We both laughed like it was the funniest thing we'd ever heard. The image was just too good.

"And I saved the best for last," Aria said, returning to her prank box one final time.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

She popped the lid off a small leftover container to reveal a thick slice of sushi. "Shime Saba, made with cured mackerel, Chase's favorite."

"Um, okay."

"It should really start to smell lovely after a few days left sitting out."

"Oh, my God. Remind me to never get on your bad side."

She giggled and made a move toward his desk again, ducking down under it while I watched, her ass sticking in the air right in front of me. Even clad in coveralls, it was damn cute.

Her head all the way down in the far corner under the desk, she mumbled something I couldn't understand, so I leaned in closer. "What was that?"

"There's a little ledge down here that I guarantee no one knows about." Letting out a breath, she must have been successful at her quest, because she repositioned herself, sitting back comfortably with her legs crossed in front of her, peeking out at me from under Chase's desk. "Don't ask me how I know about it."

"Don't worry. I won't." It didn't take a genius to figure out that Aria had been in this exact same position before. That hatred I always carried for Chase flared even brighter at the thought of Aria giving that asshole head.

She swiped at a lock of hair that had escaped her ball cap, looking off in the distance out the window. "I've been down here quite a bit actually."

Fuck that prick.

A bitter laugh escaped her. "Do you know how many times I tried to give him a BJ under this stupid desk? And he had the nerve to say I was the dull one in bed?"

Holy fucking shit. I didn't know which shocking thing to focus on... the fact that Aria had used the wordtried... as in not successful. What the hell was that about? Had Chase actually turned her down?

Or the other thing, that Aria had for sure read the rest of the article I'd tried to shield her from the other night at the bar, the one where Chase and Hannah had flaunted their physical relationship. The source had also said Chase had never been fully satisfied before, that his past relationships had been on the dull side in bed, never directly stating Aria's name, although she had been heavily implied.

She tugged again at the little bit of unruly hair, still not meeting my eyes, a sad look on her face that pissed me the hell off. "He always turned me down," she said in a small, defeated tone.

I'd do anything to wipe that expression off her face. "Chase is the biggest fucking idiot I've ever had the displeasure of knowing."

That did it. Her spark returned. "Right?" She shoved that errant strand under her cap. "And you know what? In retrospect, I'm glad he did because ew."

"I couldn't agree more." Thinking about it honestly made me want to vomit.

Aria slammed her hand against the inside of Chase's desk. "And also, why the hell can't it ever be the guy hiding down here giving oral? Hmm? Tell me that, motherfucker." She smacked the desk again, glaring at me.

"Hey, I didn't do anything wrong."

She laughed, her glare giving way to amusement. "You're right. You've been nothing but supportive. Surprisingly."

"Thanks?" But the truth was I'd take any backhanded compliment Aria threw at me because the two of us had been on opposite sides for years now, and God only knew what she'd heard about me.

There was a noise outside and someone turned the doorknob, causing Aria to bolt out from her hiding space, bumping her head and cursing under her breath.

Shit. We'd been busted.

Adrenaline shot through me, sickening in its strength as I worried about our fate. Not so much for me, I was surprised to find, but for Aria.

My fists clenched, I stepped forward, ready to do anything necessary to protect this girl.

Twelve

Aria