Page 63 of One Wild Ride

I shook my head. “Her family is powerful in politics. Her uncle is a senator and her grandfather was a former vice president. Her parents have a lot of money and a lot of sway in Washington DC. I met her once when I was ten. She’s as controlled by her parents also.”

She took a sip of her coffee and let my words sink in. “Do you want to marry her?”

I didn’t hesitate as I shook my head. “No, Aria. I want to be with you. I want to be free to marry who I want and do what I want.” I hoped my smile, as I reached for her hand, conveyed that I meant everything I said.

Aria nodded but I could see the doubt in her eyes. She glanced around the café and took a moment to stare at the man reading the book. I looked over, noticing the book was gone and he was using his phone. I couldn’t quite make out his face as he had his phone up with the back facing us. I wondered if he was filming us. Even if he was, he wouldn’t know what we were saying.

Aria leaned in to me, turning her head from the guy with the phone. “My mother showed up at my place last week.”

I squeezed her hand. “What did she want?”

She let out a small puff of air and gave a grin that didn’t convey happiness. “She gave me the excuse of wanting me to come to California for my father’s birthday party. I didn’t believe her. That’s when she finally told me the truth.”

Aria had mentioned what happened to her and her sister due to her parent’s abandonment. It broke my heart to hear that anyone would treat their children as objects to be bought or sold. But then I knew my mother, and realized there were some people in this world who didn’t deserve to be parents at all.

“I kept thinking, why now? Why did my mother show up at this moment? That’s why I wanted to tell you. I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents were being used by your mom. If that is true, your mom doesn’t want me with you. And wants me gone so much she’s willing to have my parents drag me off to California.”

I took her other hand in mine and brought both of her hands to my chest. “That’s why we need to get out of here. After what Bradley said, I’m wondering if we should just ditch the idea of trying to fool my mother and leave tonight.”

Aria took her hands from me and I knew that she was about to say something I wouldn’t want to hear.

“But my friends? Morgana comes home in a few days, on Saturday, and I want to be here for her.”

“But you saw her three weeks ago when you went with her parents and grandmother to visit in New York.” I knew I was being selfish but this was my mother I was trying to get away from. If Bradley was right, which I suspected he was, then Aria could be in danger.

“Can’t we at least wait a week. Then I can go. I am going to Morgana’s welcome home party at her parents’ house on Saturday night. I’ll tell her we are going away. How about you come with me? Meet her.”

“I already met her, remember?”

She laughed, her eyes crinkling and it made me want to lean over and trace the lines on her face. Imprint them in my muscle memory so I can feel them forever.

“I mean really meet her. Outside of a basement garage.” She smirked.

I didn’t want my mother’s people to follow me to Morgana’s parents’ home, put her family in danger. As much as I wanted to get to know Aria’s friends, I felt it was safer to stay away. I was about to tell her when the back of my neck prickled. Someone was watching me.

“Is that Grace?” Aria said leaning to the side to stare at something behind me.

I turned and found a pair of brown eyes focused on me. A chill ran down my body. It was the way she was staring. As if she knew me even though I had barely met her twice. Once when she brought in coffee when I was speaking with the Mimir lawyer, and the second time in the elevator at Mimir.

“What is she doing this far north? It’s Thursday, shouldn’t she be at Mimir?” Aria whispered to me.

As Grace began to move toward our table, I turned back to face Aria. Something about this felt off. Evaleen had mentioned Grace was weird and now I was beginning to believe her.

“Hi, Aria. Funny running into you here. Oh, hello, Mr. Hawthorne.” Grace stood at the entrance of our booth so neither of us could escape.

Was it strange that I had the urge to run?

“Hello, Grace? Yeah, it is funny. I figured you would be downtown.”

The corner of Grace’s lip ticked up as she turned her gaze from Aria to me. “I had to run an errand for Mr. Mimir.” She held up a manila envelope before continuing, “Some photographer’s studio around the corner. Figured I’d pick up lunch on my way back. I hear Morgana’s coming back this weekend.”

The more Grace watched me the more I squirmed in my seat. I noticed Aria’s eyes narrowed at Grace. “Yeah, I’m going to see her Saturday.”

Grace finally took her eyes off me but only for a second. “I assume her mom’s going to make some cake.”

“Yes, her parents are throwing a welcome home party. Aria is taking me.” For some reason, I felt the need to make it obvious to Grace that I was with Aria. Get her to stop taking an interest in me.

“That should be fun. Is Mr. Payne going to be there?” Grace’s eyes fell from us and glanced around the room, focusing on the scruffy man with the phone. The man was tapping at it, his face turned down.

---