The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 15

JULIAN’S POV

Ten minutes ago, the apartment was quiet. Peaceful.

Aria sat across from me with flushed cheeks, pretending not to stare while I walked around shirtless. Teasing her. Watching the way she tried and failed to hide her reactions. It was… nice.

Too nice.

Moments like that never lasted long in my world.

The phone call proved it. Now she stood near the door, coat half on, eyes wide with worry. “He’s in the hospital,” she said again.

As if repeating it would make the situation clearer.

Or simpler. It didn’t. I leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “You’re not going.”

Her head snapped toward me. “What?

“You heard me.”

She looked at me like I was crazy. “He could be seriously hurt.”

“And?” I asked with indifference.

Her expression hardened. “And you don’t care?” I didn’t answer immediately. Of course I cared. Not about Luca. About her. About the mess this could become. About the trap this might be.

“Aria,” I said calmly, “you were dragged toward his car less than an hour ago.”

“He didn’t…”

“He grabbed you.” Her jaw clenched.

“That doesn’t mean I should ignore the fact that he’s in a hospital.”

“It means you shouldn’t walk into a room full of people who already blame you.” Silence stretched.

Then her eyes flashed.

“You’re being selfish.”

The word landed harder than I expected. “I’m being practical.”

“No” she snapped. “You’re being selfish.”

The stepped closer, anger radiating off her. “You’re the one who punched him,” she continued. “You broke his jaw.”

“Yes.

“And now you’re stopping me from checking if he’s alive?”

1/4

My jaw tightened. “That’s not what I’m doing.”

“It’s exactly what you’re doing.” She grabbed her bag from the couch.

“You don’t want me to go because it’s inconvenient for you.”

“That’s not true.”

“Then move.” Her glare dared me to argue again.

For a moment, I considered it. I could lock the door.

Hide her keys. Make this entire problem disappear for the next twenty–four hours.

But Aria wasn’t someone you controlled. She was someone you lost the moment you tried. I exhaled slowly. “Fine.” Her brows lifted in surprise. “I’ll drive you.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Her head shook immediately. “The Morettis will tear you apart if they see you.”

“Unlikely.”

“Julian.”

“I’m not letting you go there alone.” Her frustration was visible.

“They already think you assaulted him.”

“I did assault him.”

“That’s not helping.”

I walked toward the door and grabbed my keys.

“Five minutes,” I said. “Either I drive you, or you don’t go.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet here we are.” She hesitated. Then sighed sharply.

“Fine.” The drive to the hospital was silent. Aria stared out the window, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. She still looked pale. Too pale.

When we pulled into the hospital parking lot, she turned to me. “You’re staying in the car.”

Yes. Her voice softened slightly. “Please.” That word made me pause. “The moment they see you,” she continued, “this turns into a war.”

“It already is.”

“Julian.” Her hand rested lightly on my arm. “Please.” I studied her for a moment. Then nodded.

2/4

“Five minutes.”

Julian…”

“If you’re not back in five minutes, I’m coming in.”

She didn’t argue. She just slipped out of the car and hurried toward the hospital entrance. I watched until the doors

swallowed her.

Then I leaned back in my seat. And started counting. Three minutes. Four. Five. I lasted another thirty seconds. Then I got

out of the car.

Hospitals always smelled the same. Antiseptic. Fear. Bad coffee. I moved through the hallway until raised voices echoed from around the corner. Aria’s voice. And several others.

I stopped at the edge of the corridor. Mrs. Moretti stood near the nurses‘ station, fury written across every line of her face. Serena stood beside her.

And Aria stood in front of them. Alone. “You think you can come here after what you did?” Mrs. Moretti was saying sharply.

“I didn’t…”

“You and that Vance boy attacked my son!”

“I didn’t attack anyone,” Aria said, her voice strained. “He grabbed me.”

“You’re lying.”

Serena scoffed loudly. “Of course she is.” Aria’s shoulders stiffened.

“I came here because I was worried about Luca.”

Serena laughed coldly.

“Worried?” Her eyes raked over Aria with open contempt..”You’re a pretentious bitch, you know that?”

Aria flinched slightly. It was small. But I noticed.

“First you try to ruin his life because he chose me,” Serena continued. “Now you’re pretending you care?”

“That’s not what happened,” Aria said quietly.

Mrs. Moretti’s voice rose. “You should be grateful Luca ever looked at you.” Something flickered across Aria’s face. Pain. Embarrassment. Humiliation. Enough. Serena stepped forward suddenly.

“You know what?” she snapped. “Maybe you need to learn your place.” Her hand lifted. Aria didn’t move. Didn’t raise her hand. Didn’t defend herself.

She just closed her eyes slightly. Bracing.

y vision went cold. Serena’s hand never landed. I caught her wrist midair. The impact stopped inches from Aria’s face. Serena gasped. “What the…”

I stepped fully into the hallway. Her wrist twisted lightly in my grip. Not enough to hurt. Enough to make a point. “Touch her,” I said calmly, “and you lose the hand.”

3/4

Serena jerked back the moment I released her. Mrs. Moretti’s eyes widened. “You.” I ignored her.

Instead, I stepped beside Aria. My hand closed around her wrist gently, Grounding. Protective.

Mine. She looked up at me, shocked. “You said you’d stay in the car,” she whispered.

“I lied.” Then I turned to Mrs. Moretti. My voice was perfectly calm. “Aria is my responsibility now.” Silence filled the hallway. “If your son shows up at my residence again,” I continued, “to harass her…”

My gaze hardened. “He won’t walk away with just a broken jaw.” Serena sputtered.

“You can’t threaten us!”

“I just did.”

Mrs. Moretti’s expression twisted with fury. “You think you can bully the Morettis?”

“No.” I took Aria’s hand fully in mine. “I just don’t care if I do.” Then I turned and walked away. Aria beside me. Her hand was still trembling slightly in mine.

And for the first time since entering the hospital, no one tried to stop us.

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