Chapter 402
402
402
Aria finally let go . “ If you’re okay , I’ll be heading out . ”
He nodded , voice low , “ Alright . ”
Aria left , but as she reached the door , she stopped short – two people were standing in the hallway .
Caleb was on the left , and when he saw her , he smiled . “ Just finished dinner ? ”
Aria nodded back , offering a polite smile . “ Yeah . ”
She looked to the right – Nathan was standing there , looking awkward .
Caleb explained , “ He heard you got hurt and insisted on coming with me . I couldn’t stop him .”
Nathan straightened , cheeks turning red . He stammered out a quiet , “ Aria . ”
Aria ignored him and addressed Caleb , “ It’s nothing , just a minor injury . I’m fine now . ”
Nathan’s hopeful gaze dimmed ; he didn’t say another word .
Caleb added , “ We ran into Lily on our way here . She said she was busy with homework and that you were still eating , so we decided to wait out here . ”
Aria walked to the door , typed in her code , and said over her shoulder , “ Caleb , come in . ”
She didn’t invité Nathan .
Caleb shrugged and slipped off his shoes , heading inside .
Nathan stood at the threshold for a full ten seconds , replaying Derek’s advice in his mind , “ If you want to make up with Aria , you’ve got to grow a thicker
skin .’ *
He finally mustered up the nerve to step in and quietly shut the door behind him .
He shuffled over and asked Caleb , “ Are there any slippers left ? ”
Caleb glanced at Nathan’s awkward , apologetic face and couldn’t help but laugh . “ Don’t ask me . I’d rather not piss off Aria for your
He thought , ‘ Serves you right . If only you’d made different choices before . ‘
Nathan couldn’t even argue , just thinking about all the things he’d done and said in the past made him want to slap his old self .
He bent down , opened the shoe cabinet , and pulled out an oversized pair of slippers .
Just then , Lily came out of her room , books in hand . “ Aria , you’re back ! ”
sake . ”
“ Yeah ,” Aria was already boiling water in the kitchen . “ Give
me
your
You didn’t drink any cold water today , did you ? ”
“ Nope ! ” Lily ran to fetch her bottle . On her way back out , she spotted Nathan , paused , then pretended not to see him , greeting Caleb instead , “ Hi , Caleb ! ”
Caleb smiled , “ Evening . ”
Aria began slicing fruit , but Caleb gently took the knife from her . “ Let me handle this . Go sit .”
She let go without protest . “ Thanks . ”
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Lily poured out three glasses of water and hesitated , debating whether to pour a fourth . She watched as Nathan quietly washed his hands in the kitchen .
Their eyes met .
He wasn’t the confident kid he used to be – now , he seemed withdrawn , almost pitiful .
He had helped her before , after all .
She decided to pour a fourth glass , carrying the cups to the coffee table two at a time .
Aria sat on the couch , texting .
White Fox : [ Aria , how’s your injury ? ]
Aria : [ Pretty much healed . Are you back with Solemnity Guild ? ]
White Fox : [ Yeah . Mr. Kelley didn’t say much about my failed mission . ]
Aria : [ Did you bring up leaving Solemnity Guild ? ]
A long pause , then : [ I did . It’ll take some time . ]
Aria : [ If anything changes , let me know right away . ]
On the other side , White Fox smiled when he read her reply .
Someone knocked on his open door . “ White Fox , Mr. Kelley wants to see you . ”
White Fox replied with a quick “ Got it , ” fired off a string of messages , then switched her phone over to another system , shut it off , slipped it into her pocket , and got up to head out .
He replied : [ Aria , gotta go . Talk later . ]
He switched phones , tucked it away , and headed out .
Aria stared at her phone , lost in thought , when a new message popped up : [ Someone’s looking into you . Do you want me to intervene ? ]
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