Aria

Today, surprisingly, has been a slow day at work. Due to the recent news spreading across Canada and the Internet of me being named captain of the women's team, I thought people would be spilling through the doors of the company to congratulate me. But it's as if the world has answered my unheard pleas to allow me a break. After I had my meltdown in front of Dad, he called everyone up – Mom, Jax, Benn, Aunty Emlyn, Uncle Hainsey, Grandma and her husband, and Isabella  – and insisted that we all go out for a celebratory dinner and some drinks. I was both mentally and physically exhausted after that escapade, dreading work the next day. To say I'm thankful for this brief moment of relaxation is an understatement. 

Relaxation aside, it doesn't subtract from any of the awkwardness I feel when I'm around Leo. For the second day in a row, we're working alone together. I kind of miss having Benn and his loudmouth around to break this awkwardness, but he has important matters to attend to regarding hockey. I'm not going to let my immature issues stand between him and his passion for hockey. And, despite the questions that are burning between Leo and I, as well as our shared inability to solve them, I have to find a way to work around this tenseness between us on my own. I've never been good at handling my emotions like my mom, so I believe now is a good time to begin practising said wanted personality trait. 

All day, I've been acting professional, ignoring how badly I want him to kiss me again and definitely ignoring the way I catch him looking at me every so often. Especially when he bites his goddamned bottom lip and looks away, guilt clouding his features. It makes him look hot and innocent, and it makes me want to pin him down and kiss him until he's begging me for oxygen. And you know what the scariest part is? I know I could do that to him. He's fit, but he doesn't have the muscle mass I do from all my years of training. 

The thought of overpowering a man is indecently tempting and alluring. 

But I manage to keep my emotions in control by distracting myself from anything that has to do with Leo. For the first half of the morning, I catch up on any bookkeeping that needs to be completed, as well as payments for the building and the utilities. The other half of the morning is solely dedicated to taking inventory on equipment: mountain bikes, helmets, knee and elbow pads, and rental shoes. And, when all that has been completed, I focus on giving Darren, the man who now runs the cabin company we're partnered with, a call to see how things are going. Unfortunately, he doesn't answer. 

After our quiet lunch break, Leo and I deal with several customers, giving them directions, taking payments, and renting out a few mountain bikes. For once in my life, there is a unique comfort in having strangers surround me, and I'm actually thankful when a few of them bring up hockey, either discussing captaincy or how awesome my little brother is looking at camp. People continue to waltz in and Leo and I continue to work professionally, fulfilling everything this company stands for. But, just like any other customer, they flitter away and leave Leo and I alone again. 

Now, as the sun begins to slip behind the height of Blackcomb Peak, Leo and I are both sitting behind the desk, counting down the hours until closing time. I'm on my phone, scrolling through my social media accounts and wishing Leo would talk to me. However, I know that's not going to happen any time soon. If there's one thing I've learned about Leo, it's that once he begins reading a book, you don't bother talking to him until he puts the book down on his own accord. 

And the funny thing is, I know exactly how he feels as he sits there, his brows furrowed in concentration as he flips the page. 

Books are the world's only source of magic; a way to transport you away from reality and allow you to pretend you're someone other than yourself. Be it the villain or the anti-hero or even the hero themself. Getting lost between the pages of someone's imagination is a different form of euphoria. One that only the lucky people who have a passion for reading will ever know to be true. 

Suddenly, Leo glances up from the pages. "Why are you staring at me?"

I blink, my cheeks flushing, and turn my attention back to my phone. "I wasn't staring," I mumble. 

"Yes, you were."

I sigh, setting my phone down. We make eye contact. "Do you realize how attractive it is to watch a man read?" I ask, sounding mildly exasperated. Part of me swears to heaven and hell that he's simply sitting there and reading to drive me insane. "Because in case you don't, here's a news flash: It's sexy as hell. I'm sorry if that makes you feel awkward or anything similar to that, but I had to say it, Leo."

