Page 84 of The Pursuit of Happiness

He suddenly looks so unbelievably angry. Like an angry God. “Rogan planted it there. He came over the day before the talk show and pretended to use the bathroom when really, he was planting the phone in the drawer where you would find it. Dallas confirmed he called the phone so you would hear it vibrating from the drawer.”

I gasp, “Rogan had the phone. It was Rogan’s,” I’m practically speaking to myself.

He nods, “He’s the one who recorded the sex tape, Aria. He drugged us at the club and set us up in hopes of ruining my career and making you hate me. He wanted you to hate me andhe wanted to come to your rescue, but you never chose him. You chose me and that set him off.”

Oh my God. “That’s why he was such a dick after the tape?”

Sly frowns, “Yeah. And when he apologized to you, it was all bullshit. It was to get you to trust him so that he could make the next move. Which is what he did last night.”

I rest my head back against the pillow and stare at the ceiling. We sit in silence for a moment and Sly just holds my hand and makes small circles on the back of it with his thumb.

A minute later I agonize, “I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you.”

“Don’t apologize. He set us up,” his voice is soft, gentle.

I squeeze my eyes shut and tears pour out, “I was so awful to you.”

He laughs, “You thought I deserved it.”

“I was wrong.”

He shrugs, “It’s okay.”

I sob, “No, it isn’t. I actually thought that you didn’t love me. I thought-”

He presses a finger to my lips and frowns, “Do not say another word. I do not want to hear you say I don’t love you or that I lied to you, even if it wasn’t true.”

I obey his command and he adds, “I love you more than anything, Aria Kane. I would do anything and everything for you with no hesitation or questions asked. I would endure the most treacherous of pains if it meant making you happy and I would happily rip my own heart out of my chest and hand it to you if you so much as asked.”

He leans so close, his lips are only an inch from mine, “I have loved you since I first saw you and I will love you for the rest of time and maybe after then.” He closes the distance between our lips and kisses me. It’s soft and gentle and before I can deepen it, he pulls away. “I was so afraid when I saw you like that. I thought for a split second that you were dead.” There’s so muchpain in his face and in his voice.

I shake my head, “I’m alive. I’m okay.”

He exhales, “He did this to you because of me and I’ll hate myself forever for it.”

“No,” I snap. I try to sit up, but he keeps me down so I don’t strain myself. “No, Slater. None of this is your fault. Rogan did this because he’s insane. It isn’t your fault at all and I don’t blame you.”

He gives me a weak smile and I continue, “Slater.” He meets my eyes and his deep blues look so exhausted. “I love you so fucking much it hurts. I didn’t realize how entwined our souls were until last night when I left. Walking away from you last night was easily the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life. I’m so sorry.”

Sly smiles weakly and leans back down to kiss me again.

There’s a knock on the door and we pull apart to look at who’s entering. Ivory peeks her head in and grins, “She’s awake!”

She rushes into the room and stops right beside my face, grabbing my cheeks in her hands and squishing them together. She kisses my cheek with a dramatic sound and cheers, “She’s alive!”

Brody appears at the other side and she places a hand on my shoulder, “Glad to see you’re okay, Six. We were worried about you.”

I smile at the nickname and at her familiar face. I turn and grab Ivory’s hand, squeezing it. Selene stops at Ivory’s side and looks relieved, “Thank God.”

“Miss me?” I croak at her.

She rolls her eyes, “Not really.”

“Liar,” I smirk.

She tries to stifle her smile, but it’s there. I see it.

I look over Sly’s shoulder and find Harvey and Dallas in the corner of the room. I raise my chin at Harvey, “I guess you wereright, huh?”

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