Chapter 30
30
Aria
A ria groaned, rolling over in her bed. The light coming into her room was too bright. She’d slept in too long. What time was it? She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes and groaned again.
Cayden hadn’t called her yet, which was unusual. Sophia had left her alone, too. She hadn’t heard from Daniel. It was like she’d gone back in time to the days before Daniel showed up to help out at the ranch.
Flinging out her arm, she attempted to find her phone where it sat on the side table. She inadvertently knocked it to the floor, wincing at the sound as it echoed off the wall. Then she scooted to the edge of the bed and peered at it on the floor. It took a moment, but she managed to reach it.
Sitting up in bed, she frowned when she saw the notification. She hadn’t gotten a message from Cayden, but she had gotten an email.
She read it once, then again, before she exhaled a heavy breath. Her chest relaxed for what felt like the first time in days. The email was short and all business. Cayden was leaving. He didn’t like it here and had zero interest in fighting her to move.
That didn’t sound like the Cayden she knew at all. He loved controlling her. Every opportunity that presented itself was one he took full advantage of.
But the email came from him. They were his words. Who was she to look a gift horse in the mouth?
Free.
She was completely and one hundred percent free.
A happy sob escaped her lips and she threw her hand over her mouth to quell it. Cayden was leaving on his own accord. He wasn’t going to bother her anymore.
Daniel !
She gasped, flinging the comforter off herself as she scrambled from the bed. She had to tell him. Maybe not everything—but she had to tell him that everything had changed. He needed to know that she loved him.
Chills swept through her body at her thoughts.
She loved him.
Aria yanked the ring from her finger and tossed it onto the bathroom counter before she looked at herself in the mirror. She grimaced at the sight of her blotchy skin and swollen eyes. No amount of makeup or cool water would solve this before she went over to see him. And this wasn’t a conversation she was going to have on the phone.
She needed to see him now.
Giving herself enough time to brush her teeth and pull on some warm clothes, Aria went over what she could say to him that might soften the blow of how she’d been treating him. If she gave him everything, there was no denying that he’d take out his anger on Cayden. And that would be really bad.
This was going to be difficult—more than difficult, it was going to hurt them both. She could only pray that Daniel would be patient enough with her to give her another chance.
Aria grabbed her coat from the hook. She’d need to borrow Sophia’s car. And maybe it was time to finally get one of her own. With the door locked securely, she started her trek toward the main house.
It looked to be about lunchtime. Maybe she could convince Daniel to meet her somewhere to get a bite to eat. A smile tugged at her lips. She couldn’t wait to see him. It was amazing how easy it was to feel joy again now that she wasn’t being suffocated by Cayden’s presence.
She skidded to a stop when she noticed the extra vehicle in front of the house. Aria would have recognized that truck anywhere. Her eyes darted around the immediate area, half-expecting Daniel to be with the horses like he used to be when Mateo wasn’t home. But she didn’t see him.
Her focus shifted to the house. He wasn’t inside, was he? Sophia would have messaged her, right?
Slowly, she made her way toward the building, her feet feeling heavier with every step. Then she stopped altogether when the door opened, revealing Daniel and Mateo. Sophia materialized behind them. Each and every one of them were looking right at her.
Daniel looked ready to murder someone. Mateo didn’t look much better. But Sophia was smiling. She grabbed at Mateo’s arm and tugged him back inside before shutting the door with a firm push.
Aria couldn’t move. She’d lost the will to breathe. Maybe she was going to pass out. It wouldn’t be a surprise with the sudden wave of dizziness that washed over her.
Maybe this was a bad idea. She should have thought her plan through a little more.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have much of a chance to regroup because Daniel rushed for her.
“Daniel, I?—”
He swept her into a great big hug, pressing her body into his like she was life itself. She wanted to laugh, cry, and melt into him all at once. Hesitantly, she brought her arms around him, clinging to him, wishing this moment would never end. They stood like that for ages. It could have been minutes or hours, and she wouldn’t have noticed a difference.
When he pulled back, she noticed damp spots on his shirt where her face had been.
Daniel shook his head, a softness returning to those eyes she adored so much. “Shh, don’t cry. Your tears are killing me.”
A watery laugh erupted from her throat. “I don’t think anything could kill you.”
His expression turned serious and he brushed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Losing you could.”
Just like that, the tears started up again.
Daniel groaned and pulled her against his body. “I can’t take it when you’re hurting, Aria.”
“I’m not—not anymore,” she mumbled into his chest.
He pulled back “What?”
“I’m not hurting anymore.” Her smile was small, but it was there, and it was real. “I?—”
His finger pressed to her lips. “I know everything.”
Aria’s eyes widened. She flushed so hot, she probably resembled a piece of fruit more than a person. Then her conversation with Sophia came rushing back and she frowned. “Sophia…”
“You should have told me,” he said, his voice cracking. “You should have told me what he was doing.”
“I couldn’t.” Her chest squeezed and she sucked in a sharp breath. “I couldn’t or he would have?—”
“I don’t care about the scholarship. I don’t care about the classes. All I care about is you.”
“Don’t say that,” she whispered.
“It’s true.” He brushed at her tears again. “I love you, Aria. I’ve loved you almost from the moment I met you.”
She snorted, and it drew a smile from him.
His eyes searched hers. “You are my reason for living, for chasing after a dream I never thought was possible. You are everything to me, and it’s time you knew.”
“But I thought?—”
“Before you say anything else, I need you to do something for me.”
Aria blinked. Everything was changing too quickly. Her head was spinning. What could he possibly ask of her? “What is it?”
“I need you to kiss me.”
A fresh wave of laughter burst from her. He was being ridiculous, and yet she could see he meant every single word. Daniel didn’t seem to want to rehash what they’d both been through. She got the sense that he didn’t want her to make excuses or plead her case. He might not even want her to apologize for what she’d said or done since their lives had been interrupted.
He wanted a fresh start.
And that was something she was more than happy to give.
Aria nodded, flinging her arms around his neck as she captured his mouth with hers. Their kiss was searing and claiming. It held all the promises that they hadn’t had a chance to make yet.
Best of all, his kiss was healing. He could make her forget everything bad that had happened in her life with a single touch. He could lift her up and make her believe in herself. Daniel was her better half.
He might be quiet and hard-working a good deal of the time, but he was also gentle and kind. He was her everything.
Aria pulled back, moving her hands to frame his face. “I love you, Daniel Keagan. More than you will ever know. And I would do anything to ensure your happiness.” She brought his head down so she could touch her forehead to his. “Anything.”
“I think I’m beginning to understand that,” he said softly before pressing a kiss to her nose. “But all I want is you.”