“Yep,” Aria says back, and as I watch him leave, I think of what excuse I can come up with so I can leave too. I don’t know if it’s safe for me to stay here with her.
Grabbing a cracker, I scoop it into the dip and pop it in my mouth.
“I think you’re too young.”
Sorry?I blink and bring my focus to her. What do I say back to that?
I swallow the food and answer with the only logical thought that pops into my head. “I’m twenty-six.”
“I know, but he’s almost forty, and won’t have kids, so what’s the point of being with him?”
I rub my forehead, trying to come up with a nice response.
Get the fuck back in here, Marc, and help me.
Clearing my throat, I try to respond the best I can. “I really enjoy his company. Your father is a beautiful man. I’m very lucky to be spending tonight with you both.”
I avoid the topic of our ages and kids because he and I have already spoken about this, and I don’t know if it’s my place to go into all the details of our relationship. I don’t have kids to know how much I can explain or what I can’t. All I know is I’m sweating here, trying to figure out what to say.
“I didn’t want you here. This was his idea.”
All the air leaves my lungs as panic claws at my throat, and now my nerves are coming back in tidal waves, knotting my stomach.
“I’m sorry. I’m not here to make you uncomfortable. I was invited,” I say with a gentle tone.
“Not by me.” Her voice is shaky, and a flicker of sadness hits me. This is what I feared, and it’s becoming a harsh reality. What can I say to make this better?
“Sorry, I’m back. Did I miss anything?” Marc interrupts before I can respond. My gaze hits the floor, my hands twitching.
For a second, I wonder if I should leave right now, but I don’t want to cause a scene.
“No, all good. Let’s watch the movie,” I say with a small, very forced smile.
How is this going to work if she doesn’t accept this? My mind is on overdrive as the movie starts. But I push any thoughts of Aria and how to win her over away and just focus on the movie. Only concentrating on things that make me happy and not the one causing me to want to run.
Chapter 25
Gracie
Idecideto walk to the store to pick up some basics, but along the way, I get distracted. Finding a cute little boutique, I head inside to browse.
When something catches my eye, I grab the hanger and bring down the pretty blue shirt to have a better look. I run my other hand through the soft fabric, holding it up against my chest. Moving around, I decide I’ll be taking this home with me. When I turn around, I see a familiar pair of eyes with long blonde hair staring at me.
“Not your color,” Aria says with a roll of her eyes.
I look down and follow her gaze, swallowing roughly. My shirt. Yep, she definitely hates it, and right now I wonder if she hates me too.
After the movie ended, I left their house as fast as possible. I pecked him on the lips at his door and let his driver take me home. I never told Marc what she said that night because I didn’t want to bring up drama, but I’m thinking now that maybe I should have, because she still seems very angry, and I have no idea how to deal with it.
“You think? I kinda like it.” I say, just to see if I can get her to warm up.
“No, it’s too dark, and it’s a weird shape. I think it would make you look boxier than you already are.”
I gulp some air.
What the actual fuck?
Am I boxy? I never thought about myself like that.