-boyfriend. He won’t stop,” I explain, my voice dark. I clutch my phone so tight it’s a miracle it doesn’t shatter into pieces.

Selene takes a deep breath before whispering, “Duncan.”

I nod even though she can’t see me. “I need him stopped. She’s been blocking him, but he texts from a new number every time.”

“I’ll send you Dallas’ info,” she agrees. I feel my phone vibrate and check the screen. Sure enough, Selene has already forwarded me Dallas’ contact.

“Thanks,” I say appreciatively.

“Is she okay?” There’s an edge to Selene’s voice. A worried edge.

I take a deep breath. “Things got a little messy earlier and there were a lot of tears and love confessions, but I think she’ll be okay.”

“Good. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”

“Thank you, Selene. Sorry to call so late,” I apologize, realizing how rude it was of me.

She laughs, “I’ll chalk your naivety up to not knowing me. I’m always awake at odd hours.”

I shake my head, “You really can’t be human.”

“Keep thinking of me that way. It’ll stop you from beating paps and making amateur porn,” she chastises.

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