Page 40 of One Wild Ride

SIXTEEN

Alexander

“I’m running away,” I said lifting my head in hesitation to watch as Aria came and sat next to me.

“Running away? What are you, ten?”

“I mean, I’m leaving Chicago. I wanted to get out during the daytime, see if I could do it, and I did.”

My heart was pounding with excitement and fear, but most of all, I tackled something my mother tried to destroy in me. I was always curious why she told me to never be seen outside, keeping me almost completely locked away, knowing I would develop this fear of ever venturing outside during the day?

I had to wonder why? She told me it was because other people might hurt me to get to my money, but that always felt like a lie.

Something passed over Aria’s eyes and she twisted her head away. After a moment, she turned back to me. “I don’t understand. Why are you telling me? Just go if you want.”

Her voice deepened with each word. She was angry. It surprised me. I thought Aria, with her free spirit, would be happy for me.

“Because it’s what you said two weeks ago that made me realize that I needed to get away from my mother.”

Aria leaned back. “I’m proud of you, Alex. If what you say about your mother is true, then it’s a good thing you are leaving. I wish you the best of luck.”

She smiled though it didn’t seem sincere. Her gaze focused on her twisting fingers.

My mind filled with a thousand words, jumbling together for all that I wanted to explain, but I knew it would be too much. So, I started with one thing.

The seed she planted when she walked into my bedroom the very first time.

“Come with me,” I said, taking her hand in mine.

She gasped and in that second her eyes gave me her answer. It was stark and surprising, but I smiled anyway. Her truth was the answer I longed for and something she wasn’t ready to accept.

“No. I can’t leave. No.” Aria shook her head and pulled her hand from mine.

The more she fought, the deeper I dug in.

“Why? What’s stopping you? You don’t have a job to get to. And I would make sure you were provided for.”

Aria stood and pushed the chair back in the process, causing it to tip back.

“I’m not a pet, Alex. I don’t need a sugar daddy.”

“Aren’t sugar daddies supposed to be older? How old are you, Aria?”

I knew her age. There was a lot I knew about Aria. When you’re attracted to someone from afar for three years, you spend a lot of time Googling them.

Just thinking that made me realize I sounded like a stalker. Maybe she doesn’t need to know I’ve been lusting after her for all those years.

“I’m twenty-nine. Why? How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-six,” I said and stood from the chair to face her.

“You’re younger than me. Does that make me a cougar?”

She crinkled her nose, warming my chest. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and kiss her everywhere.

“I think you would have to be much older than me. At least ten years older. Not three years.”

“Four years. I’m four years older than you.”

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