The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

JULIAN’S POV

55 vouchere

Her question caught me off guard.

I stood there with the wardrobe doors open, staring at the rows of suits that filled the closet, while Aria’s curious into the side of my face.

gaze

burned

How come your closet is so full? You said you only come here once in a while. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. The truth sat heavy in my chest.

After I had convinced her to stay here… after she had reluctantly agreed to move into this apartment… I realized something very quickly. I didn’t want to stay away from her.

Not even for a day.

So while she had been at class earlier that week, I had called my men and told them to bring several of my suitcases from my main residence.

One suitcase had turned into five. Five had turned into almost everything I owned. Because somehow, being here, being around her felt better than any of the luxurious properties my family owned,

But how was I supposed to tell her that? How was I supposed to admit that the girl standing a few feet away from me had completely invaded my thoughts?

That seeing her in the morning somehow made the day feel lighter. That hearing her voice in the apartment made the place feel less empty.

I had always been alone, even when we were children. She always had Luca and I managed with the fragments of her presence. How would I tell her that it was because I loved her and I was obsessed with her, that was why I couldn’t stay away from her?

She was literally my peace and the one person who kept the demon in me at bay. I needed to come up with an excuse else, knowing Aria, she wouldn’t let it go at all.

I rubbed the back of my neck slightly. “Work,” I said finally.

Aria frowned. “Work?”

“Yes.” I pulled a jacket from the rack and shrugged into it. “This apartment is closer to a few meetings I’ve been handling recently. So I moved a few things here earlier this week just to make sure I had clothes for when I want to step out from

here.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. Just not the full truth. Aria studied me for a moment like she wasn’t entirely convinced, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she nodded slowly.

“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Plus I’m sure these aren’t the only clothes you own. You are Julian Vance after all.” I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I just stared at her.

Her reply was quiet and it made my heart ache because I was lying to her. But I would tell her the truth eventually. Just not now. Silence settled briefly between us.

Then her phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the room. Aria glanced down at the screen. And immediately declined. the call. I noticed the way her shoulders tensed.

1/3

Chapter 24

A few seconds later, the phone rang again. She rejected it again. Then it rang a third time. This time she didn’t reject it immediately. She just stared at the screen, her fingers gripping the phone tighter.

Something was wrong. “Who is it?” I asked.

She hesitated before answering. “…Luca’s mother.”

The moment the name left her lips, my expression hardened. Of course. I stepped closer.

“Answer it.” I told her but Aria shook her head immediately.

“I don’t want to talk to her.” I could hear the faint tremor in her voice but this was not the time to get scared at all.

“Answer it,” I repeated calmly. She looked up at me uncertainly. “Put it on speaker.” After a moment of hesitation, she finally accepted the call.

“Hello?” Aria said quietly.

The frantic voice on the other end came through immediately. “Aria! Oh thank God you answered!” Even through the phone speaker, the woman sounded desperate. “I’ve been trying to reach you all morning!”

Aria didn’t say anything. I watched her carefully. “Luca woke up,” the woman continued hurriedly.

Aria’s fingers tightened around the phone. “What?” she whispered.

“He regained consciousness a few hours ago,” Luca’s mother said. “But he won’t eat. He won’t talk. He keeps asking for you.” Aria swallowed.

“I… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Please!” the woman cried. “He refuses to do anything unless he sees you!” My jaw tightened slightly. The manipulation was

obvious.

“He keeps saying your name,” she continued. “The doctors said stress will make his condition worse. If he doesn’t calm down something will happen to him and I can’t lose my son, Aria. Please.”

Aria’s lips trembled. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Yes, Luca and I were friends but it’s over. It may be a simple request to you but I can’t-”

“I’ll buy the café.” Both of us froze. The woman’s voice came through again, desperate and pleading.

“The coffee shop you work at. I’ll buy it. I’ll give it to you.”

Aria’s eyes widened in shock. “I’ll make you the owner,” the woman continued quickly. “You’ll be the boss. You won’t have to work under anyone anymore. Just come see Luca. Please. If you come, he’ll eat and he’ll take his medication. That’s all I want. I’ll make sure to contact my lawyers and they’ll start the paperwork.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify