Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Aria
Travis:
I’m sorry about last night. I just wanted to see you glow.
Travis:
You are such a talent.
Travis:
I miss you.
Travis:
It’s been so long.
Travis:
I think about you.
Travis:
Do you even think about me?
Travis:
I went on a drive today. I saw the stars. They made me think of you.
Travis:
Why are you ignoring me?
Travis:
I thought you loved me.
Travis:
You moved on quickly, didn’t you?
Travis:
So you are with Crew?
Travis:
I knew you were fucking him all along.
Travis:
I hear he has money. Is that why you spread your legs for him?
Travis:
I bet nobody bought your art.
Travis:
Do you know how long it takes me to create paradise with my hands? I’m a god with my art.
Travis:
You point and shoot and sometimes get it right. I could do what you do with a cellphone.
Travis:
I’m sorry. I know you hate my drinking. I’ll do better for you.
Travis:
You whore. Answer me.
Travis:
Answer me.
Travis:
Answer me.
I scrolled through the seventy-four text messages I had received in the past day and a half before I exited out of the app. I knew I needed to block him even though I’d turned off his notifications. It would be better for everybody if I did. But there was that small part of me that knew once I did, he would reach out to me in truth. And I would never forgive myself if I missed that text.
But he was escalating. There was nothing I could do about it right now, except be there when he hit rock bottom. That might make me sound like a horrible person, but he was no longer hurting just himself. I wasn’t going to let Crew continue to be harmed because of me. Nor was I going to let myself fall down that rabbit hole.
Part of me knew I shouldn’t show Crew the texts at all. He got so angry every time he even heard Travis’s name—let alone heard about any of the other man’s actions. And I didn’t want to ruin his day. There was nothing he could do at the moment, so I ignored the texts and kept Crew safe.
“Everything okay over there?”
I slid my phone into my back pocket and grinned over at Daisy. “Everything is wonderful.” Not quite a lie. “Although I’m still confused as to why we are bowling. I mean, you know what happened the last time I bowled.”
My cousin held back a grin, but her eyes still danced with laughter. “Because you lost the coin toss. And don’t worry. We’ll get you bumpers.”
“That is just mean.” I shook my head, smiling for real this time.
Claire, Phoebe, and Phoebe’s sister Isabella walked toward us at that moment, a tray of nachos, hot dogs, burgers, wings, and assorted snacks between them.
My eyes widened. “Oh. This is why we come here.”
After they set down the tray on the tabletop, Phoebe tossed a tater tot into her mouth and moaned. “I know these are terrible for me, but I’m going to eat all of them.”
“As long as you don’t touch my onion rings,” Isabella warned. She turned to me and grinned. “And the chicken sandwich. There’s just something about a bowling alley chicken sandwich.”
Phoebe shuddered. “That is all yours. The last time I ate a chicken sandwich like that I was fourteen, and it was right before a soccer game. Big mistake . I was on defense, and not only did I get a yellow card for so-called tripping a kid named Karl, a ball hit me square in the stomach and I nearly threw up on everyone.”
I had just taken a bite of hot dog and paused.
Phoebe shook her head. “Sorry for the visual. But every time I look at a chicken sandwich, that’s what I think. Actually, what I mostly think about is the fourteen-year-old kid who hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet and went flying as he tripped over my foot. I got in trouble because he couldn’t handle me and hadn’t hit puberty.”
Isabella looked dubiously at her sandwich. “Are there any more childhood horror stories that are going to try to ruin some of my favorite foods?”
“Okay, do we have these two lanes?” my other cousin Brooklyn asked.
Daisy beamed. “Yes. We can divide teams however we want, but Aria can’t be in my lane.”
“Why?” I asked, a little put out. Though not surprised since bowling wasn’t my thing.
“Probably because you need the bumpers,” Dara said as she ran toward us.
I held open my arms for my baby sister and hugged her tightly before shoving playfully at her shoulder. “Hey. You’re supposed to be on my side. We are actually siblings.”
“And I’m the one who not only had her toe broken, but almost got a concussion from the last time you bowled. I am not on your team,” Dara said as everybody burst out laughing, and I felt the blush that covered my cheeks.
“Oh. Right.” I cleared my throat. “Though I have been bowling since then.”
Everybody gave me a look, and I threw my hands in the air.
“Is there evidence of this bowling?” Daisy asked, lifting her chin even though I knew she was laughing .
“You can ask Crew. He’s the one who took me out.” I paused. “Because he was afraid for my family’s safety if we ever went bowling again without him,” I muttered.
Everyone once again burst out laughing before we broke into teams. Daisy, Isabella, and Brooklyn all decided to brave being in my lane.
