Liam’s POVLogan barged into my office without knocking, arms crossed and that holier-than-thou look on his face. I knew what was coming before he even opened his mouth.“You need to stop dragging Aria into this mess,” he said, his voice laced with accusation.I didn’t even bother looking up from th
“Great,” I said, maybe too quickly. “See you then.”I hung up before she could ask any more questions, tossing my phone onto the desk. What the hell was I doing?---I was leaning against the car when Aria showed up, right on time. She was always on time—hadn’t changed a bit in that regard.Her hair
Aria’s POVI pulled up in front of Joe’s school, watching as the kids trickled out of the building. Joe spotted me from across the playground, his face lighting up as he waved.I smiled back, stepping out of the car as he ran over, his backpack bouncing with every step.“Hey, bud,” I greeted, openin
Liam was unpredictable, and I couldn’t risk Joe getting hurt if things fell apart again.“I get it.” I said finally, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Goodnight, bud.”“Night, Mom,” Joe whispered, closing his eyes as I turned off the light and left the room.---The next morning, I arrived at the
Aria’s POVThe next few days were a blur of cold, tense exchanges between Liam and me. I kept my distance, barely speaking to him unless it was necessary, and when we did talk, the words were clipped and sharp.It didn’t go unnoticed—gossip buzzed around the office, the team clearly picking up on th
It was one thing after another—sponsors needing information, crew members asking about last-minute adjustments, and Jackson checking in with me between laps.“Aria, we’ve got an issue with the front left tire,” one of the pit crew members said through the comms, his voice tight with urgency.I swore
Aria’s POVThe office buzzed with the typical hum of activity—people typing, phones ringing, muted conversations in the background. But none of that noise reached me.“You’re not listening to me, Liam,” I snapped, leaning forward in my chair. The conference room felt too small, like his frustration
“Liam, I’m sorry, I—”But he cut me off with a cold, measured tone that sent a shiver down my spine. “No, Aria. You’ve made yourself incredibly clear. If that’s what you think of me, then we don’t have anything further to discuss.”I opened my mouth to argue, to apologize again, but the finality in