Secret Designs(41)

"Trey!" Dylan looked up in the heavens and raked his fingers through his hair. "That is fucking worse than asking her the usual ISAG twenty questions. That's practically accusing her of being..." He glared at his friend. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Hey, I'm really sorry! If it's any consolation, I think she's all right. She wouldn't have gotten so mad otherwise."

The joy that burst within him at Trey's declaration tempered his anger. Ari's feelings for him were genuine. The barrier he'd built around his heart had finally crumbled. Completely.

"It might be best if you stay away from her for a while," he said to Trey without heat. "Let her get over being mad at you first."

"Ah, sure," Trey said hesitantly. "Did I tell you she's mad at you, too?"

"Me? Why?"

"She thinks you don't trust her," Trey said with a grimace.

Fear clutched Dylan's heart. "No."





*******



Ari's recorded greeting blared loudly through the car speakers.

Dylan groaned silently and gripped the steering wheel tighter as he waited for the beep.

"Hi, Ari, it's me. I'm on my way to your place. I spoke with Trey and he told me what happened. I'm really sorry, baby. We'll talk more when I get there."

How was he going to explain himself to Ari? Tell her the whole story to justify his and Trey's actions? Or would it make her even angrier that she was compared to gold digging opportunists they'd dated in the past?

The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he felt at even doubting her. Ari wasn't some girl he met at a bar. She wasn't some nameless woman who'd stalked him following a one-night stand. He'd said all along she didn't deserve to be treated in a similar vein. So why had he let it happen? Now she thought he didn't trust her.

The simple truth was he was far too afraid of his feelings for her. He got overwhelmed by their swift onset and intensity. For the first time in a long time, he feared he didn't have control of how his life was unfolding.

But now an even greater fear was pumping through him. What if he'd totally and irrevocably stuffed it up with her?

His phone pinged with a text message. He stopped at a red light and glanced at the screen.

*I'm not home. Don't bother going there.*

He rang her again but she still didn't pick up. Fuck. She was really mad at him.

Well, she might be at the shops right that minute, but she would have to go home sometime. Even if he had to camp outside her apartment for the whole day, he would.





*******



Dylan smiled at the middle-aged woman who stared at him with a suspicious look on her face.

"What are you doing there?" the lady asked.

"I'm waiting for Ari," he responded from his sitting position on the floor outside Ari's door, looking up with what he hoped to be a friendly enough face.

"Are you the owner of that black Mercedes sports car parked outside?"

"Yes."

"How did you get in the building?"

"Someone was going out the front door so I went in. I'm Dylan, the boyfriend of the girl who lives here." He stood up and offered his hand.

The woman took a couple of seconds before deciding to shake his hand, albeit very reluctantly. "Doesn't she know you're coming? Didn't you call her first?"

"I know she's at the shops at the moment. And yes, I told her I was coming."

"I am going to call Ari now," the woman said with animosity, pulling her phone from her bag. "If she says she doesn't want to talk to you or see you, you are leaving, mister. My husband is right next door and all I have to do is call out to him if you give me a hard time."

Dylan was surprised at the woman's anger. Had Ari warned her neighbours about not wanting to see him?

"Hello, Ari? How are you?...Well, I'm calling to see if you were expecting someone to come by your place today...No?...Okay, not to worry …"

Dylan hid his exasperation. He had no doubts Mrs. Overzealous would make good on her promise to throw him out. He stepped closer to the phone and spoke in a loud voice.

"Ari, it's Dylan. I'm outside your door waiting for you. Please let me stay."

Dagger glares were thrown at him while the neighbour listened to Ari's response. "Are you sure?...Okay then. If you need me, just holler."

Mrs. Overzealous gave him a warning look as she placed her phone back in her bag. "She's just parking her car. I don't even know why you're back here after everything you've put her through. But if you give her a hard time today, you'll have a lot to answer for."

Dylan stared at Ari's neighbour in disbelief. Sure, Ari must have been really angry at him from what happened that morning, but her friend's reaction was totally out of proportion.

"Could you tell me why you seem to hate me?" he asked Mrs. Overzealous.