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She shakes her head. “Please don’t ask me, Jack. I can’t… I’m sorry.” Her voice catches and I squeeze her hand.
“Okay,” I say quietly, seeing how whatever it is she can’t tell me is killing her.
I’m quiet on the way back to the ranch, my mind swirling with all that Aria didn’t say. Looking in the rearview mirror, I see she’s fast asleep when Brody pulls up outside the house. Climbing out of the truck, I open the back door and scoop her into my arms, her head dropping on my shoulder. She doesn’t stir, and after a round of goodbyes, I silently carry her up the porch steps, managing to open the front door without dropping her. The house is dark, and I navigate the hallway and up the stairs to her bedroom. Her door is slightly ajar, and I push it gently with my foot. I cross the room, lower her onto the bed, and gently remove her shoes. Kneeling, I push a strand of hair off her cheek and tuck it behind her ear, my fingers softly stroking her cheek. Leaning down, I brush a kiss on her forehead. I know I’m hurting her. I can see it in her eyes. I just have no idea how, and I pray I don’t carry on doing so.
I pad down the hallway and silently check on a sleeping Jacob before heading for my room. Zara’s asleep, and I get changed into some sleep shorts, my mind swirling with Josh’s comments from earlier. I want to speak to her, but I know she won’t appreciate being woken up. I’ll speak to her in the morning. Maybe, for once, I’ll get some answers.
Aria
As I push the final stall door closed, I breathe a sigh of relief that my jobs for today are done. Getting up this morning was a real struggle, and I could quite happily have stayed in bed all day. My memory of last night is sketchy to say the least, and no matter how much I wrack my brain, there are large parts I just can’t remember, including getting home and into bed. What I do remember vividly is Jack slipping his arms around me when some guy wouldn’t take no for an answer. Being back in his arms again had felt so right, and I know I must have confused him when I got upset. I’d so desperately wanted to kiss him, to make him remember how good we were together, but I knew I couldn’t. I just pray he remembers soon.
The pounding in my head has just about subsided, and I’m left with that sickly feeling in the pit of my stomach that screams hangover. I want a long soak in the tub, followed by a nap, and maybe some food somewhere in between. I walk slowly back to the house, enjoying the sun beating down on me. My mind swirls with thoughts of Jack, and I’m a million miles away when a little voice brings me back to earth.
“Ria!” Looking up, I see Jacob running toward me. Smiling, I stoop down, and when he reaches me, he throws his arms around my neck. Losing my balance, I fall backwards onto my ass. With Jacob’s arms still around me, he falls too, and we both burst out laughing.
“Are you okay?” Jack asks, his voice full of concern. I look up to see him standing above us. When he sees us laughing, he smiles.
“We’re fine, aren’t we, Jacob?” I say tickling his side. He squeals with laughter as I continue to tickle him, his tiny hands trying to push mine away. He finally manages to scramble away, and Jack holds his hand out to me. Taking it, he pulls me to stand up.
“How are you feeling after last night? Sore head?” he asks, a smile pulling on his lips. I look sideways at him, my cheeks flushing pink.
“Oh, God! I didn’t do anything stupid, did I? My memory of last night is a little sketchy.”
“I know that feeling,” he says wryly.
I gasp. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to compare my drunken night out to…”
“Hey, it’s fine. And no, I don’t think you did anything stupid.”
“How did I get to bed?”
“You fell asleep in the truck and I carried you upstairs. I put you to bed.”
I drop my head in my hands and groan. “Urgh, I’m sorry! I’m never drinking again.”
He laughs. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, you look a lot less hungover than Savannah. We’ve just come from there and she looks rough.”
“I’ll tell her you said that!” I joke, bumping my shoulder with his. We’re both silent for a few minutes as we watch Jacob running around.
“So, what do you remember of last night?” he asks quietly, his foot kicking at the ground.
“Erm, I remember you rescuing me from some handsy guy. Thanks for that, by the way.”
“Anytime.”
“And I remember us dancing. It’s patchy from there.”
He nods. “What about when I mentioned the three of us doing something today? I know Jacob misses you.” He chuckles. “I think him tackling you to the ground is proof of that.”
“I remember,” I whisper. “I miss him too.”
“Jacob, come here,” he shouts, and he comes running over. Jack scoops him up and whispers in his ear, but it’s loud enough for me to hear. “Do you remember what we were going to ask Aria?” Jacob looks at me before shaking his head. “You do, the picnic?” He nods and turns to me.
“Ria, picnic!” Jacob shouts before squirming to get out of Jack’s hold. Jack lowers him to the ground, and he takes off running again.
“So, that was Jacob asking if you’d like to go on a picnic.” He laughs. “What do you say? Are you free?”
What feels like a hundred butterflies take flight in my stomach at the thought of spending time with them. I’m desperate to say yes, despite feeling hungover and tired.
