Chapter 162. Only Tonight

Aria’s POV

I take a sip of my drink, the cool liquid settling into the pit of my stomach like a quiet storm. My fingers curl slightly as I set the glass down on the table, the soft clink sounding louder than I expect in the quiet. “I’m sorry I had to call you out here tonight,” I say, turning toward Collins.

He looks… oddly pleased, like someone who’s been waiting for this moment longer than he’s willing to admit. For someone given a last-minute call, he seems anything but inconvenienced. There’s a relaxed ease in the way he leans back, that familiar glimmer in his eyes that says I’m exactly where I want to be.

He shakes his head almost instantly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “No, it’s nothing, Aria. In fact, I’m glad you called.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I needed to be out anyway. Been so caught up with work lately, I forgot what