Page 59 of Unravelling: Aria & Crispin
"You won't be seeing me again."
She turned on her heel and walked out, her spine straight, steps even. One by one, every open door was slamming in her face.
What was she to do?
Chapter 32
Aria
Aria had a vague impression of shutting the door behind her. She didn't remember descending the worn steps of the Lackenbys' porch or walking out into the late morning sun. Her legs were moving, but her brain was locked in that dim study, in the nauseating odour, in the way Mr. Lackenby had said the words-support, someone powerful, regret.
She hadn't been in danger, not exactly. But she could have been, and no one would've known.
The air hit her like a slap, crisp and thick with the promise of London rain despite the bright sunshine beating down on her. Her heart pounded a staccato rhythm against her ribs, loud enough she swore people passing could hear it. She made it around the block before her knees gave out.
Aria crouched by the cold stone wall of an old building, her back pressed to it, bag slipping from her shoulder. Her breaths came too quick, too shallow. She placed her palm against her chest like she could hold her heart inside. In: one, two, three. Out: one, two, three.
And then something wet touched her shoulder.
She turned, startled, just in time for a large, fluffy muzzle thrust into her face.
"Hey-" she gasped, toppling sideways as the dog gave her a generous slurp across the cheek. It blinked at her, soulful brown eyes peering into hers as if they were besties.
She laughed. A breathy, shocked, unexpected thing that caught in her throat and unfurled something warm in her chest.
"Oso! Oso, come on!"
A teenager came jogging up, clearly mortified. "God, I'm sorry! He's...he's a bit too friendly. Are you alright?"
Aria reached for his outstretched hand and allowed him to help her up. "Yes," she said, brushing dust from her knees. "Actually...I think I needed that."
Oso wagged his tail proudly, as if he'd been on a mission of comfort.
"He's really friendly," Aria murmured, scratching behind his ear. "Good boy. Good puppy."
The teen looked unsure. "You sure you’re okay?"
"I am now," she said, smiling again. "You two have a good day."
"Yeah...you, too," he said, but still looked back twice as he led Oso away.
Alone again, Aria stood still. Just for a second.
Then, almost without thinking, she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the crumpled card from the cleaning agency. She'd cancelled the interview, asked to reschedule it for tomorrow-she was too tired, too bruised-but now?
She called. Her voice shook at first, but steadied.
"Hi. This is Aria Bektashi. I know I rescheduled the interview for tomorrow, but is there any chance we could do it today?"
The woman at the other end hesitated, then asked her to hold. A few muffled voices. Then, "We'll call you back shortly."
Click.
She stared at the screen. Her stomach rumbled.
Right. Food.
She ducked into the first corner café she saw and scanned the menu board. Normally, she'd have gone for something with chicken or lamb, but lately, even eggs had turned on her. The last time she'd tried, she'd ended up crouched over the sink, mouth flooded with the bitter taste of blood though there hadn't been any.
