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14
Grayson
Aria is staring out the window as the cab pulls up in front of my apartment, but the excitement I expected is missing. Noah told me she’s always dreamed of working in Silicon Valley, and I hoped that accomplishing that would be enough to take away her sorrow.
“You’re quiet. Tired?”
Aria turns to glance at me and forces a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah,” she murmurs, before looking away again.
She seemed fine as we boarded the plane, but she was lost in thought from the second we took off, and she hasn’t snapped out of it. The pain in her eyes tells me she’s thinking of Brad, and I hate that there’s nothing I can do to make her feel better, to make her see that he isn’t worth her heartache.
Aria barely realizes we’ve come to a stop, and she jumps in surprise when I open the door on my side of the car. I walk around to open her door, but she’s already stepped out before I reach her.
She rushes to get her luggage from the trunk and I follow her, placing my hand on her shoulder when she attempts to lift her suitcases. They’re half her size, and not exactly light.
“Let me,” I tell her. She looks up at me gratefully, and it guts me. She’s so used to taking care of herself that it didn’t occur to her I’d carry her suitcase? She dated that asshole for a year… surely he was at least a little chivalrous?
The thought of Aria with him angers me all over again, and I grit my teeth as I lead her into my building. She deserves to be treated right, and I despise that he got to have a year of her life. A year she’ll never get back. A year that might just leave her scarred, when she’s already been through so much.
I step aside to let her into the house, suddenly feeling nervous. When I left, I didn’t expect to be coming back here with Aria. Not that it matters. Everything is spotless. Yet somehow, I’m a little uncomfortable. I wonder what she’ll think of the place I call home these days. It’s nothing like her apartment. It’s devoid of color and character, and I’m not sure she’ll like it.
“Wow,” she whispers, her eyes on the floor to ceiling windows. She walks past me and straight to the windows that are currently portraying a stunning skyline. She places her palms against the glass and I smile as I leave our suitcases in the corner. I walk up to her, stopping in my tracks when she turns to look at me, a beautiful smile on her face.
“This is amazing,” she says, and my heart overflows with a feeling I can’t quite name. It’s relief, I guess. Relief to see that spark back in her eyes. Aria has always loved and appreciated the simple things in life, and it’s what I adore about her most. She didn’t notice my crazy expensive interior, or the art on my walls. No. It’s the view that captivates her.
“Come on,” I tell her. “I’ll show you around. Your bedroom has the same view too.”
Her eyes widen, and the excitement I see in them has me feeling such intense relief. I’ve been worried about her… about the responsibility Noah handed me. I don’t know if I’m able to watch over her the way he expects me to.
“No way,” she mouths, her lips tipping up into a smile.
I chuckle and grab her hand, pulling her along. I show her every room in my home, and every gasp that leaves her lips delights me. She’s giddy as I show her the rooftop pool and my boxing ring, but it’s mostly the view that excites her.
Eventually, I pause in front of my guest room. I’ve had a guest room for years now, but other than Noah, no one has ever stayed in it.
“This is your room,” I say, leading her in.
Aria looks around wide-eyed, and I follow her gaze, trying to see my home through her eyes. I spent two years picking the perfect place, and then almost another year renovating it. It’s got everything I always wished I had growing up. A lot of space, a stunning view, and every amenity I could think of, everything I used to see on TV and thought I’d never be able to afford. My home… it’s a fulfilled promise to myself, and I think Aria gets that.
She looks far more lively than she did on the way here, and I realize Noah was right. Asking if I’d let her stay with me was the right choice. Every time she has a moment to herself, she’s lost in thought, her expression betraying her heartbreak. Aria is one of the strongest women I know, but I have to admit I’m worried about her.
She turns to face me and smiles. “Thank you, Gray,” she says. “For the job, for letting me stay here, for everything. I promise I won’t bother you for too long. I’ll try to find a place to stay soon.”
I shake my head and gently pat her head. She’s in flats today, and I love how small she is. “No need, Ari. I’m happy to have you here. I’m always alone, you know? It’ll be nice to have you around. You make me feel like I have a family of my own.”
She smiles at me, her gaze filled with understanding and affection — and that’s what I love about her. She never looks at me with pity in her eyes.
“I’ll leave you to settle in,” I say, and she nods.
I’m smiling as I walk out of her room and across the hallway, into my own room, my thoughts on Aria. I usually dislike people intruding in my space, but I’m glad to have her here. I’m glad I get to watch over her, and I have a feeling I might genuinely enjoy having her around.
I’m still smiling by the time I get into bed, and my smile only widens when I realize Nyx texted me. She’s never texted me first.
Nyx:I’m a Sagittarius
I chuckle, surprised at the random text. Before I can even reply, another one comes in.
Nyx:You asked me to tell you something about myself a while ago, so… this is it.
