Page 136 of My Unexpected Mate

She walked up the steps and stood in front of the door. She turned around to look back at us and I gave her a small smile.

She turned back, and I saw her take a deep breath before she knocked on the front door.

For a few moments nothing happened, but then I saw the door slowly open.

A tall, muscular man with black hair and dark eyes stood at the door. He looked down at Aria and his eyes widened in shock.

For a few moments, he just stared at her, frozen in place.

“Mi… Minnie?” I heard him mutter in his deep voice.

Minnie?

“Hi, Jake,” Aria responded, her voice trembling.

He finally moved. He stepped toward Aria and pulled her to him. Even from here, I could see how tightly he held her.

Nick growled and started shaking. I placed my hand on his upper arm.

“Breathe, man,” I said quietly, not moving my eyes from Aria.

“Oh, my Goddess, Minnie!” Jake practically shouted. “Where were you? What happened to you? I tried to find you! Goddess, I missed you.”

Aria had her arms around him tightly and started sobbing into his chest.

Aria’s POV

It felt so good being back in Jake’s arms.

I was so relieved when I saw he wasn't angry. He had even tried to find me. My heart broke for him. I just disappeared. My grandma took me away without any explanation. I could only imagine what he went through. If a person I loved just suddenly disappeared from my life, I would be broken.

Jake let me sob into his chest for a few minutes before he pulled away. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. I could see he cried as well.

“Where were you, Aria?” he asked me, his voice trembling.

“I will tell you everything, I promise,” I said quietly. “It is a long story.”

He nodded and cupped my cheek before he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

A loud growl interrupted us. Nick.

Jake pulled me to him immediately. He wrapped his arms around me protectively and looked behind me.

Nick didn’t stop growling for a second. I could hear Gabriel and Annie quietly telling him to stop and trying to calm him down.

I looked up at Jake. He was glaring at my friends in anger.

“It’s okay, Jake,” I said softly. “They are my friends.”

He looked down at me and his expression softened.

Goddess, I forgot how beautiful he was. Even more, now that he was older. His face was chiseled to perfection. His cheekbones were high, and his lips were soft. His dark eyebrows and his dark hair were giving him a dangerous look. But I knew he was nothing but a big softie inside.

I stepped away from him and turned to my friends, waving them over.

Nick practically ran toward us, Gabriel and Annie following him with a frown on their faces.

Nick walked over to me and placed his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. Sparks flew all over my body.

---