Aria has been quiet and distant all week, and I canât quite figure out why. Last weekend was perfect, but sheâs barely spoken to me since. Sheâs been hyper-focused on work lately, and I canât even fault her for it.
I thought we were making progress, though, I thought she was feeling what I was feeling. The way she was looking at me as she was sipping her drink⦠I thought she wanted me, that things were starting to shift between us.
I sit down on my sofa and stare out the window. Iâve always loved my space, so this house has never felt lonely, but tonight it does.
Iâve come to expect hanging out with Aria, watching TV together, eating together. Theyâre all mundane things, but theyâre the best part of my day, and I didnât even realize it until Aria started to hide in her room.
Itâs not just me sheâs hiding from, though. Itâs Ash, too. Her responses are short, and I canât tell whatâs wrong. Last weekend changed things for me, but they seem to have changed for her too â in the opposite direction. She seems further away than ever.
I donât want to intrude either, especially because she seems okay at work. Sheâs been working hard, and Iâve seen her smiling at Riley multiple times. Just today he asked her out at least half a dozen times, but she doesnât even seem to realize it. Just before she left the office, he asked her if she wanted to join him for a drink. I saw her hesitate, as though she considered saying yes. The mere idea of her with Riley annoys me.
I grab my phone and open the Nemesis app. My finger hovers over the instant messaging function and I hesitate for a split second before deciding to text her.
:
Her replies have been late recently, even when I know sheâs got her phone on her. Iâm not sure whatâs going on, but something is up.
:
.
:
She goes quiet for a couple of minutes, and I wonder if Iâve lost her attention. Just as Iâve decided that sheâs put her phone away already, she texts back.
:
I purse my lips and look out the window, wondering why sheâs being so off with me.
:
:
I stare at my phone and shake my head. Her puns are awful. Truly awful. But I bet sheâs sitting in bed, grinning like a fool.
:
She goes silent, as she has been doing all week. Sheâs been friendly, but she doesnât respond to any of my flirty lines, and I canât tell what happened. Did I do something?
A pang of disappointment runs through me as I walk to my bedroom. My thoughts are all over the place as I underdress for bed. I miss her. I miss hanging out with her, I miss the way she makes me feel like Iâm the only one that truly knows her, the only one she confides in.
I miss the little touches. Throwing my arm around her on the sofa, holding her hand in mine whenever I think I can get away with it. I miss that. Sheâs right here, but it feels like I havenât seen her in ages.
I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. Iâm driving myself crazy. This is all fucking insane. I canât have her either way, so what does it all matter?
I twist and turn in bed, forcing myself to think of anything but her, when a bloodcurdling scream snaps me out of my thoughts.
I sit up, instantly panicked. It takes me half a second to realize itâs Aria, and another ten seconds to reach her room. My heart is pounding as I push her bedroom door open.
I find her lying in her bed, fast asleep, tears running down her face. âNo,â she whispers repeatedly, her tone pleading. She thrashes in her sleep, trapped by her bed covers.
âAria,â I say, leaning on her bed with my knee. I call for her repeatedly, but it doesnât wake her. Instead, she claws at her sheets desperately.
I grab her sheets and pull them out of her grasp, but it doesnât even remotely calm her. Iâve never seen her like this. I donât know what to do. I sit down on her bed and place my hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently but firmly. It doesnât wake her. Sheâs so deeply lost in her nightmare I canât pull her out.
I lie down on the bed and pull her into my arms, holding her close to stop her from hurting herself. She kicks at me, and I hold her tighter, my hand tangling in her hair. I feel her tears against my chest, and it kills me.
âMom,â she whispers, and I swallow hard. My heart fills with sorrow as her movements calm a little. I donât know what sheâs seeing in her dreams, but I know it must be tearing her apart.
Aria wraps her arms around me, and I wonder if sheâs hugging her mother in her dreams. Is she experiencing losing her Mom all over again?
âIâve got you, babe,â I whisper, my hand running over her hair soothingly. âYouâre safe with me, Ari. Youâll always be safe in my arms.â
She inhales shakily, her body relaxing in my arms. Sheâs so small, yet she fits into me perfectly. I rest my chin on top of her head, her lips pressed against my throat. Her breathing evens out, and I exhale in relief.
âGrayson,â she breathes.
I tense. I thought sheâd fallen back asleep, but I mustâve woken her up somehow. Aria tightens her grip on me, hugging me tightly.
âThank you.â
âAnytime, sweetheart. Iâll hold you and keep your nightmares at bay, okay?â
She nods, her nose brushing against my neck. I hold her like that until she falls back asleep, my heart breaking for her.