“That does sound like a Crew thing to do. Sacrificing himself for the greater good.” Daisy rolled her eyes as a little bit of uneasiness swept over me.
“Is this weird?” I blurted.
“Is what weird?” Daisy asked as we put on our ugly yet amazing bowling shoes.
“The fact that I’m dating your ex-boyfriend.”
“Wait, you used to date Crew?” Isabella asked as she leaned toward us. Only interest covered her face, not any judgement.
“Yep,” Brooklyn answered for us. “And I thought that Lexington did too, but he keeps telling us the two of them didn’t date. I just thought that third time was the charm with finding his Montgomery Princess or Prince.”
“You are thinking entirely too much about this,” I told her.
“I find all of this fascinating.” Isabella looked between us before she and Brooklyn went to start the game. “I thought we had the family drama in the Cages, but I am loving learning more and more about the Montgomerys.”
“It’s not weird at all for me,” Daisy answered after a moment .
I bit my lip and tried to believe her. “Okay.”
A wry smile covered her face. “Crew and I are just friends. And we have been for a while. In fact, I’m pretty sure we were nearly just friends when we were dating.”
“It’s the nearly just part that gets weird. Considering well…you know.”
Daisy shrugged. “We are of an age, live in the same area, and have similar and decent taste in men. I’m surprised overlap hasn’t happened more often in this family.”
“I’m just going to say that Crew is hot, and if things don’t work out between you two, I’ll be there,” Brooklyn said. “Three for three and all that.”
I glared at her, and she held up both hands.
“Kidding. I mean, Crew kind of scares me. While that could be exciting, I like the two of you together. I’m going to go bowl now and try not to break any toes.” She scampered off, Isabella beside her.
I let out a breath, confused and yet entertained. “See? Weird.”
“Not weird. The two of you have had a connection for years. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m married. I have a child. I am very much over Crew. Not that he isn’t a lovely man. But he’s not mine. He’s all yours. But if you’re worried about it, then you should talk to him.” She paused. “Are you worried what he thinks?”
“I don’t. He’s always been who he is. He’s good enough. Better than that. He’s…he’s Crew. He is who he is. I can’t say this right.” I felt like I was putting down the man I was falling for down, and that was not the case. He was just…everything. And always had been. I felt like I was learning who this new person in my life was even though he’d always been there. He hadn’t changed. But maybe I had. Or how I perceived him.
She shook her head. “No, I understand. Because he doesn’t need to improve. Other than how all of us as humans need to improve. The two of you just click. He talks more with you around. And it’s not a growl or a grunt. I’m not going to ask what your intentions are or where you think it’s going, because that’s not my business. And frankly, it’s weird when people asked about me and Hugh. But I’m here to talk. Or if I’m the last person you want to talk to, you know every single person in this group here, and those who couldn’t come with us tonight, are here for you. We love you, Aria. In case you have forgotten.”
I glared at her as I wiped away tears. “Why are you making me cry at girls’ night?”
“Because it’s my purpose in life. Now, I see my order has arrived. ”
I turned to see a waiter arrive with two trays of shots, and I rolled my eyes. “Really?”
“We have a car service to get us to the next place and a ride home. We are going to have fun.”
I took the first shot with a thank you to the waiter, stared at my family, to blood and connections, and held up the glass.
“To girls’ night.”
“And not breaking any toes,” Brooklyn added.
I glared at her, then each of us tapped the table with the bottom of the glass and tossed the shot back. Some reached for salt and lime, but sadly, I could shoot tequila without any of that. I couldn’t touch dark liquor, and just the scent of rum got me buzzed, but tequila and I were friends.
We bowled, and I did not break anyone’s toes. Though I did toss the ball over the bumper and into the next lane. The drunk frat guys next to us cheered me on and bought all of us a round shots.
So really, my bowling was the best. It got us free drinks.
Once we were done, we cleaned up our mess, made our way into the SUVs that Daisy had acquired for us, and the drivers took us to the next place.
“What on earth is a cupcake bar?” I asked, chugging water in the backseat .
“We get to decorate our own cupcakes and eat as many as we want,” Daisy answered before she chugged her own bottle.
“This sounds like a bad idea in my case,” Isabella said. “All that sugar after tequila?” She shuddered.
“There are also vegetable cupcakes, like carrot cake, and other things that aren’t sweet. And cheese.”
Every one of the Montgomerys in our SUV sat straighter, like prairie dogs sensing movement.
“Cheese?” I asked.
“Oh my God. It’s real,” Isabella burst out, and we all laughed.
“We lean into it, but don’t worry, we also eat things other than cheese,” I reassured her.
