22. Aria
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Griffin waits for me outside of the restaurant as I walk toward him, straightening my dress that hugs my curves. After skating with Leo, I went home and showered and changed before heading here. Griffin picked a small Italian restaurant in the heart of Idyll Cove.
While Leo and I were in Orchid City for our last competition, Griffin asked me if he could get another chance at dinner with me. He was leaving to go back overseas soon, so I thought it would be the right thing for me to do. Even though we had a relationship many years ago, he was just a friend. There was no reason why I couldn't meet him for dinner.
I’m not sure what any of Griffin’s intentions are. I thought I made myself clear when we last made plans to go out. He isn’t someone I’m interested in romantically, but I can’t help but feel like maybe he doesn’t feel the same way I do. Griffin seemed all too eager to get dinner again after Leo interrupted the last time. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t glad Leo chased Griffin away that night.
As much as I don’t want to admit it, when it comes down to it, I will always choose Leo. Until someone comes along and completely sweeps me off my feet, my partner will always have to come first. After all, my livelihood rests on how cohesive our partnership is. What kind of partner would I be if he couldn’t trust me to be there when he needs me?
Griffin’s face lights up as I make my way closer to him. I shift my weight on my feet as his eyes scan the length of my body before landing on my face. "You look amazing, Ari," he says with a soft smile. He pulls me in for a hug and I wrap my arms around him before trying to take a step away. His arms linger for a little longer than I’m comfortable with before he releases me. "I think I might have the best-looking woman in the restaurant sitting across from me."
A part of me feels like I should be flattered by his kind words, but the other side of me resists the urge to cringe. I don't need him to say nice things to me. I also don't need him to say cringey things like that. It's a bit boastful and comes off as arrogant rather than flattering.
"Have you been here before?" I ask Griffin as I avoid responding to his comments.
Griffin shakes his head with his eyebrows momentarily drawn together. "No, I don't remember this place ever being here before."
I nod my head as I remember he hasn't been back in quite some time. The restaurant has been here for a few years now, but it's new compared to when he was last home. A lot has changed since Griffin moved away.
"Well, they usually have great specials on Thursday evenings," I tell him with a smile as I motion toward the building. "Shall we?"
He nods, walking ahead of me before he pulls the door open for me. I catch a whiff of his cologne and the scent is pungent. It's so strong, I can almost taste it. I'm not a fan of the smell of patchouli and I smell hints of it. I step to the side as Griffin walks in and heads to the hostess to give her his name. For the sake of my nose, I keep a healthy distance.
She finds Griffin's name, grabs two menus, and motions for us to follow her to a table. She seats us at a booth on the far side of the restaurant. I slide into my seat, sitting across from Griffin. The hostess disappears with the promise that our server will be with us soon.
"This place is nice," Griffin comments as he glances around the room before picking up his menu. "It seems like they have a lot of options for food too."
I nod. "It's not always easy to find vegetarian options."
Griffin raises an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you were a vegetarian."
I stare at him for a moment as he directs his attention back to the menu. I've been a vegetarian since middle school. Given the fact that we aren't strangers, he should remember this. Disappointment settles deep inside my bones. He begins to ramble on about the different food options and I'm still flabbergasted at the fact that he really forgot something like that.
Leo remembered.
Our server appears at the table and I smile at her, trying to push the uncomfortable feelings away as she tells us about the different specials. Griffin and I both order a drink and he orders an appetizer, but I don't hear what he orders.
"So, how was the competition in Orchid City?" Griffin asks me after our server disappears. He looks up from his menu as if he's momentarily interested.
"It went really well. Leo and I came in first."
Griffin's nostrils flare and he half grunts. He's acting differently than he has before. Typically, he was pleasant and easygoing. The mere mention of Leo has Griffin bristling.
"You deserve an award just for the fact that you can tolerate spending that much time with him."
His words almost feel like a slap in the face. I tilt my head to the side, feeling the uncomfortableness spreading through my body. Irritation pricks my skin and I feel offended.
Our server returns with our drinks. I smile and thank her, just as Griffin does. He takes a sip of his and I don't touch mine. I look at him again as she leaves us once more.
"What does that mean?"
Griffin's eyebrows pull together as he swallows the liquid and sets his glass down. His face relaxes and he waves his hand dismissively. "Look at how abrasive he was when he interrupted our last date. He acted like he was entitled to your time. Like him talking to you was more important than us spending time together."
A date?
I don't bother correcting him.
"Yes, it was rude of him, but it was also something we did need to talk about," I argue, struggling to keep the bite from my tone.
Griffin laughs and rolls his eyes. "Come on, Ari. He's an asshole and you know it."
