Chapter 37

JETT

The day I found out Lena had called off our engagement was, by all accounts, a normal one. Or at least it had started that way.

I was just leaving a lunch meeting when paparazzi swarmed me. Their energy was more fervent than usual, and they started questioning me about why my engagement had suddenly ended.

I assumed it was a rumor gone wrong, so I didn’t pay them any attention, but when I got in the car, my phone started blowing up.

Nathan texted me a link to an article that quoted Lena’s representative stating that we were effectively ending our engagement and going our separate ways. I immediately called Lena, who didn’t answer.

A few minutes later, a text came in from her with just two words: ~I’m sorry~.

I was angry. I felt betrayed. Ultimately, I realized how relieved I was, but at first I remembered thinking it would be easier if she had just cheated.

Now, walking away from Aria’s apartment, I see how dumb that thought was. Granted, I don’t actually think Aria was cheating with her ex-boyfriend, but the same question pulses through my brain with increasing ferocity.

~Why?~

She reached out for me, grabbed my arm—something I would’ve begged for minutes ago. I spent the last week and a half selling my soul for a chance to make things right with Aria.

I knew I craved her before, but her absence made it more apparent how much I truly need her.

I know I fucked up, but paying Manny off seemed like a much better idea than the other things I was contemplating—mostly beating him unconscious.

I watched Aria struggle with the incessant public attention on her less-than-ideal childhood, and I was desperate to keep more bad publicity from upsetting her.

Ultimately, I’d do anything to spare her a moment of pain.

In hindsight, I know I should have come clean to Aria sooner. She would have been pissed, but I would have explained everything; she’d have seen my intentions were good.

But she found out before I could tell her, which I’m sure made the entire thing feel even more like a backstab.

I’d hoped that seeing her tonight, speaking to her, laying down my pride and showing her how truly sorry I am, would make things right.

Then I found ~him~ there.

I don’t know why it enrages me so, but thinking of her talking to him instead of me feels so…cold.

At the gala, he belittled her—grabbed her. If we’d been together then, I would have thrown him out myself, gotten him fired, ruined his career…

My knuckles turn to white as I ball up my fists just thinking about it.

It’s true that I love Aria, but can I forgive her for running from me?

For running to him?

***

Two days later, Aria texts me to ask if we can talk. I want to leave her on read so she knows I saw but didn’t respond. Instead, I simply say, “Sure.”

We decide to meet at the office. It’s still the weekend, so no one will be there, which will ensure privacy.

When I walk into my office, Aria is already there. It feels both right and wrong that she has access to my office.

A few weeks ago, it would have felt completely normal.

A few months ago, I would have never allowed someone full access to my office.

Aria is in yoga pants and a long sweater, her hair pulled back into a high ponytail from her makeup-free face. There’s a swirl of emotions parked there: concern, tension, anger, regret.

I try to keep my expression cold, but I also desperately want to touch her.

“Hi,” Aria says with a tight smile as we both sit down on the leather sofa by the tall windows that look out over the city.

“Hi,” I say.

“How, er, how are you?”

I roll my eyes. “Really? Aria? I feel like absolute shit. How do you think I am?”

She blinks at my harshness—the way she used to when she was only my assistant and I was especially cold to her to avoid fantasizing about her.

“I—I’m sorry. I need you to know. I did not invite Gray over. He just showed up and I…I felt sorry for him,” she says as she reaches over and touches my arm. “You have to believe me.”

“I ~have~ to believe you? Tell me, how would you feel if you came over to my place and Lena was there?”

Aria’s eyes drop to her hands. “I’d be angry,” she says.

“Right. So, you can understand where I’m coming from,” I say, a sharp edge to my voice. “Tell me, what would’ve happened if I hadn’t shown up?”

Aria’s eyes snap to mine. “What do you mean?”

I lean forward. “Well, if I hadn’t shown up right when I did, what would’ve happened? Would he pull his fake ~poor me~ bullshit until you finally gave him a pity fuck or…?” I hold my hands up like I’m asking for more suggestions.

Aria folds her arms as her expression changes to one of utter disgust. “Are you fucking kidding me? How dare you,” she says as she gets up.

“It’s an honest question, Aria. Don’t tell me you didn’t think about—”

“Fuck you, Jett,” she says as she goes to storm away.

My heart drops as I watch her head to the door. I went too far.

I stride in front of her and block her way. She steps back, but I see her hands balled into fists, her nails stabbing her palms.

