Page 138 of Aria

Finally, I plucked the piece of green construction paper off the pillow and sucked in a tremulous breath, running a hand through my hair. My eyes scanned over the note, front and back, with clenched teeth. I analyzed every word with careful scrutiny. I studied the curve of her letters. I envisioned her voice in my mind, reading to me with thoughtful reflection. I imagined the tears in her eyes as she put the pen to paper.

I could still smell the ink.

She couldn’t want this.

How could she want this?

A desperate growl escaped me, and I grabbed my cell phone off the nightstand and dialed her number.

Straight to voicemail.

All ten times.

My heart was shattering. My mind was racing. My stomach was sick, and I wanted to retch. I reread the note over and over for the next hour, until Sam came running into the bedroom, completely unaware that his father’s world was falling apart.

I tried to make sense of it. I tore apart every letter, every syllable, every fucking dottedI—but it was no use.

It was senseless. Illogical.

Hopeless.

And yet…itwas.

This was how the cards had fallen. Chelsie had made her choice, and it wasn’t me.

It was never going to be me.

And I knew I would get through this, just like I always had. Sam needed me to be strong.

Sam needed me.

If only she’d known how much I needed her.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

CHELSIE

Sleep fell away at the sound of giggles and Sunday morning cartoons. The mouth-watering aroma of homemade pancakes wafted through the air, causing me to sit up in bed with a dreamy sigh. I loved pancakes.

The sun was shining that morning, a gentle breeze floating in through the cracked window. I smiled when I spotted two lovebirds perched on a nearby branch as I threw my legs over the side of the bed, enjoying the feel of the plush rug beneath my bare feet.

“Breakfast is ready!”

I leaped up and put a robe on over my nightgown. Nothing got me out of bed faster than pancakes.

“Good morning. I thought you’d never wake up.”

Entering the kitchen, a coy grin lit up my face. “I was tired. Someone kept me up late last night.” I winked at the handsome man with a spatula in his hand.

“I cleared the table for you, Chelsie!”

My grin brightened as I strolled over to the kitchen table decorated with butter, syrup, and fresh fruit. “You did a great job, Sam.”

Noah wandered up behind me and smacked my backside before whirling me around to plant a kiss on my lips. “I missed you.”

“It’s only been six hours, you nut,” I teased, wrapping my arms around his neck and accosting him with kisses.

He grinned. “That’s six hours of missing you.”

---