My fingers tighten around the phone 105

Aria’s POV
I sat on a bench outside the training camp with Zoe, enjoying the afternoon sunshine during our brief post-lunch break.
These short respites were always precious, especially now.
“I know this might be asking a lot, but my sister really needs a job,” Zoe said, fiddling with the wrapper of her protein bar.
“She wants to be a babysitter?” I raised an eyebrow, licking the lollipop in my mouth. These little things had become my
lifeline lately, effectively keeping morning sickness at bay. The sweet, tangy cherry flavor helped settle my stomach when
nothing else would.
Zoe smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yeah. She wants to be a teacher or work with kids after high school, but she
needs some experience.”
“How old is she?” I asked, shifting my weight to find a more comfortable position on the hard bench.
“Sixteen,” Zoe replied, then quickly added when she saw my expression, “But she’s certified and has taken tons of
childcare courses at the community center and at the pack academy. Lily can drive, and most importantly, she only asks
for minimum wage. For her, it’s about gaining experience.”
I ran my tongue around the lollipop, considering her proposal. The timing couldn’t be better, honestly. “I’ll think about it,”
I said, already weighing the option in my mind. The training camp would be ending soon, and Lucas would need activities
during summer break. If I hired Lily and picked up a job or two for the summer, I wouldn’t have to rely on the prize
money from that fighting match. After the baby was born and I recovered, I could start training for matches again.
“Thanks. I’ve been trying to help her out where I can because I have six siblings, and we all have to look after each other,”
Zoe’s eyes took on a nostalgic gleam. “If you know any other parents who need a babysitter, let me know too.”
“Does that mean you’re planning to stay here for the summer? Not going home?” I asked, pulling the candy from my
mouth before popping it back in.
“Staying here,” she blushed, her palms rubbing nervously against her thighs. “I met a guy… and I can also look after Lily
while she stays with me.”
“Ooh! A guy? Who is it?” I adjusted my position, legs bent, arm draped over the bench back, upper body turned toward
Zoe. I enjoyed these little breaks at the training camp because Zoe was becoming a true friend—something I’d been
lacking and desperately missing.
“I don’t want to say yet, it hasn’t started,” Zoe mumbled evasively. I grinned and patted her shoulder lightly.
“Fine, fine, I’ll keep your little crush a secret,” I laughed, tucking the cherry lollipop into my cheek. My phone buzzed in
my pocket—Leo again, no doubt. He’d been blowing up my phone with messages since I’d cancelled our training
sessions, his frustration practically radiating through the screen.
Suddenly Zoe gasped and practically leapt off the bench, her face turning the shade of a ripe tomato. Curious, I followed
her wide-eyed stare across the training grounds. There was David, methodically making his rounds, clipboard in hand,
completely oblivious to the effect he was having on my friend.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. “You’ve got a thing for Mr. Serious?”
“Shhhh!” Zoe whipped around so fast I thought she might get whiplash, her eyes darting nervously to check if anyone
had heard. “Are you crazy?” she hissed through clenched teeth, already backing away. “I don’t—he’s not—just forget it!”
Her hands fluttered anxiously as she gathered her things. “I’ve got a million things to do. Just text me about Lily, okay?
I’m out of here!”
Before I could tease her further, she bolted like a startled deer, practically kicking up dust in her rush to escape. I couldn’t
help but chuckle at her obvious panic. Young love was always entertaining when it wasn’t happening to you.
My amusement evaporated instantly when I noticed David had spotted me and was heading my way. The stern set of his
jaw and the shadows in his eyes told me this wasn’t a casual visit. My stomach tightened as he stopped directly in front of
me, his towering frame blocking the sun.
“Aria,” he said, my name sounding like the beginning of a lecture I definitely didn’t want to hear.
“Yes?” I answered weakly. David opened his mouth but no words came out.
Finally, David placed his clipboard on the bench, and I was confused because I’d never seen David this nervous or out of
character. He was usually calm or nearly expressionless. At last, he blurted out, “I normally don’t interfere in other
people’s personal lives because it’s none of my business.”
I remained silent. David took my silence as a signal to continue, “However, it’s not right that you and Ethan aren’t
speaking to each other. I know there are many misunderstandings between you, but I think if you two sat down and
talked—”
“Is it a misunderstanding when he lies to me about not sleeping with Emma? Is it a misunderstanding when he continues
to cater to her and takes her side every time? Is it a misunderstanding when he changes our plans to take care of Emma
after her so-called car accident? Or when she’s here, at my workplace, mocking me during lunch, and continues to throw
herself at Ethan after we slept together? Was it a misunderstanding when I called him a few days ago in the morning and
Emma answered his phone and bragged about their wild night together?”
The words tumbled out of me like a dam breaking, my voice quivering with barely contained emotion. I’d had enough—
absolutely enough—of everyone thinking they knew what was best for me and Ethan.
David’s expression shifted as he absorbed my outburst. The rigid set of his shoulders softened slightly. “There’s more to
this situation than you realize, Aria,” he said quietly, his voice gentle but insistent. “If you’d just sit down with him, hear
him out—”
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Something inside me snapped. I sprang to my feet, nearly stumbling in my haste, and hurled my half-finished lollipop
into the nearby trash can with such force the bin rattled. The sweet taste in my mouth had turned bitter.
“No,” I said, planting my feet and squaring my shoulders as I glared up at him. My heart hammered against my ribs, and
heat flooded my cheeks. “You had it right the first time, David. My love life—or lack thereof—is absolutely none of your
business.” I jabbed a finger toward his chest without actually touching him, my hand trembling with the force of my
frustration.
David gave me an apologetic expression but stepped half a pace closer to me. “Please consider it, Aria. I really think you
two should talk. Let him explain what happened.”
I spun away from him, desperate to escape the conversation, but my body betrayed me. The world lurched violently, like
a ship caught in a sudden storm. My vision swam, darkness creeping in at the edges as my legs buckled beneath me.
Strong hands caught me before I hit the ground, David’s grip firm around my waist. The sudden jolt was too much for my
queasy stomach. Before I could stop myself, I doubled over and emptied my breakfast onto the concrete. Acidic bile
burned my throat, the sour stench making me gag again.
“God, I’m sorry,” David murmured, his voice close to my ear as he steadied me. His touch loosened as I straightened,
humiliation burning hotter than fever on my skin. “I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”
I tried to wave him off, to pretend it was nothing, but the simple motion sent the world spinning again. The trees, the
buildings, everything whirled around me like a twisted carousel. I squeezed my eyes shut against the dizziness, but
darkness only pulled me down faster.
“Aria?” David’s voice seemed to come from underwater, distant and distorted. “Shit! Not again! Aria