Page 72 of Give Me a Reason

“I know she will.” I smiled as she slid out of the room.

I closed the door behind her, needing a few minutes to myself. Her suggestion for the art class touched something deep inside me. I think I had this notion that anyone I dated wouldn’t be in tune with my daughter. That they’d want to come first and think my child should be second. But Aria had looked for this class and thought it would be something she’d like to do with her.

I loved this physical thing we had going on, but Aria was starting to infiltrate my heart. The one thing I’d kept separate from anyone else since I was a kid. I didn’t want to get hurt. But then I remembered the expression on Aria’s face when she suggested the class, and my heart pinged all over again.

Aria was traveling over unchartered territory in my heart, but I didn’t want to stop her.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Aria

I felt a little shaky after our encounter on the balcony. I knew what would happen when he texted me to join him.

I had to remind myself that it was just sex. There shouldn’t be any emotion or feelings involved. But sex with him was more. It wasn’t a quick fuck against the wall or me riding him on the balcony.

We were always partially clothed, yet I’d never felt barer. What would it be like if we ever got into a bed? We’d get to see each other naked for the first time and have all the time in the world to explore each other’s bodies. I wanted that. Even though I knew Finn was bad for me.

Finn was correct when he said he was an indulgence, an equivalent of a cheat day on your diet. You gave in to the temptation and then felt guilty later. But I wanted to prolong the phase where I didn’t feel any regret. I wanted to enjoy it for what it was.

I couldn’t help but look forward to spending Sunday with him and Paisley. I loved sharing art with someone, especially a child, who was learning the techniques for the first time. When I was younger, I relied on books I checked out of the library and the art teacher at school to learn.

I knew their limitations, and I was okay with it. Finn wanted his daughter to have everything, and there was nothing wrong with that.

When I returned to the party, Harper raised a brow. “You were gone a while.”

“Sorry, I fell asleep.” I hated lying to her. At least Ireland wasn’t working this wedding. I wasn’t sure I’d feel comfortable screwing around with her brother while she was nearby. Of course, I shouldn’t be doing it at all.

“Do you feel okay? You’re not coming down with what Finn had last week, are you?”

Everyone knew about it because I’d called out of work.

“No. I’m fine.”

Then Harper waggled her brows. “Did anything happen between you two?”

“He was sick. He had a fever.” I rolled my eyes, hoping she couldn’t see through me.

“If you say so. One might think you’d spend all day in bed with him.”

“I’d never do that. Ireland’s my friend.”

I could feel her gaze on the side of my face while I watched the couples on the dance floor. “Besides, we don’t get along.”

Harper laughed. “That’s the best kind of foreplay. The arguing gets your blood pumping.”

Is that what happened between me and Finn? There was this extra tension from our interactions, and it spilled over into sex? I didn’t think so because I’d had disagreements with other people in my life, and I didn’t want to jump them.

What we had was different. It couldn’t be compared to anything else. It didn’t mean he was my guy. It just meant he was a fun diversion for now. One that had the possibility to blow everything up for me: my living situation, my new friendship with Ireland, and my job. I was walking a fine line, and I couldn’t make a misstep. Everything would come crumbling down.

“If you were doing something with Finn, I wouldn’t judge you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. Harper was Gia’s best friend. “Gia has rules about that sort of thing.”

“I love that girl like a sister, but she can be over-the-top sometimes.”

She was my boss, and I couldn’t forget that. If Gia wanted to run her business a certain way, that was her right.

“Did you grow up together?” I knew they were friends, but not much else.

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