19 - Just Friends?

ARIA’S POV

It was supposed to be just one movie, but I wasn’t ready to face the broken reality that was my life yet. So, I saw another movie and then another movie, then another until my eyes were sore and my head was full with over thinking and longing for the cute and cringey romance movies i had just stuffed myself with. I stared at the screen of the fourth movie I was watching and when I peeked at the digital watch on my wrist, it was way past 9pm, truly time flies when your life was falling apart. I felt broken still, and no amount of sugary and buttery popcorn was going to take the pain of Shawn giving up on me – on us. My eyes started filling up with tears again after the credits started rolling and I realized I had to go back home to an empty house and there won’t be no Shawn seated at the desk in the corner and going through case files.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and headed outside where the cool breeze swept through my face and drying my tears. It was freezing in the cinema but it was warmer than the iciness I felt inside my chest, so I turned around and ready to go back and see one more movie when I accidentally bumped into someone.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry, I wasn’t – ” I began rambling in apologies and just then I looked up to see who I was apologizing to and my mouth fell open – it was Kyle.

“Kyle – what are you – ” I stepped back and almost tripping on a stone before he grabbed me by my waist and pulling me to him but I caught myself in time and I stepped away from him before he blinded me with his effortless charm.

“You weren’t at the office today” he said.

looked at him, unsure of what to say, “How did you know I was here?” I asked and he stayed silent for a few seconds before he spoke.

“Any time we had a fight you always went to see a movie or movies – ” I regarded him suspiciously and he raised his hands in surrender.

“Fine I followed you, I saw you come by the office with tears in your eyes and then you left – ” then he stopped, cupping my face in his hands with his thumb moving to wipe the tears that stained my cheeks.

“Did he hurt you?”

“What do you care?”

Kyle shrugged, “Try me.”

I stayed pensive for a bit and still regarding his suspiciously before speaking, “Shawn broke up with me, happy?” I watched to see the slight grin that would creep up on his face but there was none, he only stared at me with a look that I couldn’t decipher, I was dying to know what he was thinking but sometimes Kyle was a very closed book or worse still he was an open book with really tiny prints so it was still impossible to read him.

“Why would I be happy that you’re hurting?”

“I – I – ” the words flew right out of my mouth, “You confuse me Kyle Hart.”

“Do I now?” he humored me.

“You must be starving, that sugary nonsense is not going to fill you up.” he said looking at the almost empty popcorn carton that I held in my hands.

“I’m not hungry.” I said even though I was completely starving and in that moment my stomach growled, Kyle smirked at me and I rolled my eyes.

“I know a place, has the best steak – ”

“Steak?” I threw him a questioning look.

“What’s the matter?” he threw back at me.

“You don’t think eating a steak right now is a bit too extravagant?” I shot at him.

“I’m a billionaire now Aria, I can do whatever I want.”

I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time and even a couple more times after that even while we were seated at this fancy restaurant with a golden chandelier in the middle, and our table draped with expensive linen sheets and the waiters walked around with an ipad as the menu.

“I’m not dressed for somewhere this fancy, Aria.” I said to him and he scooped low till he how face level with me judging from how he always towered above me, then his eyes ravished my body stylishly but tainted with a little seduction and my stomach fluttered – again and against my will.

“You look rather stunning Aria.” my name rolled smoothly out of his tongue and then he pulled out a seat for me.

Dinner went rather smoothly with me either rolling my eyes at a very cocky statement or a laughing at a joke that wasn’t so funny but because I had to boost his ego which was also an inside joke between us. After dinner was over and we walked outside with him a safe distance behind me, I turned around ready to tell him that I was going to hail a cab but he hastened his footsteps towards me.

“You know you don’t have to go home tonight alone.” he said.

I raised a brow at him, “Where would I go?” I wasn’t sure if I was purposely acting clueless but I was genuinely curious.

“Mine for starters,” he said and then when he saw my expression began to shift he held unto my hands and continued, “Just as friends, no pressure.”

I chucked, “You’re my boss now, you can’t be my friend.”

“Oh come on! And as your boss, I could inspect your presentation pitch.”

I held his stare with a funny feeling developing in my stomach that I forced myself to look away from his eyes because I couldn’t withstand the intensity it held.

“Fine,” I muttered, “But just as friends.”

“Just friends.” he affirmed.

But even I knew, that was a big lie and Kyle and I could never be just friends.