Page 30 of Accidentally Forever
“But I’m not,” Aria said, even though it sounded like a question.
“Sleeping with you would be fucking weird then. Wouldn’t it?”
She burst out laughing, and I tugged on her waist slightly so I could press my lips to hers.
“You’re not like the others, Aria.”
Her eyes widened, and I knew that was enough of baring my soul for the day. As it was, everything felt a little too rushed, a little too weird. And I wasn’t sure I liked it. I didn’t like this feeling. This happiness that seemed to be seeping through my pores.
We sat there a little longer and when Aria pulled out her camera, fiddling with the buttons, I leaned back and watched her work. I was decent with a point andshoot, but nowhere near her caliber. As she lifted the camera to her face, adjusting the lens, I held my breath. Then she turned toward me and snapped her first photo. Her shoulders relaxed, that tension she’d been holding for so damn long beginning to leave her.
Then she moved her focus to the trees behind me, taking another photo, then another. We didn’t say anything, we didn’t have to. She’d find her frame. Her center.
And I’d watch her work knowing this would always be one of the best parts of my day.
My phone buzzed in that instant. When I looked down at the readout, I realized that any feeling I had was only momentary.
“What is it?” Aria asked.
I tilted my phone to her, because she was one of the few who knew my mother was a bitch. They didn’t know everything. I wasn’t sure I would ever tell them. But this text I could show.
Satan’s mistress a.k.a. Mom:
I see you’re finally showing your worth by getting arrested.
Satan’s mistress a.k.a. Mom:
I had to hear aboutit at the Club.
Satan’s mistress a.k.a. Mom:
If you’re going to keep shaming me, I’m going to ensure the world knows how useless you are.
“I really hate that woman.” The ice in Aria’s tone matched the ice in my veins.
Chilled, I lifted my shoulder before putting my phone away. “It’s nothing new.”
“You were arrested because of me.”
“If you say that one more time, I’m going to spank that ass.” At her widened eyes, I shook my head. “No, that’s not a good deterrent because you like it when my hand makes your ass all pink.”
She narrowed those blue eyes of hers. “I should spank yours instead.”
“If you can pin me down, you’re welcome to try. Later,” I promised. “The arrest was Travis’s fault. We’ve already discussed this. Stop backtracking.”
“Fine. As long as you realize that your mother is an evil person, and you don’t need to listen to anything she says. I would say that you could use my mother as a good mother, but then we get into the weird family thing again.” I knew she was trying to make me laugh, but I didn’t have any words. Instead I lifted her onto my lap and held her close. She seemed to understand, and shewrapped her arms around me, pressing her cheek to mine.
I knew this wasn’t forever. That we’d accidentally fallen into this moment, this connection. That would have to be okay with me.
But for now, I would take this.
Chapter Seven
Aria
It had been a week since something had shifted in my universe. If someone would’ve asked me even ten days before if I would be smiling at a text message from Crew, I’d have called them on their bullshit.
Not that he couldn’t make me laugh. He’d always been able to do so and we’d texted daily until recently. Us being friends was never in question—at least before our last fight. But things had been strained as Travis had gone downhill. I’d spent so much of my time and guilt trying to help the man I thought was my best friend, that I’d nearly lost so many others in my life.
