Page 64 of Unravelling: Aria & Crispin
A message from Crispin.
How have you been? Have you eaten anything today?
It felt like her heart was tearing wide open as she stared at the words. Her eyes welled up instantly, and she squeezed the phone, as if the warmth in those few words could seep through her palm and into her bloodstream.
If there was a god, he was definitely not on her side.
Because how cruel-how impossibly cruel-was it for someone to finally admit he loved her while his family plotted to erase her.
There were six missed calls from Lule.
She hit the call button, and it rang once before Lule picked up.
"Aria?" came her voice, sharp with concern. "What happened? I've been calling all day."
Aria swallowed. "I lost the café job. Gallen didn't even... It was awful."
"What?" Lule's voice darkened. "After everything you did there-"
"And the Lackenby job," she interrupted. "Mr. Lackenby offered to help, in exchange for..."
Even through the line, she could feel Lule's disgust bloom like dragon fire. "That man should have his hands sewn to his trousers and dropped into the Thames. Are you okay? Did he touch you?"
"No. Nothing like that. Just...implication. I need a bath." She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
Lule exhaled hard. "Jesus. And the cleaning interview?"
Aria started to tell her but hesitated.
She could tell Lule everything-about Marcus, about the job, which was essentially a bribe, the threat, the kindness which was veiled cruelty-but then she remembered the way his voice had changed. "Your sister. Her boyfriend. Start-ups fail..."
She couldn't risk it.
"I don't think it'll work out," she said quietly. "I bombed the interview."
A pause. Then Lule said gently, "You don't have to do this alone. Please come stay with me. We'll make it work. You can have the bed; I'll take the couch. I just...I can't sleep knowing you're out there like this. I haven't slept properly in weeks. Why are you so stubborn?"
Aria's eyes drifted to the framed drawing above the table-a messy crayon sketch of a house and a girl and a purple sun. Lule had made it in Year two. Aria had it framed and looked at it as a reminder of the simple love they'd always had.
"Come stay with me," Lule said again, her voice wobbling. "Don't think. Just pack your bag and take the train. Let me take care of you, Ari. Please."
Lule never cried.
The sound of it undid her.
Aria closed her eyes. Her stubbornness, her refusal to leave London, had become a domino that knocked down everyone she loved. Lule didn't need the stress, and neither did her baby.
"Okay," she whispered.
There was silence.
"Really?" Lule's voice rose. "You mean it?"
"Really. I have to think of the baby."
There was a whoop of joy, then muffled sounds-Rahul's voice in the background asking what was going on, and Lule half-laughing, half-sobbing.
"Finally," she whispered. "Finally. Thank you. I'll come help you move next week, okay? We'll get everything together."