I don't like the way he's talking about Leo. He's not wrong. Leo can be an asshole and has a cold exterior. That doesn't mean Griffin gets to sit here and talk badly about him to me. Leo is my partner, he's someone I care about, someone I will protect. My lips are set in a straight line and the anger radiates from my body in waves as I glare at Griffin.
"What?" he questions me, his eyebrows pulling together. "You don't think he's an asshole after the way he acted that night?"
Our server shows back up with a plate of food. It looks like bruschetta, but there's something that resembles pieces of bacon on the top. The server tells us that she'll be right back to get our order for our food. Griffin picks up one of the small pieces of bread and takes a bite before leveling his gaze back on mine.
"You don't know Leo," I tell Griffin, half feeling defeated and tired, but also extremely angry at the audacity of this man.
"I don't need to know him to be able to see how he is," he counters before pointing at the plate. "Aren't you going to eat any of these?"
I tilt my head to the side. "Is that bacon?"
His face transforms as realization sets in. His eyes widen slightly, his mouth forming an O. "Shit, I didn't even think about it." He drops his gaze down to the plate.
He didn't even think about it. He didn't fucking think I wouldn't want any of it because it has meat in it when I literally reminded him that I don't eat meat two seconds before he ordered.
"I think I'm going to go."
His head snaps up. "What?"
I shake my head at him as I pull my napkin from my lap and set it down on the table. "This was never a date, Griffin. Your first mistake was assuming that. I was never interested in you as more than a friend." I pause. "Your second mistake was forgetting I don't eat meat and then ordering meat for me to share with you." I rise to my feet and stare down at him where he is sitting. "Your third and final mistake was saying anything about Leo. You don't get to speak about him. Hell, you don't even get to think about him."
A slow, sinister smirk pulls on Griffin's lips. "Holy shit. You're in love with him."
Something flutters in my stomach, but I ignore it.
"I'm not and even if I were, it wouldn't be any of your business." I shake my head at him in disappointment. I really thought Griffin was a better person than this version he showed me tonight. "Please don't call me if you're in town again."
"Aria, wait," he says as he climbs to his feet. "I'm sorry. Just sit back down and we can still have a nice dinner."
"I'm good, thanks," I tell him as I take a step away. Without waiting for a response from him, I spin on my heel and stride out of the restaurant. I don't take a full breath until I'm out on the sidewalk, far enough away from him that I know he won't be catching up with me. I should have listened to Leo when he told me Griffin wasn't a good guy. I never wanted to be anything more than friends with him, but after hearing the things he said tonight, a friendship isn't even an option.
He should have never said anything about Leo.
No one gets to speak badly about that man and think I'll ever be okay with it.
Just because we don’t always see eye to eye or get along, doesn't mean I won't protect him. He could tell me he never wanted to skate with me or see me again and it would still stand. Leo may have a cold exterior but deep inside, that man has a heart of gold.
And I trust him more than I trust anyone else.
As I walk out to my car, I pull my phone from my purse and unlock the screen before opening my messages. Tapping on the screen, I start a new one and type in his name. I wait until I'm sitting in my vehicle with the doors locked before I finally type something out to him. I know I shouldn't be doing it. I don't know if he will even respond.
Aria
Hey. So, I know this is completely out of nowhere and I don't know if you're busy or not. Tonight has been a really weird night. I didn't know if you would want to go out or anything.
I don't bother diving into the details about my short evening with Griffin. I already feel stupid enough for the message I just sent. I cringe to myself as I read over the words three times before locking my phone screen. There's no way to take them back now. There's a sixty-second window where you can unsend a message after you hit send, but that time has passed.
My lungs deflate in defeat and my stomach turns at the realization that I'm going to have to face Leo tomorrow at practice. He's going to read that stupid message and I'm going to look like a vulnerable idiot who has her head in the clouds about a guy who doesn't even like her. Pressing my foot on the brake pedal, I push the ignition button on the dash and the engine of my car starts just as my phone vibrates in my lap.
My stomach drops. My heart kicks into overdrive, pounding erratically against my rib cage as I lift my phone up and see Leo's name on the screen. A ragged breath slips from my lips. I will my heart to slow down in my chest before it ends up exploding. I didn't expect him to respond and now that he did, there's an unwanted anxiousness quickly filling me. Closing my eyes, I count to four as I inhale, hold my breath and do the same as I exhale. I repeat it five times, feeling no different throughout my body as I look at my phone again.
Taking my chances, I unlock the screen and Leo's response is right there on the screen.
Leo
I'm home. Come here.
My heart crawls into my throat. It wasn't what I was expecting from him. I lock my phone and drop it onto my lap before pulling my car out onto the street.
Leo Wells always keeps me guessing. He keeps me on my toes.
And I am hooked.