Page 34 of Queen Rose

“Yeah.”

“This thing with us—they’re just not used to seeing me with a guy. We’re going to have fun. I promise.”

A few minutes later, though, I’m unsure if I’m capable of fun. I shift, resting my elbows on the porch railing as I look at the texts from Mom.

Me:Is everything going okay?

Mom: We’re fine.

Me: You’re sure?

Mom:Seriously, go have fun.

Mom:Franny is here, playing Chutes and Ladders with the kids.

Mom:She’s a godsend. Tell Aria thank you again.

Me:I will. I’ll check in this afternoon.

I close my eyes and simply try to breathe. Mom seems fine. She wouldn’t lie to me. But there’s always this little niggling doubt that creeps in. She’s so sick, we just never know what to expect. She has days where she’s okay. And then stretches where things look so bleak, I begin to think the worst is coming.

It’s frustrating because I do think I could have fun here with Aria and her friends. But to really relax, I’m going to have to shut off the parts of my brain that are back home with my family. It’s not the easiest thing to do.

Not to mention, there are obviously other worries floating around in my head. What the hell is going on with Aria? I’m sure I’m missing something. I have to be.

I catch a whiff of girlie body wash and open my eyes to find Scarlett standing beside me. She’s propped her arms up on the rail as well, and is tentatively eyeing me.

She points at my phone. “I, um—” Staring at me with big blue eyes, she points at my phone. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Aria and I had to call in some favors so that I could come. I was just checking in with my mom at home. Making sure she doesn’t need me to come back.”

She nods. At first, I don’t think she’s going to say anything, but then she whispers, “My mom passed away about a year ago.”

I clench my teeth together, and I suck in air through them. “Aria said something about that.” I grip the rail with my hands and push back, stretching to give myself something to do. “I—” I pause, heart in my throat. “I literally don’t know what to say.”

She gives me a sad smile. “You don’t have to. Especially with what you’re going through.” She nods in the direction of my phone. “Everything’s okay?”

“Yeah. I just worry.” I shrug.

“And then you’ve got my boyfriend breathing down your neck, too.”

I cock my head to the side to face her. “Yeah, I do. But I swear to you, whatever he’s thinking is going on—I’m not the root of Aria’s problems. I’m as confused as he is.”

“Xander can be a little funny where she’s concerned. They go way back. Like, way, way back. And I think he knows you’re not to blame. But it’s easier to fight someone you know than a shadow of something you don’t.” She grimaces. “Sorry, I’m probably not making a lot of sense.”

I bite down on my lip, worrying it. “No, I hear you.” I huff out a sigh. “It doesn’t bother you how close they are? I mean, she doesn’t think twice about sneaking into his room at night. I know that much.”

She blows out an unsteady breath. “Aria and I had some trouble when I first got to Rosehaven. But… I dunno. I think she’s pretty misunderstood. She’s loyal as hell, though, and some of the stuff she did when I first got here— Well, it was only in support of Xander.” She waves her hand. “It’s a whole mess of a story. Anyway, my point being, she’s definitely not what most people think. And based solely on some stuff that Xander has said, I think there’s something really wrong… and he thinks it’s gotten worse. Since you.” She swallows. “Not that you’re at fault. But something…” She groans. “I don’t know.”

“Could it be something with an ex-boyfriend that’s resurfacing?” Aria has intimacy issues surrounding control. I doubt she’d like it if I told Scarlett that, though. I’m not sure anyone knows that part of her but me and any other guy she’s dated.

Scarlett stares at me, slowly shaking her head. “Aria has never dated anyone that I know of. Not until you.”

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