The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 132

ARIA’S POV

130

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My heart was beating so fast as I looked at Brandon. He was still holding my hand, and his eyes were full of a feeling I had never seen in him before.

It was like I was looking at the younger version of him again, the man who saved me and took care of me and my small daughter like she was his own.

“Brandon, what are you saying?” I asked. My voice was very low and shaky. I had a feeling of where this was going but I forced myself to stay quiet.

He took a deep, slow breath. “Please, just let me finish, Aria. I have been trying to find the nerve to tell you this for months. Now is the right time, so just listen.”

I stayed quiet and nodded. I could see how much this meant to him, so I sat still and let him speak.

“I never thought I would feel this way about anyone ever again,” Brandon started. His voice was deep and steady. “After my wife died, I thought that part of me was gone for good. I thought the side of me that could truly care for someone died when she did. But being around you… it proved me wrong.”

I felt a lump in my throat. I knew he had been through a lot of pain in his past.

“I didn’t plan for this to happen tonight,” he went on. “I really just wanted you to have a night off because I care about your health and your peace. You’ve been working so much these days, trying to take care of the bakery and Amelia plus the company at once. But I would be a fool if I kept lying to myself about how I feel.”

He squeezed my hand gently. “I want to be a part of your life, Aria.” My heart jumped when he said that. I tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal because I was so nervous.

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“You are already a part of my life, Brandon. You’re always there and you take care of us. You’re the closest person to me and Amelia,” I said, trying to force a small smile.

But Brandon didn’t smile back. He looked into my eyes, and I could tell he knew I was just acting. He knew I was trying to avoid the real meaning of what he was saying. He knew I was just talking about us being friends.

“Yes, I am a part of your life and Amelia’s life,” he said. “But that is not enough for me anymore. I want more. I want to be a big part of your world. I want to be much closer to you and Amelia. I want to take care of you both and stay by your side forever. I don’t want to be just a friend to you or an uncle to Amelia. I want to be something more than that.”

As he spoke, his face looked very soft. He started rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. It was a very sweet moment, but then I looked around the room.

I realized we were not alone. Even though he had paid for the whole place, I saw the workers standing in the back. Some of them were even holding up their phones and recording us

Suddenly, I felt very trapped. I have always hated it when people stare at me, especially when something personal is happening. This felt way too soon for me

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18:16 Mon, Jun 1

Chapter 132

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The weight of his words, the people watching us, and the pressure of the moment became way too much. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “Brandon, please stop,” I whispered. I felt a wave of panic hitting me.

But he didn’t stop. He was too caught up in his own heart. He looked at me and asked the one thing I was scared to hear.

“I know it’s too sudden and you’re not ready. Plus, you still have Amelia but I want to step in. I want to take your burdens away and I want to make you happy. So Aria, here’s my question. Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”

The workers in the back started cheering and clapping. “Say yes! Say yes!” they shouted out loud.

My heart felt heavy. It was like I couldn’t breathe. I stared at him, my brain thinking of what to say to him but came out. “Brandon, I…I…” the words died in my throat.

The noise and the pressure were too much. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. Without saying a single word, I grabbed my bag, stood up, and ran out of the restaurant as fast as my legs could carry me.

Brandon did not chase me. He stayed in his seat and gave me the space I needed. But before I went through the door, I turned around to look at him one last time.

The look of deep hurt in his eyes made me feel sick. When I got home, I was still shaking. I tried to act normal, but I could not hide the look on my face.

Later that night, as I was tucking Amelia into bed, she looked up at me with those big green eyes.

“Mommy, why are you sad?” she asked quietly. “Did you and Uncle Brandon have a fight?”

I shook my head and tried to give her a small smile. “No, baby, we didn’t fight.”

“Then why do you look like you’re going to cry?” she asked, pulling her blanket up.

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I smoothed her hair back and sighed. “It’s just grown–up stuff, Amelia. Don’t worry your beautiful brain about

it.”

Amelia looked at me for a long moment. “I don’t want you to fight with him at all,” she said, her voice sounding small. “I like him being in our life. He is my only uncle. I don’t want him to ever leave us.”

Hearing her say that made me feel so emotional. My eyes filled with tears, and I leaned down to kiss her forehead. “That won’t happen, Amelia. I promise,” I whispered.

I sat there until she fell asleep, but my mind was racing. When I finally left her room, the house felt too quiet. I knew that if Brandon left us, Amelia would feel so much pain.

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