Page 90 of The Enemy of My Enemy Is… My Fake Boyfriend?

Why else would she have that controlled poker face?

"Here," she said in a tone void of emotion, handing me the present. "Might as well give you this before I leave."

I could tell it was a record. Which was odd. Aria and I had never really discussed music with the exception of... I tore off the gift wrap, my entire being overcome with emotion. I knew already what it was. And my whole fucking soul came undone.

On the front cover was a photo, black and white and grainy, the skyline of Manhattan just visible among gray clouds. And the back cover... when I flipped it, the emotions were too much, a sudden lump rising up in my throat.

All the songs from my parents' long-lost mix tape were listed.

For a long while, I stared at the titles, all blurred in a jumble of watery words as I fought back the tears, the complete vulnerability surging through me. Just like that night when I'd realized Aria had gone through my desk and seen the torn-up list in the first place.

"Do you like it?" Aria whispered.

Finally looking up from the record, I took in her wary expression, her own vulnerability laid out before me. "I love it. Thank you."

I wished to God I could say more, but in this moment, words failed me. Nothing could express how much her present had meant to me, by far the most thoughtful gift I'd ever received.

She let out a sigh. "Well, I suppose you better go back in with my dad and finish this thing with Chase."

No, damn it. This was the moment. I needed to act. Everything important in my life was on the line.

Fuck Chase. The trash would take itself out. He wasn't worth a minute more of my time. Especially not with Aria Stratton in front of me, especially not when she had stolen my heart, when I dared to think that elusive thing called love might have finally found its way into my life after all these years of being alone.

Now that I'd found it, foundher, I was never going to let it go. She was mine. She just didn't know it yet. And now, I had to convince her that this relationship was in no way fake. This was the realest fucking thing I'd ever felt.

Setting the record back on the seat, I took a hold of her hands, helping her stand up, my eyes locked on hers. "Come on," I said. "We need to get the hell out of here."

Her beautiful eyes narrowed. "What? What are you talking about?"

"We're leaving. Together."

We couldn't have the conversation we needed to have in the women's bathroom at my office where anyone could just walk right in and interrupt us. Grabbing the vinyl once more, I tried to lead her out the door, but she dug in her heels.

"No," she said. "I'm not just going to blindly follow any man anymore. You need to tell me right now what it is you're doing."

I was so fucking proud I thought my chest might burst open. Turning to face her, we were so close, I could feel the edge of her breasts brush against me with her every breath. But I ignored it.

"You want to know the truth, Aria?"

She raised her chin, looking me square in the eye. "I do."

Steeling myself, not used to feeling such utter vulnerability, I braced myself for whatever reaction she might have and finally spit out the words. "I don't want to break up with you," I admitted. "I want this to be real."

Nothing but silence met my confession. Silence and a few awkward blinks of her long eyelashes.

Fucking hell. Maybe I had misread the whole damn situation. Maybe Aria actually despised me and couldn't wait to end this thing between us.

The seconds ticked past, my heart pounding with the adrenaline of all the unsaid words hanging in the air. A noise sounded behind us and a group of women charged into the bathroom right then, making me groan with frustration.

But Aria surprised me, grabbing my hand and saying, "Where did you want to go?"

Not a direct answer to what I'd said, but I'd take whatever I could get. "You'll see," I answered, again trying to lead her out the door, this time successfully.

As we walked to the elevators, a surge of impatience shot through me. I couldn't wait to get out of here and be completely alone with Aria.

"Wait."She tugged my arm. "You can't just leave my dad sitting in your office."

She had a point. I couldn't ruin the little bit of goodwill he had toward me now. "Okay, fine," I agreed. "But stay right here. Wait for me. Please."

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