Page 69 of The Pursuit of Happiness

He gives me an uninterested look as if he’d rather be anywhere but here. He raises his brow for me to continue. “Thank you. For trying to help.” I am grateful that he was willing to help us and is still willing to help us, even though we don’t know the truth of his motivations.

He doesn’t say anything and Sly reaches for my hand, leading me out of Selene’s office and into the hall. The only things I took from that meeting were a sick sense of dread and a fraction of hope. We’ll see which overpowers which in the end.

Chapter 16

Slater

I feel useless. I’vealways prided myself on being tenacious and resilient, always adapting to what’s been thrown at me and rolling with the punches as if they were never thrown. The one punch that’s actually hit its mark in my life was not being able to do anything to wipe that defeated look from Aria’s face yesterday in Selene’s office. It’s my job to make sure she feels safe and secure and I feel like I’m failing every day that whoever did this walks free and unnoticed.

After the studio today, I had a few meetings with Steve and the guys and Aria had plans with Brody, Ivory, and Harvey’s younger sister, Lucy. I think they’re doing some kind of girls night thing and I’m happy that Aria will be able to take her mind off of things, even if only for a short time. I appreciate her friends and their devotion to supporting her. They can be there for her in a way that I can’t, which makes this pain in my chest ease only slightly.

I’m currently cleaning out the nightstand on the opposite side of my bed, the side that Aria has been occupying in her sleepovers. I’m clearing it out for her and filling it with some things she may need for when she comes over. She made a brief mention about wanting to leave a few things here, and I was ready to clear out space for her in my closet, my bathroom, anywhere. Anywhere she wants space, she can fucking have it. She can have the whole fucking house if she wants. I’d be willing to give up anything if it meant I got to keep her forever, and I fully intend to.

I guess we’ll just start small with a drawer though. I know she had a past tendency to get scared and put distance between us when things moved too fast or if I pushed her too far, so a nightstand is where we start, and the whole house is where we end.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I slide it out to find a message notification from my girl. It’s a photo of her and the girls with bright green face mask things on. They’re all smiling and laughing in the photo and I can’t help but smile at the sight of her radiant face. My heart warms at the sight of that smile and the lack of tension in her shoulders. A new text comes in from her.

SHOWER BUDDY

Shower Buddy

Girl’s night is a success

Me

Good. You deserve to smile

Shower Buddy

And you deserve show-stopping, world ending,

insanely good head.

Shower Buddy

Oh, and a boyfriend of the year award

Me

I think I’ll just settle for your Muse Award

Me

HA!

Shower Buddy

Head is off the table.

Me

No! I was kidding!

Shower Buddy

Fine. But only because you’re you

Me

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