The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

ARIA’S POV

78

The kitchen moment with Julian stayed in my head long after it ended. Even after I escaped to my room that night. Even after I tried convincing myself it meant nothing.

But it did mean something. I just didn’t know what.

Julian had held me like someone afraid I would disappear. Like my presence was the only thing keeping him grounded.

And the worst part? I hadn’t pushed him away. I fell asleep eventually, though my dreams were restless and confusing. When I woke the next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of Julian’s apartment, warm and calm.

For the first time in days, there was no alarm reminding me to rush to class. No uniform to put on. No lectures to sit through. It was the weekend.

A soft sigh of relief escaped me as I stretched in bed. My body still felt a little weak from the illness I had been recovering from, but at least my head wasn’t spinning anymore.

I shuffled out of bed and headed toward the living room. Julian was already awake. Of course he was.

He sat on the couch with his laptop open, dressed in a dark T-shirt and sweatpants.

His hair was slightly messy like he had run his hand through it one too many times. When he looked up saw me, his gaze immediately narrowed. “You look exhausted.”

I frowned. “Good morning to you too.”

His eyes moved across my face, studying me carefully. “You have eye bags.”

“Thank you for pointing that out,” I said dryly.

Instead of reacting to my sarcasm, Julian closed his laptop slowly. “You’re not going to work today.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I already paid for your shift.”

My jaw dropped. “You did what?”

“I paid your manager for the hours you were supposed to work.”

“Julian!” I groaned. “You can’t just do that!” His expression didn’t change.

“You need rest.”

“I’m fine.”

and

11:41 Thu, May 14 d…

Chapter 32

“You’re not

“I can’t just sit here all day doing nothing.”

His gaze softened slightly, but his voice stayed firm.

“You’ve barely recovered from being sick.”

“And staying idle will drive me crazy,” I shot back.

For a moment we stared at each other. Then suddenly a thought crossed my mind.

“My books,” I muttered. Julian frowned.

“What about them?”

78

“When I left Serena’s room… I left most of my novels there.” Realization flashed in his eyes. “I’ll go back and get them.” I said, turning toward the hallway to grab my bag.

“Absolutely not.”

I stopped. “Julian-”

“You’re not going back there.” I turned to face him.

“Why not?”

His expression hardened. “Because the last time you were close to one of them, you ended up at the hospital.” I opened my mouth. Closed it.

He wasn’t wrong. Still… “They’re just books.”

“Then we’ll get new ones.”

My brows lifted slightly. “We?”

Julian stood up. “Yes.”

“You’re taking me book shopping?”

His lips twitched slightly, like the idea amused him.

“If that’s what it takes to keep you from going back to that house.”

A smile slowly spread across my face. “Okay.” Forty minutes later we were in his car. I hadn’t realized how much I missed going out until we were already driving through the city.

The sunlight felt warm through the window. The world outside looked busy and alive. “Can we stop somewhere first?” I asked.

Julian glanced at me. “Where?”

11:41 Thu, May 14 d

Chapter 32

“Ice cream.”

He stared at me for two seconds. “You’re serious.”

“Very.”

“You just recovered from being sick.”

“And ice cream will make me feel better.”

“That’s not how that works.” I folded my arms,

“Ice cream.”

78

Julian sighed like a man who had lost a battle he never wanted to fight. “Fine.” The ice cream shop was small but cozy. The moment we stepped inside, the sweet smell of sugar and vanilla filled

the air.

I immediately went to the counter. “I’ll take chocolate and strawberry swirl,” I said happily. Julian ordered something simple and we sat near the window.

For the first time in days, I felt… normal. Until I noticed something strange. Two girls at the table across from us were whispering and looking in our direction.

One of them lifted her phone. Click. My stomach tightened. Another person by the counter did the same thing. More phones appeared. They were taking pictures. Of us.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Julian…” His eyes lifted calmly. “I think people are taking photos of us.” He didn’t even turn around. Instead, he simply snapped his fingers once.

The sound was quiet. But the reaction was immediate. Three men stepped forward. I hadn’t even noticed them before.

They seemed to appear out of nowhere-from near the entrance, from the corner of the shop, and from outside the door. They walked directly to the people holding phones.

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