Deep Consuming Addiction

Chapter 66

✨Miles Between Them✨

Elena Vale

The room was quiet again.

Too quiet.

Elena sat at the edge of the hotel bed, her phone resting beside her, untouched—but not ignored. Her eyes kept drifting back to it, like it held an answer she wasn’t ready to face.

Miles between them.

That’s all it was.

Distance.

So why did it feel like more?

She leaned back slightly, exhaling as her thoughts began to spiral in ways she didn’t recognize. This wasn’t like her. She wasn’t the woman who questioned things without reason. She didn’t sit around wondering about what-ifs and maybes.

But now—

Her jaw tightened.

Ari had a life before her.

She knew that.

He had options before her. Women. Arrangements. Things that were easy, uncomplicated.

Things that didn’t come with hesitation.

Like her.

Her fingers tapped lightly against her thigh.

He told her they meant nothing.

He told her he ended it.

Because of her.

She believed him.

Didn’t she?

Elena huffed out a quiet breath, leaning forward, elbows on her knees as she stared at the floor.

You’re not insecure.

She repeated it in her head like a fact. Like something she could anchor herself to.

You’re not that woman.

But then—

She wasn’t there.

And Ari…

Ari was used to something else.

He was used to access.

To ease.

To not having to wait.

Her chest tightened slightly at the thought.

They hadn’t even…

She closed her eyes briefly.

So how was he dealing with that?

Was he just… waiting?

Or—

Her thoughts cut sharply.

No.

But the question had already planted itself.

Would he wait?

She sat up straight immediately, shaking her head once.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.

God, I’m not an insecure woman. What is happening to me?

Her hand reached for the phone.

Then stopped.

She stared at it.

No.

She wasn’t going to be that woman. The one who called just to ask questions she shouldn’t need to ask.

She pulled her hand back.

A few seconds passed.

Then she reached for it again.

Stopped.

Exhaled.

This is stupid.

She dropped her hand to her lap, pressing her lips together.

Third time.

Her fingers wrapped around the phone before she could stop herself.

She stared at the screen.

One breath.

Two.

Then—

She pressed call.

The line rang once.

Twice.

On the third ring, his voice came through.

“Elena.”

Just her name.

Low. Certain.

Like he already knew it was her.

Her breath caught slightly—but she steadied it quickly.

“Hey,” she said, trying for casual and almost pulling it off.

A brief pause.

“You okay?” he asked immediately.

Of course he would ask that.

She let out a small breath, somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

“I just got in,” she said, shifting slightly on the bed. “Long day.”

Another pause.

Then, softer—

“You called for more than that.”

Elena closed her eyes briefly.

He always did that.

Cut straight through everything.

“I…” she hesitated, then shook her head even though he couldn’t see her. “I don’t even know why I’m calling like this.”

“Like what?” his voice was calm now, steady.

“Like I don’t have control over my own thoughts,” she admitted quietly.

That made him go silent for a second.

Not distant.

Listening.

Elena swallowed lightly.

“It’s just… the distance, I guess,” she continued. “Being here. Being away from you.”

Ari exhaled slowly on the other end.

“I told you I didn’t like you leaving,” he said.

A faint smile touched her lips despite herself.

“I remember.”

Silence stretched between them again—but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

It was loaded.

Elena hesitated.

Then—

“Ari…”

“Yes.”

She paused.

God, just say it.

“You’re… okay?” she asked carefully. “I mean—being there. Without me.”

A beat.

“I’m working,” he said simply.

She nodded slightly, even though he couldn’t see.

“Right.”

But that wasn’t what she meant.

And he knew it.

“Elena,” his voice shifted—firmer now, but not harsh. “Say what you’re actually asking.”

Her breath caught.

She looked down at her hand, fingers tightening slightly around the phone.

“I just…” she exhaled slowly. “You’re used to… more. And I’m not there and we haven’t… and I just—”

She stopped herself, frustrated.

“I don’t like the way my mind is going right now,” she admitted.

There was a brief silence.

Then—

“You think I’m with someone else.”

It wasn’t a question.

Elena’s eyes closed.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Her chest tightened.

“I know what you told me,” she said quickly. “I know you said those things didn’t mean anything. I believe you, I do. It’s just—”

“The distance,” he finished.

“…yes.”

Another pause.

Then his voice dropped slightly.

“I’m not with anyone else.”

Simple.

Direct.

No hesitation.

Elena felt something in her chest loosen—but not completely.

“You’re sure?” she asked before she could stop herself.

Ari let out a quiet breath—not annoyed, just… aware.

“Elena,” he said, her name slower this time. “I ended that part of my life because of you. Not temporarily. Not conditionally.”

Her throat tightened.

“I know…”

“No,” he cut in gently. “You’re trying to know. There’s a difference.”

She went quiet.

“I don’t need anything else,” he continued. “Not while I have you.”

That landed deeper than she expected.

“But I’m not there,” she said softly.

