Page 70 of Aria

A wistful sigh escaped me. I wanted to go back to that night. I wanted to turn back the clock and tell Devon the truth about my ugly past. I wanted to do things differently.

“Chelsie! Get these appetizers out.”

Jolting where I stood, I trudged back into the kitchen with heavy feet. Sometimes I wondered why I kept my meager job as a waitress and allowed my boss to treat me like trash.

“You’re on my last nerve. Get your shit together or go home,” Jerry shouted. Beads of sweat rolled from his round face, soaking the front of his button-down shirt.

Home.

I picked up a tray of stuffed mushrooms labeled “Table 5” and looked out through the kitchen door at the bustling venue. I hated my job. I hated the noise. I hated Jerry. No matter how much my life had progressed, that man always managed to make me feel small.

Why am I here?

I froze when I realized I’d just spoken my thoughts out loud.

Jerry stopped in his tracks. His face was redder than a ripe tomato. “What did you just say?”

My heart raced. “I…”

“You’re here because I pay your goddamn sorry ass to be here.” His voice was loud enough to startle the kitchen help. They quickly averted their eyes.

Normally, I would cower like a scolded child, but today felt…different.I refused to be bullied by this brute any longer. I refused to work at a job I loathed. I didn’t have a rent payment anymore, and while I hated falling into old, co-dependent patterns, I knew I’d be okay until I found a better job.

Right now… I just wanted to be free.

Setting the tray of appetizers back onto the counter, I unclipped my nametag. “I quit.”

I didn’t wait for Jerry’s reaction, swiveling around and pushing through the double doors with a feeling of liberation.

As I weaved through the crowd of patrons, I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Lisa and Julia, accidentally bumping into someone along the way. “Oh! Sorry.” I looked up and immediately recognized the man. “Miles?” My eyes drifted to his right, discovering a mysterious woman on his arm.

“Uh, hey, Chelsie. Forgot you worked here.” Miles scratched the back of his neck and pulled away from the raven-haired beauty.

“Who’s your friend?” I asked tightly.

I already knew.

“Oh, uh, nobody.”

The woman scoffed, crossing her arms over her low-cut blouse.

“Well, good to see you,” I said, biting at my lip.

Miles nodded and guided the woman away from me, toward the bar. My heart hurt for Lisa. There had been signs that Miles was being unfaithful, but nothing concrete until now. Lisa was going to be heartbroken.

Heaving in a deep sigh, I knew it was time for damage control.

The drive to Devon’s condo had gone by in a flash. I’d been so lost in thought, I was driving on auto pilot. So many scenarios raced through my mind as I sat silently in the parking garage. None of them were good.

But I had to get this over with. I had to win him back.

Unlike the drive over, the elevator ride to his high-rise unit was painfully slow. Inch by inch. Second by second. I felt like I was choking on my own heartbeat.

When I arrived at his door, I knocked with trepidation. I didn’t know why I knocked, as I had a key, after all. Yet I felt like a visitor—an outsider.

So, I knocked.

Devon opened the door, looking disheveled. His hair was a matted mess, and he was still wearing the prior morning’s clothes. I supposed he was probably thinking the same thing about me—the difference was, I didn’t have a choice.

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