Page 48 of Queen Rose

Nate

“Nate. You’ve been off since you got home from the lake house. Didn’t you have a good time? Or were you maybe too worried about us here? Because we were fine. I promise. Franny and Melinda were so nice.”

“I know I asked already, but were they good to you?”

“Yeah, absolutely. Now, quit sidestepping and answer my question. Why are you down in the dumps and all mopey?”

“I had a good time, despite some shit that came up…” I draw in a breath, pausing to gather my thoughts. At her surprised expression, I shake my head. “I don’t want to get into it—and truthfully, there’s not much I could tell you—but Aria’s issues seem worse, somehow. I thought she was doing okay when I left, but she got in yesterday afternoon, and I haven’t had a chance to see her.”

“Could she just be recovering from her vacation?” Mom gives me a supportive smile.

I scrub my hand over my scalp. “I mean, maybe. But I got a couple of weird text messages. I asked if I could see her last night, and she said something about going to the club with her parents. So, I suggested we meet up afterward, and she said she’d probably be tired. Kinda like she’s blowing me off. It’s thrown me for a loop.” I shrug. “Maybe something happened after I left that I don’t know about.”

“But I thought you got along with her friends?” Her brow furrows, as she hides a yawn behind her hand.

“That’s just it. I did, pretty much. We had a lot of fun. There were a few touchy moments here and there, but we straightened everything out. Her best friend is really protective of her, and she hasn’t really dated before, so he went all daddy bear on me.” I grit my teeth. I can only tell Mom so much since part of what Xander had an issue with was what I’d done to lose the scholarship. “When I left Wednesday morning, I felt like he and I understood each other and the fact that we both only want the best for her.”

“What’s to stop you from, say, showing up at her house with some of those chocolates you said she likes?” She lifts one shoulder with a smile.

I mull over her idea, then shrug. “Nothing, I guess. That’s not a bad idea.”

“You should do it.”

“I’d like to thank Franny for her help, anyway. Maybe I’ll see her, too.”

“Sounds like you’ll need two bags of chocolates.” A hint of a smile plays at her lips, but I can tell she’s getting tired.

“I like the way you think. How about I help you get back to bed? You look like you could use some rest.”

She gives a begrudging nod. “Okay, I’ll agree to a nap. And if you set the kids up with cartoons and snacks in my room, they should be good for a while, so you could go see Aria now—just, whatever you do, don’t forget game night with your brother and sister.”

“I wouldn’t forget that. I’ll be back by dinnertime.” I shift, standing up and circling the table.

Mom sighs, studying my face as I help her up. “Nate, I hate that you’re worrying like this. I’m glad you’re going to go over there. Because it could be that she really is busy with family stuff after being gone for a few days.”

Mom’s thoughts on family obligation and Aria’s parents’ idea of the same concept are likely very different, but I won’t waste time trying to explain that to my mother. She simply wouldn’t understand the way the Warringtons operate. From what little I know, they aren’t your typical doting parents, no matter what it looks like from the outside. They gift their only daughter with an expensive car, more clothing than she could ever possibly wear, and really anything she wants, but they do it all for show. Lyla said her parents are shitty, and Aria herself told me that I don’t know what it’s like for her and that she’s always trying so hard to please them and coming up short. They don’t know their own daughter well enough to realize she doesn’t want most of what they give her. Don’t know her well enough to recognize that what they do hurts her. It’s bullshit. Yeah. They sound like gems. Maybe it’s a good thing I haven’t met them yet.

After picking up two bags of Dove Promises, I pull up to the side of the road at the edge of the Warrington driveway around three. My gaze is drawn to the house, and I sit there, studying this place where Aria has grown up, wondering what really goes on behind closed doors. Because I have a feeling despite how beautiful the place is on the outside, there’s real ugliness inside. Fighting parents. A family that is dysfunctional at best. A daughter who cried in my arms and told me she’s broken.

I still don’t know what to make of that.

And now, for some reason, she doesn’t want to see me. I can’t imagine what could have happened between Wednesday morning when I left her and now, but there’s a distance between us that’s eating me up on the inside. I could text her, ask outright if she even still wants to be together, but if she were to blow me off again, I wouldn’t know how to handle it. In my mind, the only option that makes sense is to walk up to that front door and knock. Ask if she’s willing to see me. And grinding my teeth until they crack isn’t going to help anyone, so I pick up the chocolates and get out of the Jeep.

At the door, I ring the bell, then stand there, nervously taking an accounting of how I look. Before I left the house, I’d thrown on the nice jeans I’d worn to the Rosehaven party and a nondescript long-sleeved black T-shirt. My hands are damp, and I do my best to wipe them dry on my jeans while juggling the bags of chocolates. How bad could this go, really? Bad, Nate. It could go badly. She may even shut the door in your face.

I grit my teeth. It feels like I’ve been standing here forever, waiting. I have no idea who I’ll encounter on the other side of this door should it even open. Could be anyone, honestly. Blowing out a hard breath, I’m about to give up when the door swings open.

A dark-haired lady that I know probably isn’t Aria’s mother is on the other side, a careful smile on her lips. “Hello. You must be Nate.”

“Yes, ma’am. I was hoping to see Aria. If that’s okay.”

She glances over her shoulder, then nods, a flash of something in her eyes that I don’t understand. “I’m Franny.” She smiles. “Your brother and sister are delightful. And your mom is so, so sweet.”

I return the smile as she waves me past her. Momentarily stunned by the opulence of the home on the inside, I shuffle uncomfortably, swallowing roughly. The outside is magnificent, but the interior is posh in every sense of the word. I can’t imagine living here. In a bid to distract myself, I hold out one of the bags of chocolates. “Thank you. These are for you. I know it’s not much, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciated the help.”

“That’s very sweet of you. And these are Aria’s favorites. You do know her.” She pats my arm, then looks quickly down the hall before waving me up the stairs behind her. “I’ll take you straight to her room.”

“Oh. Sure.” I hadn’t expected that. I figured I’d be asked to wait in a fancy living room or a sitting room or something equally as ostentatious.

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