“And?” he countered. “You think distance changes what I decided?”

Elena didn’t answer.

Because she didn’t know.

Ari’s voice softened then.

“I’m waiting because I want to,” he said. “Not because I have to.”

Her breath caught slightly.

“You’re not something I’m passing time with, Elena.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Real.

“And if I told you I was struggling?” she asked quietly. “Not with you… but with my own head?”

“I’d tell you that’s normal,” he said. “And that you call me instead of sitting there overthinking things I’ve already made clear.”

A small, shaky laugh left her.

“That’s exactly what I’m doing right now.”

“I know.”

She leaned back slowly against the bed, staring at the ceiling.

The tension in her chest eased—just enough.

“I miss you,” she admitted softly.

There was no hesitation this time.

“I know,” he said.

A pause.

Then—

“I miss you too.”

And just like that—

The distance didn’t feel as heavy.

Elena let out a slow breath, her body finally easing into the mattress as the tension slipped out of her shoulders.

“I hate that you always know,” she murmured.

Ari’s quiet chuckle came through the phone. “You’re not as unreadable as you think.”

She rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see it. “I am very unreadable.”

“Mm,” he hummed. “You called me many times before you actually let it ring, didn’t you?”

Elena froze.

“…no.”

A beat.

Then—

“Liar,” he said, amused.

She sat up, pulling her legs beneath her. “Okay, maybe once.”

“I'm guessing a few but exactly I'd say three,” he said calmly.

She huffed. “You’re annoying.”

“And you still called me.”

That shut her up for a second.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

She reached over, grabbing her laptop bag from beside the bed and setting it on the small desk near the window. The morning light was stronger now, spilling across the room in soft gold tones.

“You’re lucky I like you,” she muttered as she unzipped it.

“I’m more than lucky,” he replied easily.

Elena shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she pulled out her laptop and placed it on the desk.

“Are you always this confident?” she asked, opening it.

“With you?” he said. “Yes.”

She paused for half a second at that… then forced herself to focus, pressing the power button.

“That’s dangerous,” she said lightly.

“For who?”

“For me,” she admitted under her breath.

Ari didn’t respond right away.

When he did, his voice was softer.

“I’ll be careful with you.”

That made her still for a second.

Then she cleared her throat, shaking off the moment before it got too heavy again.

“Good,” she said, forcing a lighter tone. “Because I have work to do and I can’t be distracted.”

“Too late,” he replied.

She smirked, typing in her password. “You’re not that distracting.”

“Elena.”

“Yes?”

“You were just questioning my entire loyalty five minutes ago.”

She paused mid-type… then sighed.

“Okay, fair.”

He chuckled.

She opened her files, trying to center herself again, but now it felt easier. Lighter. Like something had settled between them.

“What are you working on?” he asked.

“Reviewing transaction logs,” she said, slipping back into her usual tone. “There’s a pattern we’ve been tracking—I want to see if it shows up in the Carolina accounts.”

“Mm,” he murmured. “You get that look when you talk about it.”

She glanced up instinctively, even though he wasn’t there. “What look?”

“Focused,” he said. “Like everything else disappears.”

She smiled faintly, eyes dropping back to the screen. “That’s because it does.”

“I like that,” he said.

“You like everything,” she replied.

“Not everything,” he corrected. “Just you.”

She shook her head again, but this time she didn’t fight the smile.

“You’re laying it on thick today.”

“You called me questioning my behavior,” he said. “I’m making sure you don’t do it again.”

She laughed softly under her breath, her fingers beginning to move across the keyboard now, more relaxed, more in rhythm.

For a moment, they just stayed like that.

Her working.

Him listening.

Comfortable.

“Did you eat?” he asked suddenly.

Elena blinked. “No… I just got in.”

“Order something.”

“Ari—”

“Elena.”

She sighed. “Yes, Ari.”

“I’m serious.”

“I know,” she said, softer now. “I’ll order something.”

“Good.”

She leaned back slightly in the chair, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“You sound like you’re right here,” she said without thinking.

“I wish I was.”

Her fingers stilled for just a second.

“…yeah.”

A pause settled between them again, but it wasn’t heavy this time.

Just honest.

“You should get to work,” he said after a moment. “Before you blame me for missing something important.”

She smirked. “I would never.”

“You would.”

“…I would,” she admitted.

He huffed a quiet laugh.

“I’ll call you later,” he said.

“You better,” she replied.

A brief silence.

Then—

“Stay out of your head,” he added.

Elena’s smile softened.

“I’ll try.”

“Don’t try,” he said. “Just call me.”

She nodded slightly, even though he couldn’t see.

“Okay.”

Another small pause.

Neither of them hanging up yet.

Then finally—

“Bye, Elena.”

“Bye, Ari.”

The line went quiet.

Elena stared at her screen for a second longer, her phone still in her hand.

Then she set it down slowly.

Exhaled.

And turned back to her work.

This time—

her mind a little quieter.