“You think I would cheat on you?” she asks. “I just spent the last two weeks crying my eyes out over ~your~ secrets, your lies, and ~you~ accuse ~me~ of being moments away from fucking someone I hate?!”

I’m utterly speechless and embarrassed but also still angry.

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I say.

I watch a few tears slip out of her eyes.

“I don’t either,” she says.

We’re silent for a minute, letting the possibilities hang in the air between us.

“Maybe…we need to be…apart for a while,” she whispers.

My heart clenches. This is not what I want. It’s the last fucking thing I want. But I’m too goddamn proud to say it. So, I just clench my teeth and bear it.

“Maybe you’re right,” I say, refusing to meet her eyes as they rim with more tears.

I open my office door and watch Aria walk through it even though every cell in my body screams at me to stop her.

But I listen to the elevator doors close and turn back to face the windows.

I don’t leave the office. I don’t even sit down as I think through our conversation hundreds of times. Meanwhile, the sun dips lower in the sky.

I know what I could’ve said, what I should’ve said. Instead, I let my pride and anger get in the way. Now, it’s fucked up for good, and I’m not sure there’s anything I can do to fix it.

As I finally sit at my desk, an email comes in that I suspected was coming, but it still hits me square in my chest.

Aria’s resignation.

In it, she explains that she can’t continue to work with me, and she needs to find herself on a different path.

She writes it like she’s talking to an HR representative instead of a man she once loved—and not too long ago, I might add.

For the first time in years, maybe even since I was a child, I hang my head and fail to blink back the tears.

***

“Jesus, man, you look like shit,” Nathan says as he enters the living room of my penthouse.

I hold up my deep glass of bourbon. “Thank you,” I say sarcastically as I take a few gulps and relish in the numbness it provides.

“What the fuck? I’ve never seen you like this, and I’ve seen you through some shit,” he says as he sits down on the other side of the large couch.

I shrug. “Breakups suck. Am I not allowed to drown my sorrows?” I ask.

“Well, sure, but you passed drowning your sorrows about five days ago. This”—he gestures to me sprawled on the couch—“is called a bender.”

I shrug again. “Some breakups are harder than others,” I say as I go to slop more bourbon in my glass.

Nathan snatches the bottle out of my hand. “I take it you haven’t reached out to her?”

I scoff. “For what? So she can tell me how terrible I am? So she can break my heart some more? No, thanks,” I say.

“We all say angry shit when we’re pissed. I’m sure you got your jabs in,” he says.

I clench my jaw and look away; I have no rebuttal.

“Jett, do you love this woman?”

I look up and see the concern knitted into his eyebrows. I swallow hard and nod.

“Then, what the fuck are you doing?”

“She resigned. She said we need to be apart! What am I supposed to do?”

“Talk. To. Her,” he says.

“I tried—and failed spectacularly,” I say, finishing the rest of my bourbon.

“Yeah, because you were too proud. You need to do something you’ve never done—or have never done well. You need to apologize,” he says.

I shake my head. “Won’t work, and I’m tired of getting hurt.”

Nathan’s phone beeps, and he looks down at it and taps a few times.

“Fine. If you won’t listen to me…”

He gets up and leaves for several minutes. When he comes back in, he’s being followed by a young, blonde woman in a blue dress and cream-colored sweater. She gives me a sympathetic wave and smile.

Katie, one of Aria’s best friends.

I bolt upright, suddenly worried. “Katie! Is everything okay? Is Aria—”

“Hi, Jett. Aria is fine.” She sits in Nathan’s spot, and he sits next to her. “Well, not fine. But she’s physically okay.”

“Then why are you here?”

Katie blinks at my directness.

I apologize. “Sorry, I’m just…”

“A mess,” Nathan says.

I shoot him a look, even though he isn’t wrong.

“Aria is…struggling…as well,” she says as she takes in my appearance. “She claims she’s fine, says this is for the best, but I can tell she’s devastated.”

I look down at my hands. “I know the feeling. I wish I could do something for her.”

Nathan and Katie exchange a look.

“Look, I don’t know everything that went down between you two, but if one of you doesn’t start the conversation, you’ll lose each other for good,” she says.

“You…think I still have a chance?” I ask.

Katie gives me a small smile and nods.

“I do. Aria is stubborn and hard-headed. She always tries to look at things logically instead of listening to her heart,” she says.

“Sounds familiar,” Nathan says as he jerks his thumb in my direction.

“But I’ve never seen her as happy as when she was with you. If you don’t at least give it one last try, you’ll never know.”

I think about it for a long moment. Finally, I get up and head toward my bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Nathan asks.

“Getting ready.”