Page 43 of Accidentally Forever
I had no idea where we were going, what the hell she felt, or what I even wanted out of this, but considering I was the one who brought us this far, I wasn’t going to back down. I shook my head, wondering why Iwas being so introspective, considering whenever I finished a painting, that’s when I could purge everything. Except Aria always did something to me.
I quickly showered, grateful for paint remover, and changed into dark gray pants, nicer biker boots that fit the suit that Aria had bought me one day since I hated dress shoes most days, and a dove gray button up shirt. Honestly, I could’ve worn anything I wanted to this. It wasn’t going to be formal, but Aria had mentioned she was going to wear a dress, so I might as well not look like a heathen next to her.
I winced, knowing that at some point the two of us needed to talk about what the hell we were to each other. But that wasn’t right now. Instead, I grabbed my phone, wallet, keys, and headed to my car.
I called Aria on the way, knowing that I was meeting her there, rather than picking her up like I wanted. We had been sleeping at each other’s homes nearly every night, and I was getting used to waking up next to her.
Before, when we just used each other to get whatever we were feeling out of the other, we hadn’t slept over. I hadn’t let myself think we would even want that. But now, waking up with her in my arms, with that sweet little ass pressed up against my cock every morning, I wasn’t sure I wanted it any other way. I probablyshould be listening to the warning sirens at that, but I wasn’t. That was a warning in its own right.
I pulled into the main parking lot, happy to see it was nearly full. A few people were already parked on the street, and I was grateful there was a small employee area. I noticed Aria’s SUV in the corner, and I quickly made my way inside.
When she had said she would wear a dress, I should’ve asked her what kind of dress.
Because my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and my eyes nearly rolled out of my head.
She had on this asymmetrical flowing piece of fabric that made my mouth water and my cock standing at attention. The slit on the right side was high enough that I could see long swaths of tan thigh. She had on stiletto shoes to match the dress, and while the front of it was pretty demure with the neckline being right at her collarbone, the back was nonexistent.
You could see all of the ink that her family had given her over time because she had pulled that dark hair back into an elegant bun thing. The dress left her arms bare and the rest of the dress showcased those luscious curves I had licked every inch of. And the deep, vibrant ruby color of it made her stand out in a sea of mostly black and white. Of course, there were a few other colors among some of the patrons who had strolled in as well,with one guy wearing this peach suit thing that reminded me of an older movie. But I only had eyes for Aria. Then again, that was usually the case when it came to her.
With a smile on her face, she spoke to Lex. My best friend had a worried look, but it was gone in a blink. I knew I’d have to get the information out of him soon. Her cousin wore a dark purple shirt with black pants, the two of them laughing at something Lex said. And while Lexington looked like he meant it, I saw the tension hiding in his smile.
Ignoring others calling for me, because I had forgotten that I had a piece in this as well, I made a beeline toward Aria.
Lexington’s eyes widened as he saw me, before a clever smile covered that face of his. “I think you’re about to be stolen from me.”
Aria turned, a frown on her face, before her shoulders relaxed marginally. “You’re late.”
“I was working.”
“Taking over the world or painting?”
I leaned forward and kissed her jaw. She smelled of roses, and I had to swallow hard. She kept changing that scent on me. It was like a surprise every time I was near her.
“Painting.”
“That’s good considering your piece over there already sold,” Lexington said, gesturing with his champagne flute.
I looked over my shoulder and frowned at the dark landscape painting I had set aside a few months ago. I could see the errors in it, but I still liked that piece. I had captured that moment in the mountains after an event with the Montgomerys. When Travis had shown up drunk, and Aria had done her best to try to save her friend. And in the end, the first fracture in my friendship with her had begun. We had sealed it now, because we had done the one thing we were never good at before: communicate. But I could still remember that night, when another one of us had nearly died, and Aria had lost part of herself along the way.
Her hand slid into mine and squeezed. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, swiping a champagne flute from a passing server. “Just thinking about that painting. I forgot Riley was using it.”
“It was okay, right? You signed for everything but I’m sure we can change it if we need to.”
“Oh it’s fine. I was just thinking about your work, and my current project.”And my parents.
“You artists always surprise me with what you can do,” Lexington said with a shake of his head. “Butwhoever bought that is lucky. I was looking at it, but it’s too rich for my blood.”
“You know I would paint anything for you,” I told one of my best friends. “For a price.”
“And there it is,” Lex said with a laugh, gesturing with his drink.
Aria leaned into me, her eyes filled with nerves. “Will you walk with me to the other side of the room, so I don’t have to see people looking at my art? I’d rather hang out in the student area. They’ve done such fantastic work.”
I leaned forward and brushed my lips against her ruby red ones. “Of course. But you have nothing to be worried about.”
“I didn’t say I was worried,” she bit out.
