Page 58 of Broken Beauty

Ash

Present

Right when I walk through the front door of my apartment, I look at the clock on the stove.

It says 1:53 am.

Ariella and I didn't end up finishing the project. Instead, we talked and kissed and then she tried teasing me again and because of that I smacked her ass and fingered her until she was coming again and again.

When she fell asleep, I watched her silently and I felt content where I was. Ariella's breathing against my chest was calming and it felt good watching her sleep like everything in the world was okay.

She was sleeping on me as if I wouldn't hurt and ruin her.

After I watched her sleep for a good hour, I fell asleep with her in my arms and woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

Ally was calling me and asked me where I was. Usually, I am home at night. I rarely go out and when I do, I am with Jace who invites me to bars or parties and I only go if Ariella is there.

Every reason why I go or stay out late is because of Ariella.

But Ally and no one else needs to know that.

I put my shirt and shoes back on and then pulled the blanket up to cover Ariella's shoulders.

She snuggled into her pillows more and as I think about it, I feel a small smile lift on my face.

Damnit.

I walk into my dining room to put my keys in the bowl but I stop when I see my father sitting at the head of the table with a crystal glass filled with what I am assuming is whiskey.

“What are you doing here?” I walk towards the kitchen that is connected to the dining room.

“Where were you?”

“I asked the question first,” I say while going towards the cabinets to grab a crystal glass. “Why are you here?”

“I heard that you have been talking to Ariella Madden.”

“Yea, we already talked about this-“

“Yea but what we didn't talk about was you getting close to her and kissing her in front of everyone in class.”

I freeze.

He wasn't supposed to know about that.

How does he know about that?

Fuck, how does he know about that?

“Last time I checked, I'm an adult,” I say before walking towards my father.

I grab the bottle of whiskey and pour some of the liquor into my glass.

“Yes, and last time I checked, we had a deal, Ash.”

I sit down on the chair near him. “You don't have to worry about it. I'm handling it.”

Kind of.