~Joan~
“You disappeared! I couldn’t find you anywhere,” Rhoda said and I sighed, lying on my side and automatically cuddling my pillow.
“Had to return home early, I got my period,” I muttered and she gasped.
“Oh my God, Jo. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help,” her voice sounded a bit muffled through the line and I closed my eyes.
“Yeah, it’s all good. Your brother let me use his bathroom.. Good of him,” I said, keeping out the remaining details. He’d carried me, ran a bath for me, let me wear his shirt and drove me home.
He was sweet, when he wasn’t acting like he had a stick up his ass.
“Oh. That’s nice of him,” Rhoda said, but she sounded quite odd.
“Should I come over?” she asked and I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was details of how she and her boyfriend had sex.
At least not now.
“Nope. You stay with Lucas, I’ll be fine,” I muttered, just as a knock came on my door. I groaned.
I honestly don’t want to leave my bed right now. I’d been sleeping ever since I returned from the party till this morning. Rhoda’s call had woken me up.
“What is it?” she asked and I could pick up a masculine voice in the background.
“Someone’s at my door,” I threw my legs down the bed, pushing the blanket off me as the knock persisted.
“You’re expecting a guest?” she asked as I walked into the living room. I unlocked the door, ready to lash out at whosoever was there when I paused.
“Nope. I’m not really expecting anyone,” my voice was quiet as his eyes dropped down my body. That’s when I realized I was still in his shirt.
Oh boy.
I pushed the door wider, giving him space to walk in. He brushed past me, his cologne drifting through my nose.
“Okay. I’ll check up on you later,” Rhoda said before ending the call. I leaned on the door, while Aaron stood in my sitting room making the space look smaller.
He dropped a paper bag on the table, one I didn’t realize was in his hands.
“What are you doing here?” I finally asked, pushing off the door and settling on the couch.
“Brought you breakfast, since it’s very much obvious you haven’t had one,” he said flatly and I tried to mask my surprise.
I stared at the bag that sat on the table. Aaron kept surprising me at every turn that I was starting to grow suspicious.
I wasn’t used to people doing things for me. Hell, I practically lived my whole life all by myself and he suddenly does all these things?
What was his catch?
“Okay, spill the beans. What do you want?” I asked and he furrowed his brows.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked and I shrugged, gesturing with my hands.
“All this. You took care of me last night and this morning, you brought breakfast for me. I know you aren’t doing all this just for the fun of doing it,” I muttered and his expression grew darker with every word I said.
“So, what’s in it for you?” I added and he huffed.
“You think I’m doing all this because I want something from you?” he asked, his voice icy.
I should stop and tell him I’m just kidding. But I didn’t.
“Who knows? We aren’t the best of friends, so if you’re doing all this it means you want something,” I said casually. Hurt flashed in his eyes before he stood up abruptly.
“I know you’re probably not used to people doing things for you, but you should learn to appreciate the ones that actually do,” he said, before glancing at the paper bag.
His expression was unreadable as he gave a smile that made my chest tightened.
I’d really hurt him with my words. I’d made a terrible decision… again.
I stood up.
“Aaron, I… ” he held up his hand, cutting me off. I bit my bottom lip… hard.
“Do have a great day,” he muttered before walking out of the house and slamming the door. I shuddered, slowly sinking back into the couch.
I should have just kept quiet and let him do his thing. It felt actually nice being taken care of and I had to go ruin everything.
I grabbed my phone to call him. I had to apologize, I was wrong. God, I hated myself.
I paced the sitting trying to reach him but all my calls went to voicemail. He was really pissed. I’d screwed everything up.
I eventually gave up and sat on the couch, burying my face in my hands when my phone pinged. I reached for it almost immediately, expecting it to be from Aaron.
But I was dead wrong. It was a text… from an unknown number.
Your mother is in Spain. She’s Spanish. Guess who your father is?
Ace Knight… A murderer.