“I am glad you found each other. Even though I hadn't had much time to get to know him well, I can see how much he loves you. It is written across his face when he looks at you, and when he talks about you his eyes just start to glow. And I will forever be grateful to him for bringing my baby back to me. So, I agree with the ‘as close to perfect’ sentiment.”
She laughed and Aria joined in. After a couple of minutes, she sobered up and her face got serious, once again. “I have something to tell you, honey.”
“Yes?”
Her mother seemed nervous all of a sudden, so Aria straightened in her chair and gave her, what she hoped was an encouraging look.
“I remarried a year ago.”
To say that she was shocked would be an understatement as she looked at her mother. After her dad passed away when Aria was ten, her mother pretty much broke down. The two of them were so much in love that when he died it broke her mother’s heart.
Aria never saw her with another man again and she believed that she never would, so to hear her say that not only had she found someone, but that she married him, shocked her to the core.
“Aria? Are you upset?” Eleanor whispered, and it was enough to shake her out of her stupor.
“No, no. I am sorry. It was just unexpected to hear.” she quickly said and her mom nodded and looked down.
“Mom? Don't worry, I am not upset or anything. I am glad. You have been alone since dad died, and after I left it must have been hard for you. I am happy if you are happy. Are you happy?”
“Yes, very. Benjamin is a very good man. He is a dentist, and that is actually how we met. I came in for a toothache and left with a date.” she said, making them both laugh.
“Well, I can't wait to meet him. And of course, have a long-overdue talk with him.” Aria said, a little smirk playing at the corner of her mouth, as her mother slapped her hand playfully.
They stayed there for a little while longer before hugging and saying goodbye. Her mother's flight was in a couple of hours, so she went back to her hotel to get her things and go to the airport. Aria wanted to go with her but she was assured that it was not necessary.
After parting ways, she started to walk toward Will's apartment, before remembering that the man was out of town until the next day, so she quickly changed direction, deciding to go to her apartment.
Aria couldn't remember the last time she had slept there since she had all but moved in with Will, so she took a chance of going there and getting a couple of things that she needed.
Once she was in the building, Aria thought about going to the landlord to cancel her lease, but seeing as it was eight o'clock in the evening, she changed her mind; it was better to do that in the morning.
When she entered the apartment, she threw the keys into a bowl next to the door and took off her jacket. She stifled a yawn, feeling tired since she had been on her feet since that morning, doing the double shift as a favor for a coworker who wasn't able to make it to work that day.
She went straight to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, and just as she was about to go to bed a light in the living room caught her attention.
Aria went to investigate, angry with herself for being so stupid as to leave it on for weeks and thinking about the enormous electric bill she was going to get. Just as she was about to turn the lamp off, Aria felt a presence behind her, making her still her movements.
She stood frozen, her heart beating hard when she realized that someone was in the apartment with her, but the words that were whispered in her ear a second latter made her heart stop.
“You have been a very bad girl, pet. And bad girls deserve to be punished.”
~
6 years ago
“Welcome to ‘Late’! How may I help you?” Aria chirped happily as she stopped beside a table where a man was taking a seat. She wasn't paying attention to the guy, her mind going over all the homework that was waiting for her once her shift was over.
“One Americano, please.” Aria heard a low, raspy voice say, making a shiver run down her spine as her eyes shot up from the pad and she froze.
The most beautiful man Aria had ever seen was sitting in front of her, and she felt like she was caught in a trance.
The man was huge and judging by the way his clothes fit him, very well built. His honey blond hair was cut short to the sides and was styled messily on the top; he had a strong jaw, full lips that Aria felt a sudden urge to bite, and his eyes... wow... the man had the most mesmerizing grey eyes that Aria had ever seen.
He smirked knowingly at her, and Aria blushed, suddenly realizing that she had been staring like a moron at him for God knows how long.
She quickly nodded and almost ran back to the counter, feeling completely embarrassed by her actions, and the feeling grew even more once she heard the man chuckle behind her.
She clumsily prepared the order, almost dropping the cup in the process since her hands kept shaking violently, and in the end somehow managed to give the guy
