Page 44 of Wrapped Around My Heart
Ari finally smiles, fidgeting with the edge of the tablet.
“Thank you. I have fun with it. And I wasn’t lying, I do graphic design. I work with different authors, putting together images they can use for social media, but lately I’ve been thinking about focusing more on the actual art side of things. It’s just been damn near impossible to find a way to lighten my workload so that I could do that.”
My eyebrows scrunch together, and I lean back, throwing my arm over the back of the couch and mindlessly playing with the curly strands that hang down her back.
“What about when you start working again after the baby is born? Like when maternity leave is up?”
“What about it?” She hums, head tilting back as my fingers find the back of her skull.
“I’m assuming that you’ll be wrapping up all your work before the baby is actually born?” I pause, waiting for her nod of confirmation. “So that means you’ll have a blank slate when you get back to working, whenever that is. Why don’t you just make an announcement that you’ll be changing up services or whatever you call them.”
Ari’s head slowly tilts up toward me and it’s damn near impossible to tell if the expression on her face is from her being impressed or annoyed at the suggestion. Just as I’m about to apologize for possibly overstepping, a smile so sincere spreads across her face and knocks the air from my lungs.
“Holy shit, why didn’t I think of that?”
My exhale is practically audible, and I relax now that I know I didn’t piss her off. While she opens her tablet back up to what looks like a never-ending to-do list and adds a note for herself, I glance around the lobby.
“Wait, Ari, what are you doing down here anyway?”
She shrugs, but I don’t miss the smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“Being a good friend.”
I blink, confused by her answer, and wait for her to elaborate. When she doesn’t add anything else, I gently tap her on the shoulder.
“And what does you being down here have to do with the kind of friend you are?”
“Well, you see, when a hockey player is part of a team that played really freaking good, and he even managed to score twice himself, his fiancé tends to enjoy…rewarding him.”
“Oh.” I nod, understanding finally. Since Dom shares a room with Greyson, who doesn’t go out to the bar after a game unless Stella is with him, it makes sense why they want to use the girls’ room.
Good for Dominik.
“Yup.” She shakes her head, settling against me, and I can almost feel the exhaustion weighing on her.
“You’ve gotta be exhausted, though.”
She shrugs and my mind is made up before her shoulder even drops.
Pushing to my feet, I turn back, holding a hand out in offering for her. Ari eyes it wearily before sliding her palm into mine and letting me pull her to her feet.
“And where exactly are we going?”
“My room.” There’s no hesitation in my voice as I practically drag her toward the elevator.
“Wait, but what about?—”
“Landon was just handed his third beer when I left the bar. Which means we have at least another two to three hours before he stumbles back here with the guys.”
The elevator doors slide open, and I hold out a hand to keep the doors open while guiding her on. I don’t miss the way her shoulders relax at my statement. It’s common knowledge that if our captain is ever seen with his third drink of the night, he’s in it for the long haul. For as much as he gave me shit about closing down bars, more often than not, he was right there with us.
Which also helped Ari and me sneak off so much. The three of us would stumble back to his condo and tuck him into bed, where he’d promptly pass out. Arianna and I would sneak outand head to my apartment for a quick fuck before she’d slip out and go back to his place to spend the night.
As we take the elevator back up to our floor, my eyes never leave her face, and I find myself wondering how the hell I managed to survive with only scraps of her.
Then again, as Arianna glances up at me with a sly smile on her lips, I already know the answer.
I would take whatever crumbs of time Ari could spare me, so long as it meant that for a few moments, she was with me.
