Page 25 of The Grinch who Loved Me
She was still fully dressed, but she couldn’t believe what had happened with Ryland.
When she first saw him, he was angry and he scared her. But the longer she was around him, the more he turned into a giant teddy bear.
She loved it. How he seemed to melt with her around. She had no idea that she could hold that much power over a man.
She still wasn’t even certain of that power until he had kissed her. It was as if he turned from his teddy bear into a hungry wolf.
And she didn’t hate it. She was still reeling that it had happened at all.
She wanted to call Raegan, but she also didn’t want to bother her. It was so close to Christmas and Aria yearned to have her best friend back, but she knew she had to let Raegan do what she needed to do.
But she wanted to talk to someone.
She grabbed her phone off her bed and held it up and dialed her mom’s number.
Her mom picked up after the first ring and Aria felt bad, because she knew it was late, but her mother answered, “Aria! I didn’t expect to hear from you tonight. How are you?”
Aria smiled, “I’m good. I have been really busy in the shop getting ready for Christmas. I get so many couples looking for their perfect ring. It really is the best job in the world.”
She could hear the smile in her mom’s voice, “I’m so proud of you Aria. For living your dreams and chasing what you want.”
Aria bit her lip, “Thanks mom. That means a lot to me.”
Her mom let out a soft breath, “There is something in your voice. Something you aren’t telling me.”
Aria took a deep breath, “I met someone. Tonight. A man.”
Her phone beeped and she looked down at it, seeing that her mom wanted to video chat and Aria did just that.
Her mother’s face came into view and she was sitting in her favorite chair, facing the fireplace.
She didn’t have any makeup on and her hair was pulled up.
Aria smiled, and her mom said, “That’s better. I need to see your face when we talk about boys.”
Aria laughed, “You are funny.”
Her mom smiled, “Well, go on. I need to hear all about him.”
Aria put her chin in her hands, “He is wonderful. Like so handsome and kind. I didn’t know men like him existed. Outside of my brothers and dad of course.”
Her mom chuckled, “They are rare. That much is true. How did you meet him?”
Aria told her mom the story of her car and how she had pulled into Ryland’s driveway, and how he was really gruff at first, but was actually just hiding a heart of gold.
Her mom’s smile widened and Aria said, “Then he kissed me. Cupped my face in one of his huge hands and kissed me. I didn’t even know what to do. I have never been kissed before. But it seems my lips knew.”
Her mom laughed, “They do. They don’t need guidance.”
Aria chuckled, “That they don’t. He is everything I never knew I needed in a man. But is it too soon? Am I crazy for liking him this fast and wanting it all?”
Her mom shook her head, “I don’t think love works on a timeline. Not the way that most people believe anyway. Your father and I didn’t. He saw me, and that was that. I was his and nothing was going to change his mind. Not my father, not the time we hadn’t spent together. No one and nothing. Jet was the same as was Bo. You saw it with your own eyes. Do you really think Jet was going to slow down the moment he met Farren? How about Bo? With Avery? Nope. There was no stopping love. But let me ask you a question.”
Aria nodded and her mom said, “Is he good to you? Does he care about your disability?”
Aria shook her head, “He barely notices it. He tends to carry me places instead of letting me walk.”
Her mom smiled, “I doubt that a man like Ryland will allow you to walk a lot. Jet still is that way with Farren. It’s really cute. Your father was like that whenever he came home. I could hardly move without him there. You didn’t answer my question about him being good to you.”
