Sin Series

Chapter 6

“Arella,” he greeted. Just my name on his tongue was like warm honey on my skin.

“What are you doing in my car?” Thankfully, my voice didn’t c***k or stutter.

“You blocked my way,” he simply said with the same tone—cold as the Arctic.

“I’m sorry, I was in a hurry. I didn’t mean to block your way.” I quickly unlocked my car and opened the trunk.

“Of course, you didn’t,” he mumbled and stood straight.

I paused. “Excuse me?” My voice raised a little bit. Before I could start loading my groceries, he already took two plastic bags at a time.

“You don’t have to. I can carry them myself.”

“I know, love, but I’ve been waiting here for a couple of minutes, and I’m in a hurry,” he talked without bothering to look at me, then grabbed another bags.

“I’m so sorry—”

“You’ve already said that, Arella.”

My blood suddenly rushed through my brain with a strong force. “Wait, Linton. Do we have a problem here?” My hands already propped on my hips, glaring at him. And he sensed my anger.

He turned to face me, lifted his sunglasses, and propped on top of his head. And I almost stumbled back when I saw those eyes that drove me insane years ago. Now, they squinted back at me with intensity.

“Problem? Are you seriously asking me right now? No, I don’t have a bloody idea why—” He suddenly stopped, strolling his gaze on my body. I wore four inches high heels, but he was still way taller than me. “Never mind!” He slammed my trunk a little bit stronger, making me startled. “Drive. I’m late for my appointment.”

“Where is your appointment?” My question made me freeze.

He snorted, and that irritated me. “Why would you like to know?” He walked past by me. His perfume reached my nostrils—it was a mix of mint and cedar.

“Care to tell on why are you so mad at me? What have I done wrong? If it’s because of the stupid game. Forget about it because I’m not coming. I already informed Brett that I can’t join you guys. I have a date.”

His hand froze before it touched the door handle of his car. He then turned to face me and shook his head with a mock plastered on his face. “You’re a terrible liar, Arella.”

“I lied sometimes, yeah, but why would I lie to you if I don’t want to play that stupid game with you?” I raised one brow. “And why do you care if I choose to go on a date than to be your partner?”

“Fine, call that guy who you want to go out on a date with.” His face reddened. His gorgeous eyes could light me into a torch.

“I will. When I get home.”

“Don’t you dare lie to me this time, Arella. And you won’t go anywhere on a date during our game.”

“Look, Skipper, you may be my brother’s best friend, but I don’t know you, and I can’t recall giving you the right to control my life. Do you think I can’t find a date because I’m fat? You guys are all same. You want a supermodel in your arms. You’re so full of s**t and ashamed to date someone has a body like me!”

His mouth fell open, eyes widened with shock. His face paled as if he’d seen a ghost.

I got in my car and revved away without looking back at him. My ex-husband used to tell me at least two months ahead if we had a party to attend, so I could go on a strict diet and spent at least two hours in the gym every day because he wanted me to look like those people around him when he introduced me as his wife. But I wasn’t lucky to have a fast metabolism like some women, so I almost starved to death during our entire marriage.

I fished out my phone from my bag when it vibrated. This must be Brett. I pressed to my ear and sniffed as I answered. “Brett.”

“Arella?”

Chapter 7

Kat

Skip

MY GUT clenched. That son of a b***h hurt Arella and messed up her head. Now she left angry and possibly wouldn’t talk to me again. What the f**k was I thinking? I dialed Brett immediately. Gladly, he picked up like he was expecting my call. “Yep?”

“I want Arella’s number,” I quickly said what I wanted.

“Why?”

I groaned, “I thought you need my help. I need it now, Rogue.”

I ended the call after he agreed. I waited for him to send his sister’s number. After a few minutes of agony, I took a deep breath, trying to come up with a better idea of how to apologize before I made the call.

I dialed.

My heart leaped when she answered quickly. But there was something off in her voice and thought the call was from her brother.

“Arella?”

“Who’s this?”

“You should’ve checked first before you answered, lo—” The line went off.

Fuck! She hung up on me. Great! Just great.

I parked the rental at the corner of her apartment building. Brett gave me her address as well, and it was just a few blocks away from the supermarket. I closed my eyes and redialed.

“What do you want, Skipper?”

My name made my lips curve. “Can I come up, please?”

“Wait a sec. Did you follow me here?” The shock in her voice made me guiltier.

“I asked your number from your brother, and he was quite generous to give me your address as well.”

