My eyes water thinking about it. When I left home, he got stuck in that house with her. God, at times I hate how he stayed with her, but I respect it because he thought it was what I needed. I force the tears away by thinking about how happy he was in his office yesterday with Olivia. That is the goal: to get my mother out of our lives for good.
I roll out of Ari’s comfy bed wondering what I should get into while he’s probably still sleeping. The first thing I normally do when I wake up is check my phone, but I don’t have it. Last night I’d been joking about being kidnapped, but honestly, I’m not sure I could get out of here without Ari’s help.
There’s no way my tiny ass is climbing over any gate or wall, and with his line of work I’m sure the second I open a window or door, he’ll be alerted. What would he do and would he care if I left? I suppose that’s the real question.
I guess there’s one way to find out.
I go to the bathroom and do what I can with what I have. He didn’t give me my bag when he left me in his bedroom, so it must still be in the car. Deciding that it’s his fault so he owes me some clothes, I grab a shirt out of his closet and pull it on.
As quietly as I can, I leave the bedroom and creep through the house. My eyes linger on the secret office door, and I wonder if I should go inside and snoop around without him being around to stop me. That door is badass. The closet and whole bathroom thing was nice, but the secret office door is downright hot.
“Ari,” a soft female voice calls, and it draws my attention away from his office.
My feet move on their own as annoyance and anger bubble up inside me. What woman is in his home this early? I knew it! I should've trusted my Scooby senses. There wasn’t a trace of a woman in his home, but I must have been searching for a reason.
Is she going to be mad when she sees I stayed the night? I don’t know if I’m happy about that or not. Glancing down at myself, I remember that I ditched all my clothes last night and stole one of his shirts to wear to bed.
I don’t want to hurt this woman, but it’s best she knows Ari is letting random women stay over. If Ari were mine, I would definitely care if he slept on the couch while giving a random girl his bed. Even if it was to be polite. His bed. With sheets that still had the scent of him. I’d murder him. I kind of want to now, and he’s not mine.
A woman rounds the corner and freezes when she spots me. Our eyes lock, and it takes all of two seconds for me to know who she is.
Ari’s mother.
Chapter Ten
ARI
“Mom?” I come out of the kitchen and see her standing there with Sadie. “I see you found Sleeping Beauty.”
“She certainly is a beauty.” My mom wiggles her eyebrows, and I shake my head.
“Ma, leave her alone. She hasn’t even had coffee yet.”
She ignores me and turns to Sadie like they’re old friends. “You know when his father was younger, he would bring me coffee in bed because I’d be so worn out?—”
“Ma!” I shout and interrupt her.
“What?” She nudges Sadie and winks at her. “He still knows how I like it.”
“I’m going to make you leave.” I try to glare at her, but she puts her arm through Sadie’s and walks right past me.
“No you won’t.” Damn it, she’s right, but I’m not about to tell her that. “Let’s see about getting you that coffee.”
I follow them to the kitchen, and while Sadie takes a seat at the bar, I grab her some food. I made a lot of different things because I wasn’t sure what she liked. As I put it all in front of her, I watch as her eyes grow bigger.
“Did you make all of this for me?” She looks shocked, and I try to hide my smile.
“Yeah.”
“Worked up an appetite?” my mom cuts in as she places a cup of coffee in front of Sadie.
“Okay, Ma, that’s enough. Glad you could meet Sadie, but we’ve got work to do, and you need to go.”
“Fine, fine,” she huffs as she goes up on her toes and I bend down to let her kiss my cheek. “But I want to see the both of you on Sunday for dinner. Tell your baby brother too because he’s not answering my calls.”
“He’s on a case,” I say, but truthfully, I have no idea.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Mom goes around the island, and before Sadie can say a word she’s pulled her into a hug and kissed her on the cheek too. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
