“Do you need anything?” he asked her while stepping closer to the bed.
“No, thank you. I just want to sleep and forget that these two days have ever happened.” she said looking sad for a moment, before shaking her head.
It must have been hard for her to know that someone she considered a friend could do such a thing to her, Will thought sadly.
“You should go home and rest since I’m feeling better now, and, besides, I am sure you are tired after spending all day with me, and probably have other things to do.” she said as Will shook his head.
“I am not going anywhere, Aria. I am going to stay here with you until you are completely healed.”
“I really don’t mind, and it would make me feel better to know that you are okay, so please just… just let me stay” he added when Aria looked ready to protest, but at his words she closed her mouth and reluctantly nodded.
“I’ll be in the living room, so if you need anything don’t hesitate to call me. Good night, Ari.” he said to her and almost raised his hand to caress her cheek, but he thought better of it in the last second and just turned around to leave.
He was almost out of the room, when he heard her whisper his name.
“Yes?” he asked and saw her fidgeting with the edge of the blanket, looking everywhere but at him.
“Could you maybe stay with me? Just for a little while, until I fall asleep?” she finally asked timidly, obviously anxious about Will’s answer, with a blush staining her cheeks.
Will smiled, as his heart swelled in his chest since there was nothing he wanted more than to stay beside her, but managed to not let out just how happy her question made him so as not to scare her.
Instead, he just nodded, with a whispered ‘of course’ and made his way back. He sat on the floor beside her bed, leaning his head back and closed his eyes with a sigh.
And if his heart made summersaults at the feeling of Aria’s hand slipping into his, he never let it show, but for the smile gracing his lips for the rest of the evening.
“I’ll stay for as long as you want me, Ari.”
Playing House
Aria woke up early the next morning, feeling very sore. She slowly moved, trying to find a more comfortable position when her hand bumped into something making her freeze. She glanced down, her eyes going wide at the sight of Will sleeping soundly against her bed.
He had stayed the whole night?
Aria slowly turned around, wincing at the sharp stab of pain in her ribs, and looked down to Will’s face. She found herself enjoying watching the man sleep, which was definitely creepy, but Aria couldn’t care less. Will’s face was relaxed and his mouth slightly open, as warm breath tickled Aria’s hand on his every exhale. His eyebrows moved and his nose scrunched a little telling her that he was dreaming. Aria thought that he looked rather adorable, and that was a word she never thought she would use to describe a man like Will.
“Morning.” he mumbled as his eyes opened slowly.
“Good morning.” she whispered while hiding her head deeper beneath the blankets, feeling embarrassed at being caught ogling him once again. “You stayed.”
“Yes.” was the man’s only answer, to Aria’s unvoiced question.
She willed herself to look up into those eyes that she was sure will be her doom one day, but the feelings she saw swirling in them took Aria’s breath away and she blushed and looked down again. If this continued, people were going to start to think that she had a skin condition or something. Sure, she was shy by nature, but this man could make Aria blush and squirm with just one look.
“Would you like some breakfast, or do you need to go right away?” Aria asked him, even though she would be sad to see the man leave.
“I told you last night, I am not going anywhere until you’re healed completely.” Will said making her look up in surprise.
“But what about your job? Don’t you have work to do?”
“Perks of being the boss.” he said and winked, while stretching which brought him closer to her, making her stop breathing.
They were so close, just an inch separating them, and Aria could help but glance down to his lips, remembering the last time they were this close.
They haven’t kissed since the night of the date and Aria would be lying if she said that she hadn’t imagined it happening again.
Will looked torn as he sat there on her bedroom floor, a mix of emotions swirling in his troubled eyes, and for just a moment he started to lean in, making her breath hitch, before he cleared his throat and stood up.
“I’ll make breakfast. Eggs okay?” he asked from the doorstep and Aria nodded, feeling slightly disappointed, before she too got up and went to the bathroom.
After breakfast, they watched TV, although feeling embarrassed to admit, Aria may have spent more time watching Will.
They talked and laughed and Aria realized that she had never felt more relaxed and comfortable in another man’s presence.
The thoughts of Brian and what he did to her stayed firmly in the back of her mind as the day flew by. She knew that she would have to deal with him soon but that didn’t matter at the moment. All that mattered was how good it felt to spend the entire day with Will, chilling on the sofa, eating junk food and watching movies.
~
The next few days flew by in the
