Page 17 of Accidentally Forever
Riley practically dragged the woman away, and I stood there, the echoes of her words bouncing around in my head, reminding me why I hadn’t picked up my camera in recent memory.
“Aria—” my father began, but I couldn’t let him finish.
Words lodged in my throat, and my hands fisted at my sides for one moment before I forced myself to relax, or at least fake it enough for my father, before turning to my desk and grabbing my purse. “I need to head out. But thank you for visiting. I love you.”
I didn’t even realize I was running until the sounds of my dad’s footsteps followed.
“Aria!” he called out.
But I ignored him and jumped into my car, grateful that I had parked so close to the back door. Ipulled out of the spot, my father staring at me, confusion and hurt in his gaze. I ignored it, because I couldn’t stand to see that pity. I was Daddy’s Little Girl, and I wasn’t good enough.
Just ask anybody who looked at my work.
I hadn’t even realized I was driving toward Crew’s gym until the building came into view. While part of me tensed, knowing I needed to speak with him, the rest of me coiled in anticipation. I needed to block that feeling. No good could come from it. And yet I had been trying to do so for years.
Knowing I should turn this car right back around and go home, or even call my father and apologize, I got out of my car instead. It was as if my body had a mind of its own, and I couldn’t help but walk toward where I hoped Crew would be.
The gym was closed since there were no classes that day, so I used my key to get in. Part of me should’ve wondered why I even had a key, but Crew had given it to me. I hadn’t asked for it, nor asked why. But he had done so anyway.
He growled while he did it, and I had taken the key.
I walked down the empty hall, after locking the door behind me, and made my way to Crew’s office. I didn’t know why I knew he would be there, but as I turneddown the hall, Crew leaned against the doorway, a scowl on his face and his phone to his ear.
“Yeah. She’s here. I got her. Don’t worry.” Then he slid his phone into his pocket and moved to stand in front of me.
My breath caught, the nearness of him too much. He didn’t touch me and yet I felt scalded, embraced. His. “I need to apologize to my father for running out like that.”
Crew shook his head. “That’s between the two of you, but I don’t think you need to say you’re sorry. He told me what that lady said. She’s wrong. She was starstruck about one person, and she didn’t think about her words. But fuck her anyway.”
My lips twitched, and I let out a breath, somehow the world feeling calm for a mere moment. “Did you call him? Or did he call you?” I wasn’t sure what answer I wanted.
“He called me. Thought maybe you’d come here.” He gave me a look that I didn’t have answers for.
“I’m sorry, Crew.”
He shook his head. “For what?”
“For getting you sent to jail. For Travis. For continuing to try to help him when all it did was get you hurt. I’m sorry for being such a bitch every time I’m around you recently.” He raised a brow at that. “Sorry to keeptaking you for granted. I miss my friend, Crew. And I really hope you’re still there. Even though I’m a mess.”
He studied my face for so long that I was afraid I had once again said something wrong. Something cracked deep inside, a loss I couldn’t quite grasp. And I knew it was my own fault.
He stood up and rolled his shoulders back. “Fine. Get in the ring.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Get in the ring. You’re going to need to protect yourself. If you’re not going to let me do it, then I’ll show you how to do it yourself. Get in the fucking ring, Aria.”
“Crew—”
“No. I’ll show you a few moves. That man is out on the streets even though he needs to be behind bars. I’m so damn angry, Aria. I need to get it out somehow. So, let’s go.”
He moved forward, pulled my purse from my shoulder, and gestured toward the ring.
I looked down at my leggings and T-shirt and realized I didn’t have any reason not to do as he said.
So I followed him to the ring and climbed in.
“I’ve taken your classes before.”
