Destined Love

Destined Love - Chapter Thirty Nine

Chapter Thirty Nine:

It's not every day that I am lost for words, but as Ariella gazes at me with composed patience, my words become lodged somewhere between my brain and my throat. Remaining silent, I take a step to the side, her path now cleared. Choosing not to speak is probably my best option, as even I can't be too sure if my words will be coherent or intelligible—and I don't plan to make an ass out of myself a second time.  

Her opalescent eyes follow my movement, and once noticing my rigid shoulders, they fall from my face and land on a backpack seated on the closest stool. Cole's heavy snoring is the only thing from keeping the awkward silence too palpable to bear. With my eyes clear from her face, I continue to internally force myself not to offer up any form of a response.

Ariella reaches for her bag and swings it over one shoulder. When she shuffles around the counter, I manage to life my gaze and face her directly. There's still a shadow left behind of her earlier smile, but the blank stare in her eyes makes me realise she's probably taken my silence offensively.

"You're welcome, for the painting." She intones, as if the ending half of the conversation never took place. "I should get going now. If Cole doesn't wake up soon, can you cover up the food?"

I lift a heavy shoulder. "I guess."

A dimple so small that I almost miss it, appears just below her bottom lip as they slightly pucker at an angle I've never witnessed 'til now. She's clearly not surprised by my bluntness.

Tolerant to my disinterest, she replies. "Thanks."

I let her walk passed me. When she makes it to the front door, she sends me a short parting wave, and I give her a curt nod in return. As the door starts to close, some part of me—probably deep in the confines of lost emotions—wishes I could somehow make her stay, despite the awkwardness I've felt during our conversation. I would be stupid not to want to keep her here longer, but seeing her once in one day is all that I can handle right now.

My will power is challenged every day because of that woman. I better not push it.

So I stand there, without so much as a blink, until she slips from view.

After the door has clicked shut, the soft metallic sound surprisingly begins to stir Cole from sleep. I make a dash to the bathroom as his snores subside and his arms stretch above his head. Once in the shower, the heat of the water already forming clouds of steam against my skin, I realise again that my clothes are still in my truck, probably damp from the night air.

If I went out there right now to retrieve my clothes, it'll only cause suspicion. Because as far as I can tell, Cole is completely oblivious of that fact that I've already planned to move out.

And I'd like for it to stay that way, at least until the last possible moment.

Once I feel that the hot water has moistened my skin and eased the rigidness out of my shoulders, and the soap suds have slithered down my body, I step out amongst cloudy vapour. Shrugging on my jeans and tee from last night, I comb my fingers through the thick strands of my hair before opening the door, blasting the fog from the closure of the bathroom walls.

Calm chatter and the clatter of metal against plastic plates indicates Cole is now awake. Walking down the hall, Tristan and Sadie are the first I see as they sit along the two stools, their bodies intimately close. Cole's faintly bloodshot eyes land on me as I step further into the room, and rather than being greeted, the sounds around the counter are taken over by a sudden silence. With a quick gaze of his own, Tristan sends me a panicked look before forcing himself to stare down at his half empty plate. Instantly, I realise something is up, and whatever it is, Tristan has something to do with it.