NORTH
Iwas beginning to think maybe Aria had some kind of news filter on her phone so she wouldn’t see any articles relating to either of us.
The Japanese interview I’d done had exploded beyond even what I’d imagined. While some articles called me arrogant for daring to say I didn’t want to work with Wesley Howard, most were in raptures over me calling Aria “the one.” My publicist was loving the positive media and subsequent polish to my reputation. For her, it was great that I was being linked so seriously to such a well-respected Hollywood family.
Yet that wasn’t why I’d said what I said.
I said it because it was true, and I never wanted Aria to doubt that I was with her for her and only her.
But we’d exchanged texts since the blowup, and she hadn’t said a word about it. The eight-hour time difference made it difficult to call without scheduling it, and I’d already gotten her out of bed before the crack of dawn to catch up. We’d finished filming a night shoot, and it was just past midnight in Scotland. I couldn’t call her now.
I’d banged up my shoulder during a stunt and I wanted nothing more than to return to my hotel room and soak in the tub. And try not to fixate on the fact that Aria hadn’t mentioned the interview. Some of my costars, including Eden, had given me a friendly ribbing today. Theo had texted:
You are a brain-addled sickening romantic and this ridiculous behavior is going to end badly for you. I honestly do not know how we are acquainted.
I’d looked up old-fashioned insults and replied:
You are an ultracrepidarian.
The meaning of which: a person who gave unwanted opinions on subjects they had no personal knowledge of.
Theo shot back:
Okay. You’re somewhat tolerable again.
I’d snorted at that and accepted the good-natured banter from my costars.
But by morning, with my shoulder gowping and no word from my girlfriend, I was in a bad mood. As excited as I was about the movie, I was tired and ready for it to be done. My agent had sent me a bunch of scripts over the last few months, and I was interested in several of them. But I was determined to take a few weeks off to spend time with Aria after this film wrapped before deciding on what was next.
When I let myself into the hotel room, my head was down as I rubbed my shoulder. The last thing I expected when I looked up was Aria, in a white summer dress that highlighted her olive skin, sitting on the sofa, her long legs crossed.
Waiting for me.
What the … “How? When? Why?”
After the hotel in Berlin had let Barbara slip past security, my team had made sure this hotel’s security was top fucking notch.
Thank God, they were apparently wrong.
Anticipation thrummed through me as she stood and bridged the distance between us. “The hotel manager recognized me and is a fan of our coupling. About an hour ago. And I had to fly all this way to tell you something really, really important.” Reaching me, she slid her arms around my neck, pressing her soft, warm body to mine.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, relaxing instantly now that she was here. All of a sudden, everything felt right in the world. Aye, I was a sappy arsehole. “What’s so important it couldn’t wait?”
Her lips twitched as her eyes searched mine. There was no guard up in her expression now. No barriers. Her love for me was clear to see. “I needed to tell you that you’re ‘the one.’ My forever. That I’m honored to be your family. That you’ll always be my family too. Always.”
Too much joy swelled in my throat. I couldn’t hold back my tears, and I didn’t give a fuck. Because I had been waiting a long time to find my family again. Twenty-three years of searching. Now she was here.
In my arms.
My family. My home.
Thirty-Six
ARIA
Ididn’t know what I’d expected when I returned to LA. Certainly not to feel nostalgic. Yes, this was my hometown, but a lot of hurt had happened here. However, instead of feeling all of that, I remembered driving to Beverly Hills with my friends and hanging out on Rodeo Drive, our lives so different from other kids. But those were the moments when the differences didn’t feel bad. We felt lucky. And happy. We weren’t thinking about absentee parents or the pressures of living up to successful moms and dads. We were privileged and enjoying it for once.
I wanted to rememberthatAria, the one who was grateful for her privilege and her sweet boyfriend and funny friends to spend her hot summer days with.
