Page 90 of Unravelling: Aria & Crispin
They all laughed-all except Crispin.
As they neared the bottom of the stone steps, Crispin reached for Aria's hand and enclosed it in his. Her fingers were cold as his warmed them.
"I don't want to say or do the wrong thing again," he said, voice low. "I've made so many mistakes. When I tell you how I feel about this...about you, I want to get it right."
Aria looked up at him, into those stormy, sincere blue eyes.
"Make no mistake," he whispered. "I want her. Or him. Whichever. Do you know?"
"Not yet," Aria murmured. "I've got a scan in a couple of days."
They walked in silence for a moment, feet crunching on gravel.
"Do you want to come?" she asked tentatively. "I mean...for the scan."
Crispin looked at her, eyes shining with something raw and filled with hope.
And he nodded.
As if words were no longer enough.
Chapter 48
Crispin
They all piled back into Rahul's car, the earlier tension now replaced by an odd hush. The fog had thickened around Harlech, softening the stone and sea into shadows and whispers.
Fortunately, it was a slow weekend at the Lion's Mane Inn. School term hadn't ended yet, and tourists were few. They were given their rooms with minimal fuss. As they reached the hallway, Aria fidgeted with her cardigan and backed towards her door.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she said quickly, eyes darting past Crispin's. "Goodnight."
And then she was gone, slipping away to close the door shut behind her.
Crispin stood in place for a second too long.
Rahul gave him a sympathetic look. "Maybe get some sleep," he said gently. "Reboot. Come back fighting tomorrow."
Crispin nodded, shoulders hunched and feeling a little despondent. Winning Aria over seemed to be a distant dream.
He took his heavy brass key and let himself into the room.
It was beautiful in a quiet, old-world way. There were floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea in a touch of the modern, a freestanding tub in the corner with bright red feet, and warm wood panelling across one wall. The bed was enormous, scattered with pillows in black and ivory. The entire space glowed with the late golden light that spilled through the glass.
But he barely noticed any of it.
He walked to the window and leaned against the sill, looking out at the grey swell of the sea below. The tide was coming in, the waves folding in over themselves like restless thoughts.
Things could have been worse,he told himself.
But then he imagined how badly it could have gone. Aria disappearing completely. Of her never telling him about the baby. Losing her. Losing them.
His hand drifted to his chest and rubbed the tightness that had taken residence there.
All this stress...it couldn't be good for the baby.
Then, a thought struck him out of the blue.
She'd been working-hard, manual labour-through what must have been the first trimester. Dragging boxes. Walking long shifts. Cleaning, serving, cooking.