“Well, how nice of him. Why did you ask for my number?”

I ignored her sarcasm. I deserved it anyway. I climbed out of my car and looked up at the old brick building in front of me— not old enough to be destroyed by a low magnitude earthquake, but old for someone who could afford a decent apartment. “I was an arse earlier, and I want to apologize in person.”

“Apology accepted. And here I thought you’re late for your appointment.”

“I said in person, Arella. And you can’t avoid me all the time. Your lab and your future job lie in your hands, and we have a seven-figure deal together, remember? So whether you like it or not, we still see each other at work and on weekends, love.” Yeah, i***t, way to completely scare her away.

“Don’t threaten my job, Skipper. And I’m not working alone on that project, remember? And you missed a few details, blokey because I’m only a trainee, so I don’t give a damn about the deal.”

I grinned., “I know, love. So why don’t you invite me up so we can have dinner?”

“Oh, my God! You’re unbelievable!” She was clearly unamused. “You just hurt my feelings and accused me of lying earlier, Skipper. I’m alone, and I don’t trust you. You’re literally a stranger to me.” Smartarse! You trusted me back there, so what changed now when we both knew we were free to do whatever we wanted?

“Fine, I’ll go. We still have a game to play on Saturday, right?” I got back in my car, squeezing my eyes shut, unable to fathom her rejection.

There was a moment of silence. My phone was still pressed against my ear and I could hear her sigh.

“Fine. Come up. It’s apartment 03B. I am doing this for the sake of Brett, and nothing more.”

My heart raced of the possible scenario I could think, but I wouldn’t dare make any stupid things. We both paid the consequences back then, and I was not planning to let that happen again. She may have lied to me, but nothing was going to change the fact that her ex-husband had hurt her, and she had enough pain he had inflicted.

I knocked and stepped back, shoving my hands in my pockets. The door ajar, and gorgeous Arella looked adorably homey on her white bunny shirt and apple green pajama bottom. She tied her hair into a messy bun. And I f*****g loved how she didn’t try to conceal her freckles on her makeup-free face. Her eyes and nose were still red. She was crying, wasn’t she? and it was all because of me.

My chest tightened. “Hi.” I smiled, washing out my guilt out of my face.

She just made my day when she genuinely smiled back. “Come in.” Her voice was soft and a little bit unsteady.

“Thanks.”

“There’s nothing much to see inside. It’s the opposite of Brett’s apartment, but I love this place to even plan on moving out,” she explained, and I followed inside, locking the door behind me.

“I’m not here to judge your apartment, Arella. I just want to apologize for what I did earlier.” I sat on her couch with some colorful throw pillows placed on.

She picked one and sat on the sofa to my left.

“I already told you, apology accepted.” She shied, not meeting my gaze.

“About what you said earlier—”

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” she cut me off.

“No, Arella. I need to say this.” I stared at her closely, and she looked surprised. “I don’t date a woman by her size or her pretty face. I go out on a date with her because she’s funny and accepts her flaws. My ex-girlfriend was a model, but still, our relationship ended because something didn’t work out between us. I want you to know that size and looks don’t matter to me as long as she’s true to herself.”

She looked down, but I knew she was listening, so I continued, “You are far from being fat, and so what if you are? Don’t let your ex’s words mess up your pretty brain because you’re an intelligent woman more than you give yourself credit for. You should remember that he’s a loser, and not you, Arella Rogue. He doesn’t know what he let go. Trust me, love, he’ll regret it. He’ll come back groveling to take you back. If not now, sooner. If it’s his loss, it’s another man’s gain. Trust me, and I will only say this once. You are beautiful inside and out.”

“I like the way you are right now. You don’t have to change a thing about yourself for the sake of how men will gonna judge you. Don’t give a damn if they can’t accept who you are. There are plenty more fish in the sea.” I stood up. “Thanks for giving me a chance to say things.” It felt that I’d just lost tons weighing on my shoulders. “I should go.” I walked to the door when she didn’t say a thing.

“Don’t you want to stay for dinner?” she asked.

I turned to face her. “Thank you, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I wanted to spend time with her and that was the problem. Her wound was still raw, and I didn’t want to be the reason to rip it open again.

“Why is that?” The way she looked at me, those innocent eyes made me wanted to be a sinner than I already was. She’s just... Because I don’t want just to eat dinner with you. I want more, and it involves a lot of eating— my kind of eating, and a lot of shagging in every corner of this tiny apartment.