I hesitate in front of Aria’s bedroom door, still battling my annoyance. I said I’d sleep with her tonight to help keep her nightmares at bay, but I can’t stop thinking about her with Riley.
She denies flirting with him, but what she told me definitely was something. That was more than just friendliness. Riley has been hitting on her for months now, and she can’t be so clueless that she doesn’t realize it.
I drop my forehead to her door, tensing when I hear a muffled sound. Is she crying?
I walk into her bedroom, finding her curled up in bed. I’m hesitant as I walk up to her. She doesn’t even notice me, she’s that lost in her pain.
I slip into bed, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close. Aria tenses and turns in my embrace, pressing her face against my neck.
“Grayson,” she whispers, her voice laced with heartache. I thread my fingers through her hair, my free hand running over her back, consoling her as best as I can.
It fucking kills me to see her cry like this and having no idea what happened.
Aria stills in my arms when her tears dry up, her lips pressed against my throat. “What happened?” I ask, my voice soft.
She shakes her head and tightens her grip on me. “Memories of Mom and Dad,” she murmurs. “I’m fine most of the time, but some days are tougher than others.”
I nod and press a kiss on top of her head. There’s nothing I can do or say that’ll take away that pain, so I just hold her, praying it’s enough.
“What are you doing here?” she whispers.
“I told you I’d sleep with you. Do you still want me to?”
Aria nods and snuggles in closer. I’m glad I get to hold her tonight. I might not be able to mend her heart, but I can hold her as she falls apart. I can catch the broken pieces of her heart.
“I don’t know if this will help, Ari. But know that I’m here, okay? No matter what you see when you close your eyes, know that I’m here.”
I roll onto my back, taking her with me so she ends up lying half on top of me, her head on my chest. She’s quiet as she lies in my arms, her breathing uneven. My eyes flutter closed as the minutes pass, but Aria is restless.
“Tell me something about you that no one knows,” she whispers. “I can’t keep my thoughts from going to that day, and I don’t want to think about it, Gray. Distract me.”
I’m a fucking asshole because my dick hardens at those words. My thoughts immediately turn to all the ways I’d love to distract her, and I grit my teeth.
I twist a little in bed, trying to hide how she turns me on and feeling fucking awful about it. Aria tightens her grip on me and her lips brush against my throat. My cock fucking jerks, and I bite down on my lip.
“I used to cage fight. I still do boxing matches every once in a while. That’s why I have a fully equipped gym with a ring set up upstairs.”
“Cage fight? What? Why did you used to cage fight? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
I tighten my grip on her hair and inhale deeply. “When I told you I grew up in a rough environment, what I meant is that I grew up in the system, Ari. Always moving from one house to another. Most foster parents are in it for the money they get from the government, and honestly? They didn’t treat us that well. They’re all good at passing all the checks, and no one really listens to the problem kids. At most, we get moved to a different house if we complain, but the kids that are forced to stay? They become victims. Sometimes it’s emotional abuse, but sometimes it’s physical. I learned how to fight to protect myself and others.”
Aria falls silent, and I worry I said too much. The violence in those homes, the crimes I committed … Aria doesn’t need to know about that. That part of my past needs to stay where it is.
“Your turn.”
She snuggles closer to me, her lips right below my ear. “I decided to study software engineering because I’ve always looked up to you. I didn’t know about your past, Gray. I only knew that you didn’t have a family, but I selfishly never stopped to think about why or how. Regardless of your childhood, you grew up to become my role model. You still are.”
I turn us over onto our sides, in part because her leg keeps edging closer to my cock, but more so because I want to look at her. She looks flustered, her cheeks rosy, and she’s never looked more beautiful. I lean in and press a lingering kiss to her forehead, wishing I could take more, wishing I could take her lips.
“You’re better than I am, Aria. You’re a better person, you’re stronger, you’re smarter. Don’t look up to me. Look in the mirror.”
My words render her speechless, and she looks away, the edges of her lips tipping up into a smile. She buries her face in my neck to hide her flaming cheeks, and my heart skips a beat. I chuckle and tighten my grip on her.
I’m done for. The way she makes me feel… yeah. There’s no point in fooling myself any longer.
I’m falling for my best friend’s little sister.
