Page 53 of Vicious Arrangement
I glare, trying to get this straight. She’s mad at me?
“You know there’s a fridge full of food. Next time don’t bring those sandwiches in here. I threw them out.”
Her hand flies out, but she stops just short of hitting me and drops it back to her side. “That was my dinner. My one meal since this morning. I had some. I was going to shower and finish it. I don’t want your food. I want my life back and you gone. Go away, Noah.”
She slams the pocket doors shut in my face.
And I stand there.
Shame dripping over me. I can’t move, can’t breathe. Because she’s right. I’m a fucking prick. I drop my head to her door and close my eyes.
I meant every word I said tonight to Asher because he’s everything I’m not, and I’m pretty fucking sure Aria just caught on to what I’m not: good, kind, decent, and I’m sure the list goes on. But those are all I can stomach right now.
Breathing in, I say, “Aria? I’m… I’m sorry you had a shitty day, and I’m sorry I added to it. I’m sorry I’m a prick and an asshole and everything else. I’m just sorry.”
I stop because it hits me. Yes, I want her every fucking time I see her, but I like her, too. I like her company, and I didn’t think I would.
Like her company so far, anyway. She’s fun, and I want to explore that, build a friendship.
Fuck, I want her to like me.
“Aria? I really am sorry. For everything. I’ll try harder. Be nicer. If you like those sandwiches, eat them. But let my chef know what it is you want. We’ll get it in. I’ll have your favorite places on speed dial. I’ll pay for super service. I don’t care. I’ll get a masseuse to rub your feet. I’ve got some fresh OJ and fresh cold-pressed greens. I’ll leave them for you. I can order you a pizza. Would you like one? I can bring you some wine. I’m just… sorry.”
“Go away, Noah. I’m… today wasn’t good. There are days like this at the hospital.”
“Can… can I do anything?” I ask, knowing I’m being completely annoying and not being able to stop. “Shit. I’m just sorry I’m a prick. I’ll burn the suit.”
With that, I leave the juices for her and go to my room, not sure if I imagined the laughter or not.
I slide off the shoes I left out this morning, then put them away and strip off, putting the suit in the dry cleaning pile. I shower and go to climb into bed, but something compels me to slide open my door and maybe check on her again. The light’s still on, low and I’m betting she’s outside with her stupid overgrown dog. But the juices are gone and there’s a note on the floor.
I pick it up and go down to get some more juice, careful not to clink the glass bottles. In my room, I drink my greens and then I smooth out the paper and open it.
One word.
Thankyou
And I know I have to try better.
For Aria.
Chapter Fifteen
ARIA
Settlinginto my new life is both easier and harder than I thought.
Noah’s place is beautiful, if somehow like a photoshoot brought to life, where no one it seems lives, except for me and Angus.
And of course Noah.
My room’s a burst of life, the flowers outside are perfumed, and I note night-blooming jasmine, which isn’t real jasmine but smells divine. I have my two pieces of furniture in there, and books and tiny things of my life are dotted around, a photo of Gramps and Gram, of Mom and Dad and me. Things like that. I don’t hang anything, so there are pictures against the floor that arrived, things I don’t have the heart to put into storage.
They’re nothing like his art, just a print and some old film posters I love.
Angus loves the garden, and as for me? Yeah, I love it, too, when I’m here, which over the past few weeks is to sleep and spend time with Angus.
I know I shouldn’t, but at first, I took on the extra shifts to hide my shame and annoyance at him for not answering my text, for throwing out my horrible sandwich, and the shame I still sent him packing after his mangled and long apology.
