Page 48 of A Hurt So Good

“I’m getting back. I have a few things I need to take care of here,” she tells her. Arya doesn’t say anything; she just nods her head before she starts walking. I follow behind her while Julie gives me some sort of look.

Once we get into Arya’s room, I close the door and spin to face her.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” she asks, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear and grabbing her laptop.

“Why’d you let go of my hand?”

“She doesn’t need to know all my business, Har. Besides, she warned me away from the three of you,” she informs me.

“She did?”

“Yeah. Said you were bad news, and I needed to stay away.”

“And yet the three of us fuck you when we want.” She looks up at me and gives me a lazy smile.

“Your dad has been talking about you guys a lot.”

“He has? About what?” I ask as we walk out onto the balcony. She sets her laptop down and pulls up her chair, taking a seat as I do the same.

“His businesses. How he wants you guys to get involved more. You know he’s opening new clubs in Miami and New York?” I nod. I did hear about that. “He wants you guys to get them up and running.”

“Is that what he said?”

“Yeah. We were talking about the website for the clubs, and he brought it up.” She opens her laptop and starts typing.

“What do you think?”

“About you guys opening them up?” She looks at me. I nod. “I think it’s a great idea. You guys are smart and young. The intended target for these clubs is younger adults. You three being the face of all of that will surely bring in more people.”

“Why do you think that?” She smirks and shakes her head.

“Look at you three. You’re fucking gorgeous, and I have no doubt that every girl in Miami would come out to see you guys.”

“You don’t honestly think that, do you?” She laughs, and it’s something I haven’t heard in a while.

“I do think that. In fact, I can almost guarantee that.”

Now, I stand and stalk toward her as she watches me. I lean down, gripping her chin lightly in between my fingers.

“Care to make a bet?”

“What are we betting on?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“You let me know, and I’ll be happy to make that bet with you.”

“You’re on, baby. I’m going to talk to my dad. Get some work done,” I tell her as I lean down and press my lips to hers. I turn and walk away with a fucking smile on my face.

Chapter 21

Arya

The strange messages keep coming, and I keep deleting them. I debated telling the guys about them, but the last week, they’ve been pretty busy with work and stuff. I didn’t want to bother them over something as stupid as a text message.

I take a deep breath and blow it out, thinking about the short time I’ve been here. I feel … better. Almost like a weight has been lifted off my chest, and I wonder if that’s because I told the guys about my dad. I felt a huge relief after telling Harlon, but then, when I told the other two? It was like I could breathe again.

---