She looked dubious but nodded anyway. We all piled out of the SUVs, and then into the cupcake bar.
“One of Lucy’s friends had a birthday party here, and they think they also had adult nights with wine, so I think it’s going to be fun,” Daisy explained.
“Now everything makes sense,” I teased.
We each took a chair at one of the small tables, and the owner Margie walked out, exuberant and excited to talk about cupcakes. I might have eaten my weight in junk food already, but I was in the mood for all the sugar .
I didn’t mix tequila and wine, so I stuck with water, that is, until Margie showed up with the margaritas.
“I heard you had tequila earlier, so don’t worry, I have you covered.”
“This is a mistake,” I told Daisy, but we clinked glasses and took a sip.
“I’m just having the one,” Daisy warned.
“Honestly, same.” Because as much as we all were joking, none of us were getting truly drunk that night. Especially after everything that had happened the night before.
I had five cupcakes in front of me, buttercream frosting in one piping bag and cream cheese frosting in the other, and I had found my new heaven.
“I just want to eat this entire bag,” Claire said.
“I feel there’s a joke there but I’m on too much of a sugar high to figure out what,” I replied.
We all burst out laughing and went on to decorate some amazingly beautiful and amazingly horrid cupcakes.
I stared down my lopsided creation and sighed. “This is why I am a photographer. And Crew does the painting.”
“Has he ever painted you ?” Claire asked as she set down her drink. “And that is enough tequila for me.”
“My answer is no, but I’m not sure Aria wanted to hear that,” Daisy said, looked at her drink, then put it on the table. “And that means I will stick to water now as well.”
Blushing, I drank some water and didn’t answer. Which I suppose was answer in itself. Isabella toasted me with her glass, but the others didn’t seem to notice.
By the time we boxed up the creations we hadn’t eaten, I was full, slightly nauseous, and yet so happy we had gone out.
“I almost canceled,” I told Daisy.
“I figured. You would’ve had every right to. But I’m glad you came out. And I see your ride is here.”
“I thought the cars were taking us home.”
Daisy just grinned. “For some. But with others, I have my ways.”
I looked up to see some of the Montgomery men, Hugh, and Crew walking toward us.
“I guess the single ladies take the car service home,” Brooklyn said with a sigh, before the rest piled into the remaining SUV.
I only had eyes for Crew. “Hey there,” I said, my smile wide.
“I can’t tell if you had too much to drink or too much sugar. But I don’t mind.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. When I parted my lips for him and groaned, he deepened the kiss .
“I love frosting,” he whispered.
“I have extra for later.” From the way that Kingston grimaced as he directed Claire to his car, I realized I hadn’t whispered that.
“Let’s get you home. And that frosting.”
I narrowed my gaze at him as I tapped his shoulder with my finger. “Sweet things only stay above the waist. You know the rules.”
He buckled me into the passenger side of his SUV and chuckled. “I do. I’ll just eat your pussy for dessert if I want to go beneath the waist.” He pressed a hard kiss to my lips before closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side.
I must’ve dozed off, because soon I was in his arms, and he was carrying me to his bed.
“I fell asleep?”
“You were snoring.”
“I do not snore.”
“You do. But it’s okay.”
I looked around his place and frowned, confused but still happy. “I thought you said we were going home.” I didn’t mind being here. I liked Crew’s house better than mine anyway.
Something odd crossed over his face, but he sat me down on his bed. “My home. Now let’s get you naked.”
“Then you’re going to eat my pussy?” I asked .
“Not with you this drunk. You know the rules.”
“I had tons of water though,” I put in, disappointed.
“Future you will be happy with that decision.”
He pulled off my clothes, and I wiggled into his bed naked, comfy, and feeling safe. “I always feel safe with you.”
He swallowed hard as he brushed my hair from my face. “That’s damn good to hear, Aria. I know you need to brush your teeth and everything. But I just want to hold you for a while. Okay?”
“Will you get naked?”
He rolled his eyes and pulled off his shirt. But he didn’t take off his pants as he got into bed, holding me close. I couldn’t be disappointed though, not with his scent wrapping around me.
“Did you have a good day?” I asked, knowing I needed to stay awake for a little longer.
“It was okay.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, hearing the annoyance in his tone.
“Nothing.”
“Is it your parents?”
He didn’t say anything, and I let the disappointment go. If Crew wanted to talk about it, he would. I would just have to ignore the hurt that he didn’t want to share. After all, it wasn’t any of my business .
But sometimes it just reminded me that we were playing house. That at any moment this—whatever we had—could crumble.
So I leaned into his hold and told myself I was happy. That I didn’t need anything else.
But part of me knew it was a lie.