His lips part ever so slightly as he absorbs my words, his knuckles white he's gripping the hardcover book so tightly. Ever so slightly, his reaction amuses me. Clearly, just by the look on his face, he's never been called sexy or hot by a woman before. I find his innocence even sexier than his appeal to reading. 

Slowly, he runs a hand through his hair and sighs deeply. "I'm, um...wow. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to respond to that." He lets out a shaky laugh. "This...um..."

Mentally, I slap myself. I had promised myself I was going to stay away from romanticizing our relationship. I don't want to drag him into my spotlight life, but with every moment I spend next to him, it becomes harder and harder to resist his charm – and he's not even intentionally doing it! 

I clear my throat and reach out to pat his knee. "Don't flatter yourself too much, Leo," I reply, regaining my equilibrium to the best of my abilities. "I said any man. I didn't direct that comment at you and you alone."

Yes, you did, my mind taunts. And you know damn well he falls into that category, despite him being two years younger than you. 

A small frown forms on his face as he sets his book down, the wrinkled bucket list acting as a bookmark. "I'm assuming you read, then?"

"Of course I do," I reply, thinking back to all the books I have back home in Calgary. "My favourite author just so happens to be Margaret Atwood." I pause, biting my lip. "Okay, I have two favourite authors: Margaret Atwood and Leigh Bardugo. Ninth House was a delectable piece of writing that I could not put down."

The small frown on his lips suddenly switches to a small smile. He even chuckles lowly. "Alex Stern was a powerful character," he elaborates. "I can understand why you'd enjoy reading from her point of view."

I nearly gape at him. After seeing all the old novels he carried around, I had assumed he was stuck in the past, only reading books his dad had read before he passed away. 

Leo tosses his head back, laughing. "Oh, come on, Aria. You didn't actually think I stuck to books my dad read, did you?"

I'm sure my smile looks about as sheepish as I feel. "Guilty?"

He laughs again, getting to his feet. "I read anything and everything." 

For several seconds, we stand behind the front desk, staring at each other. I can't tell what's going through his head; if he's thinking about me or not. It makes me anxious, but it doesn't bother me too much. 

"Aria?" Leo asks. 

"Yeah?" I reply.

He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, suddenly looking anxious and unsure of himself. I can also see a look of endearment in his gorgeous eyes. This moment of emotion, these obvious feelings I can see on his face are overwhelming and beautiful at the same time. I wish he would show his emotions more often than not – it makes him even more real than he already is. Seeing this conversion is like trying to read a book that's suddenly gone from invisible ink to bolded English writing: easy and real. 

Sighing, Leo aggressively runs a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry about the other day, when those men came back from their weekend trip. I should have minded my own business and let you handle the situation. I know I helped and you didn't mind my intentions, but...but I know you're strong enough and independent enough to do things on your own. I'm sorry."

I blink in shock. That...That was not what I had been expecting at all. "Oh," I reply, trying not to sound disappointed. I mean, he has a point and all, but I just...I wasn't expecting something so political-sounding to come from his mouth when the emotions were clearly visible on his face. I thought our conversation was going to be relative to our emotions. "Well...um...I'm not mad at you for doing that. I think you saved me, to be honest. I probably would have kicked his ass and then been exposed to bad publicity."

Softly, Leo snorts. "I doubt that, but okay. He was harassing you. You would have had a valid reason to kick his ass."

Staring at Leo, I succumb to my usual bluntness. "Did...Did you have anything else to say to me? It feels like you switched from one topic to the other amongst all that thinking you were doing."

He stares back at me, emotions burning in his eyes. "I...I just wanted to say how excited I am for the next item on the bucket list. I'm having...I'm having a lot of fun with you, Aria. Thanks for doing this with me."

There's still something off about his words, but I don't press for more information. I've always wanted to learn how to make my own soap, which is what we're doing tomorrow after work. Apparently, his mom and Tenille have been making soap for years, even going as far as to sell it at the Farmer's Market. Well...they used to sell it at the Farmer's Market. After Eliza moved to New Brunswick to have Leo, their tradition sort of stopped. 

Pasting a happy smile on my face, I reach out and squeeze Leo's slender shoulder. "I'm excited, too."