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I pull the phone away from my ear to check the time. It’s 11:45 p.m.
“It’s almost midnight. Can it not wait until tomorrow?”
Honestly, I’m tired, but that’s not the real reason why I don’t want to see Dion in person. I’m just not ready to face him.
I’ve been grappling with this inner conflict for what feels like an eternity now, and the mere thought of seeing him sends shivers down my spine. Not from excitement, but dread.
I’ve spent our time apart in a tug-of-war between longing for the connection we shared and trying to move on with my life. Trying to erase all fantasies of us being together from my mind. I’m afraid that seeing him again will ruin all my progress. Not that there has been much of that.
Though we only spent a few hours together, I’ve never had that type of attachment to anyone before.
I thought it was just because I gave him my virginity, making me feel as if we had a special type of bond. But it wasn’t about the sex.
It was about him.
“No. It has to be now,” Dion replies, no room for discussion.
What could be so urgent?
“How am I supposed to sneak out?”
Dion chuckles into the phone. “I’m sure you’ve done it before, little liar. Figure it out. Meet me at the edge of the forest beyond the trees of your property in twenty.” He hangs up.
He’s not wrong. I’ve snuck out of my room many times before, but it was to go out with Angie or one of my other girlfriends. Not to meet a boy while I technically have a fiancé. If I get caught, I’ll never hear the end of it.
But I guess I’m going. I’m not wearing anything appropriate, so I decide to change into something more incognito.
I slip on a pair of black jogging pants and a black sweater, pulling the hood over my head and tucking my blonde strands inside.
After putting on my running shoes, I open my window and let the cool night air kiss my skin.
My room faces the backyard. At this time of night, there are no guards walking behind the house, so it should be relatively easy for me to run into the forest unnoticed.
As I step onto the windowsill, a familiar thrill races up my spine. I grip the edges of the frame and lean out, assessing the descent.
I lower myself down, my muscles responding instinctively. My feet find purchase on the uneven surface of the wall, between the nooks and crannies, with precision honed through countless climbs.
Just then, I hear the flicker of a lighter.
Who the hell could be out here smoking at this hour?
Not wanting to fall, I continue going down, as slowly and quietly as possible. When I reach the bottom and my feet touch solid ground, I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Standing beneath the window, I try to locate where the sound came from, but I can’t see anyone. It must’ve been my imagination.
I turn to walk toward the woods when a voice scares the living crap out of me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Shit. Dimitri.
I whip back around and squint in the dark. He’s sitting on a stone bench near the rose bushes.
It’s not like Dimo has never caught me sneaking out. He’s also guilty for doing the same. But this is the first time I’ll have to come up with an excuse. I can’t even say I’m going clubbing as usual, seeing as I’m in sweatpants and a hoodie.
“For a walk.” I shrug, trying to sound as casual as possible.
His brows crease. “Really, Aria? At midnight?”
I turn to fully face him and shrug again. Real casual. “I couldn’t sleep.”
