Page 88 of Psychotic Obsession
"How can I be friends with you, Aria?" He walks until his fingers are in my hair, palms to my cheeks, causing my breath to hitch and my heart to race. "You've no idea how much I want to hold you, kiss you, drag you to bed and..." His nose nudges mine, our lips dangerously close, his emerald eyes hooded as hot bursts of minty breaths hit me.
My hormones are battling with every bit of sense I have, and I ache for him to lean in, close the space between us, and kiss me. The urge is so strong, it's physically painful, my breathing unsteady while every nerve ending explodes.
I watch him with a heart-shattering look, truly seeing how caring he is and how much he has changed. It would be even more confusing for Jason, and Ewan really should be with someone he can have a clean slate with. He should be happy and not worrying about when I'm going to argue with him about the past.
It's not him; it'sme.
I wish we were destined for each other, but not all love can overcome the past. Maybe I should have told him how I felt instead of putting on a mask, the indifference driving a wedge between us.
I love Ewan, more than I can ever show him, but, and this is ahugebut, if I loved Ewan as much as I keep telling myself, then why do I crave Tobiasso badly?
I feel Ewan’s lips ghosting over mine, looking for permission, and I so badly want to give him it.
"I...I can't," I stutter, pulling away from him, instantly missing his touch as I rummage to close the suitcase and get my shoes on, feeling Ewan's gaze burning into the back of my head.
"Aria," he sighs, and I dodge his arms trying to stop me as I walk past him. "Don't leave."
"You deserve better," I tell him, before kissing his cheek and walking out of the house with a heavy heart.
Chapter 37
Aria
"She's put on weight too! The doctors are happy with how she's progressing. She hasn't had a seizure in a week either."
I grin, my eyes dancing as I balance my chin on my fists, my elbows leaning on my desk. I've been on a video call with Ivy's mom for the past hour, discussing how she has been, her progress, how much more energetic she seems.
"That's amazing news. I'm proud of her, and you! You're a strong family, and she's lucky to have you all. How is Denmark? Have you been able to go out and about?" I ask, my eyes going from the well-kept mom to Ivy in the bed next to her. "I hear they have good food."
"William is flying over this weekend, so maybe I'll get to explore. I'm not able to take her out just yet." She turns to Ivy, smiling. "But that's okay. We have plenty of time, don't we, sweetie?"
She runs her fingers through Ivy's blonde, curly hair while she attempts a nod, her giggling music to my ears. They both seem so cheery, even though I know deep down, Ivy is still fighting a horrific battle. Her mom is doing an amazing job of holding it together.
It goes to show you can appear as the happiest of people but be battling something so life-changing.
"I'm just waiting on my forms to be finalized, and then I can get a transfer over for the last four weeks. I need to transfer some of my own details over to the midwives there too," I say, sipping on my decaf coffee.
Her eyes widen, tilting her head. "Your own details?"
This is where I break the whole doctor-patient barrier. Ivy's mom and I speak a lot–emails, phone calls, and a few times, I’ve gone out for coffee with her. I feel comfortable telling her my news, but maybe I'll skip the part that I was impregnated by a psychopathic killer who drugged me and just keep to the basics. After all, she doesn't follow the news. Unless she does, and she’s just being respectful by not bringing any of it up to me.
"It’s still very early," I reply, watching her eyes go even wider. "I'm due in the summer."
"Wow, congratulations! Can we give Aria a clap, Ivy?" She mimics her hands moving together, and Ivy tries to follow, her shaking body making it hard, but she's determined, cheering as she manages to get them to hit together once.
"I need to go now. I have a meeting at two. I'll email you about my arrival and keep in touch in the meantime, okay? I'll see you both soon."
She waves, holding up Ivy's hand to aid her in doing the same before I smile and end the call.
"Aria, there's someone on line four for you," my assistant Natalie tells me. "He didn't give me a name."
"Thank you," I reply softly, lifting the phone and pressing the button to put whoever he is through. "Good afternoon, you're through to Aria Miller at the genetics department. How can I help you?" The line is silent, and I mute and unmute, attempting to hear something. "Hello?"
The line goes dead, and I frown at the phone before calling my assistant. "Was there a number attached to the call you just transferred to me?"
"No," she responds politely. "I'll ask for one if they call again."
"Did they say who they were calling for, which patient?" I ask, looking through my files for upcoming appointments I may have missed.
