The hardest part about getting up was knowing that, any day now, Aria had to break Reed’s heart.
She hurried through her morning routine and ate the last two pieces of cold pizza from last night for breakfast. It was still raining lightly, so she settled on wearing a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt with her faux leather jacket on.
Gwen was eager to get out of the apartment and complained profusely about being cooped up. “You should give me a key so I can patrol the neighborhood or something when I get really bored.”
Aria shook her head with a knowing smile and relented with Gwen’s request.
Sure enough, Gwen kept herself busy during the night. The floors were swept and mopped, every surface in the living room and kitchen had been wiped down with lavender scented cleaner, the television and stand had been dusted, and the bag of trash from the kitchen was waiting by the door for them to leave and take it out with them.
“Thanks for cleaning,” Aria said as they climbed into Reed’s car and adjusted her seat. “Even I noticed that it smelled better in there.”
Gwen’s nose wrinkled. “Ugh, I couldn’t stand it. All that’s left for me to scour are the walls and your room—and I somehow doubt you and Reed would appreciate me coming in while you’re sleeping. Oh, and we need some carpet cleaner for the living room too. It stinks.”
Aria buckled her seatbelt and turned on the ignition before looking back at Gwen. “Maybe tomorrow. I have a feeling that Reed will want to relax when we bring him back, and won’t want to be interrupted with the vacuum cleaner.”
Gwen gathered her long hair from behind her and twisted it over her shoulder. “He can take a hike and I’ll vacuum.”
Aria frowned before turning her attention to the car and shifting it into reverse and pulling out of the parking space in silence. A heaviness set in, growing thicker and heavier with each passing second. It pressed down on her chest, making it harder for her to breathe. She slowed her breathing but it didn’t help her creeping anxiety.
Gwen sighed as Aria shifted the car into drive. “I’m sorry, Aria. I didn’t mean it like that.”
It wasn’t so much what she said but how she said it that made Aria’s muscles lock up and her heart to clench. Aria knew Gwen didn’t mean for it to come out the way it did but it still stung. She loved Reed.
“I’ll be on my best behavior,” Gwen said when Aria didn’t answer. “Promise.”
Swallowing, Aria kept her eyes on the road as she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the residential street.
What did Gwen expect her to say? She basically shit all over Aria’s feelings right now, as if Aria’s heart wasn’t in enough pain.
Gwen coaxed again, her voice broken with regret. “Aria?”
Aria pulled up to a set of red lights and waited for them to change. “Just tell me how to get to the police station.”
A tense silence fell over them, interrupted only by Gwen telling her which turns to make, followed by the clicking of the indicator.
Aria chewed on her lip as her stomach knotted together. She couldn’t tell if she was angry or hurt. She was definitely offended and the emotions hammered themselves together in her chest, forcing her to blink back the sting behind her eyes.
When they pulled up to the police station, Gwen tried once more to break the tension when Aria parked the car.
“Look, I’m sorry about what I said. I know you care about Reed. I remember the first time we met in the coffee shop, how you told me all about Reed and how wonderful he is. But I know you also care about Papa. And you should. You’re soulmates. You belong together. I can’t help but want to see you and Papa together.”
Aria forced herself to look at Gwen as she spoke. Or rather, she looked at Gwen’s knees, then her hands in her lap, then her shoulders, until she finally managed to meet Gwen’s eyes for a split second before looking away again when Gwen finished speaking. Her face grew hot.
She understood where Gwen was coming from, but the way Gwen metaphorically tossed Reed out like he meant nothing was an insult to her heart and the emotional turmoil she was in now. It was rude and inconsiderate. She would have gladly married Reed if Stone hadn’t shown up.
“Forget about Stone for a minute and think about how hurtful your words were,” Aria said.
Gwen shifted in her seat. “I said I was sorry.”
Sighing, Aria pressed her hand to her face in an attempt to alleviate the pressure building up in her head.
As long as Gwen realized that she had hurt Aria’s feelings, there was no point in holding a grudge. Aria understood where Gwen was coming from but that didn’t mean she was right, nor did that mean Aria had to accept Gwen’s attitude. If Gwen was going to stay with her over the next few days, she had to be more careful around Reed.
“Alright,” Aria said, dropping the subject as she unbuckled her belt. “Let’s go.”
They went inside and walked up to the front desk. Aria filled out all the paperwork and claimed their belongings. Gwen helped her move their luggage to Reed’s car. With Aria’s purse back, she checked to make sure her phone and engagement ring were still inside. While her phone was dead, everything was as it should be.
They stopped at a coffee shop on their way to the hospital to get their caffeine fix and a snack for Gwen, who was starving.
When they got to the hospital, Reed was all smiles and all ready to go—if only the hospital staff would discharge him already.
Aria’s anxiety set in again. This time, it was over whether Gwen would “behave” around Reed. Gwen had to keep Stone a secret until Aria told him herself. She wasn’t sure how well or how long Gwen would be able to keep quiet, but she had to trust her. She had no other choice.
When Reed was finally discharged, they stopped for lunch before heading home. As Aria suspected, Reed wanted to spend the day cuddled up on the couch together.
At dinner time, Gwen offered to go out and pick up some Chinese food from the Chinese restaurant down the street.
Aria knew that Gwen needed some fresh air, perhaps to also get away from Reed, and she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. She’d been tense all afternoon, even though Gwen chatted Reed up like her usual outgoing self.
Reed was also glad to have Gwen out of the apartment.
The moment she stepped out, he practically pounced on Aria, kissing her hungrily like a horny teenager.
She kissed him back, but all the butterflies and warm fuzzy feelings she used to get from him were gone. In their place was guilt, twisting her stomach into painful knots. She couldn’t help but cling to him, burying her face in his chest in an attempt to hide the shame that burned her cheeks.
Was she wrong to kiss Reed now? She didn’t know, but she couldn’t help the feeling of betrayal to everyone involved.
She fucked up.
What the fuck was she doing?