Page 47 of Keep My Secrets
“Thank you.” I kiss the top of her head. Feeling her relax into me is one of the best feelings. Her feeling safe enough with me to let her guard down and willing to be vulnerable with me is one of the signs that I have earned her trust. I am so honored to be able to be this safe place for her.
Just as she was beginning to calm down, my phone rings.
“Mr. Reeves, Ms. Alana Mason is here. May I send her up?”
“Thank you, Enzo, please do. Have security escort her and have them remain by the door.” Aria’s body tenses as I say the words. I place my hand on hers and gently rub my thumb along hers, a reminder that she is not alone. I hope the second her mother gets here, Aria becomes the sassy, independent woman who won't take any shit, but in this moment, being able to be here at her most vulnerable and be let in to see her soft side has heat pooling in my chest. I don’t want her to get beaten down and broken again by her mother. I would do anything to keep those thoughts and fears away, keeping her from hitting the point of an anxiety attack.
I knew from the beginning there was something special about Aria. Even in the brief conversation over drinks at the bar, I knew there was something different. Everything worked out perfectly for me to be able to be in this position with her. I will thank whatever force of the universe that brought us together until my dying breath.
As expected, a few moments later, there is a knock at the door.
I lead Aria to the table before I make my way to the front door. The moment I open the door, I am already regretting thisidea. I want to hand her over to The Court, and this chapter just be finished, but Aria needs this conversation. Thewhat-ifswould literally eat her alive if she didn’t try to fix things.
“Alana.”
“Theo.”
“I would like to remind you that we have invited you into our home. If any behavior is out of line, we will have you escorted out.” My warning goes unheard as she pushes past me and immediately tries to fawn over Aria, who wants none of it.
“Aria! Are you ok?” Her mock concern is almost believable. I want to step in and tell her to back off, but Aria handles it on her own.
“Don’t touch me,” Aria snaps, pulling her arm away.
“Let's all sit, “I offer, gesturing at the chairs. At least if we're all sitting, I can be between Aria and Alana, creating a buffer. I couldn’t give two shits if Alana is comfortable, I just need to make sure I can get in between them if things become too much. They both move to their seats, sitting across from each other.
“I don’t understand why we’re pretending we're actually going to eat dinner like a happy little family.” The mock concern is gone. “Aria, you need to come home.”
“I am home.” I cannot help but smile at the pure confidence in her voice when she says that.
Yes, baby, you are home.
“Fine, you need to come back tomy home. I will not let this stand.”
“This? You mean my relationship with Theo? Why do you think you get any say?”
“Do you understand what this relationship is doing to my life right now?”
“No, nor do I care. Considering this relationship is about me and Theo, the only people I care about it affecting are us.” The strong woman that I know she has inside her has come out. Sheis not showing her mom any of the fear or hurt. She is standing on her own two feet, fighting a battle she should never have been involved in.God, I love this woman.
“Everyone knows you two are together!” Alana shouts. “I have to hear everyone talk about how I get to watch as my daughter dates the man I was supposed to marry! Everyone is talking about it!”
“We didn’t tell them. Neither of us has posted on social media, so the only way they would have known is if you started bitching about it.”
“I told a few people, knowing they would be on my side,” she tries to explain.
“I'm sorry, what side is that? How do you have a side in my relationship?” Aria laughs, knowing somehow her mom has spun the narrative to be the victim.
“That my daughter is such a hateful, little bitch she started fucking my?—”
My entire body tenses as I stand and interrupt.
“Alana, watch the way you talk to my girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend? Is that what you convinced her she is? And not just a pawn in your revenge?”
“Wait, which am I? A hateful little bitch or one of Theo’s helpless victims? You can't have it both ways, Mom.”
“It depends on how you decide to handle today. If you come back with me, we will just tell everyone that Theo manipulated you and used you. You didn’t know what you were doing, and I saved you.” My grip on the table tightens to the point I might actually break this table.
