Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)

I raised my arm nervously and sniffed my clothes, glancing at Pete. "What's wrong? Do I smell like something?"

Pete leaned in to sniff again, forcing me to back up until I was pressed against the window. Feeling embarrassed and annoyed, I snapped, "Pete! Don't get so close to me!" He straightened up with his hands on his hips. His face was dark when he said, "Smoke, alcohol, and... The scent of some random man."

I froze. I didn't expect him to actually find out.

I mumbled, "Maybe it's the driver. I took a cab today. I'm still not familiar with the roads here, so I didn't drive myself.

"No wonder Tabitha kept trying to squirm out of my arms earlier. I'll wash up after you leave."

My words made his heart clench with urgency. He could no longer remain composed.

Pete's lips trembled, his eyes turning red. His voice, although steady, carried a heavy weight as he called out my name.

"Ariana, you're hiding something from me." He knew me well enough.

I hated feeling indebted to him, always wanting to keep my distance. It was Pete who had relentlessly found reasons to see me, using both work and Tabitha as an excuse.

Normally, no matter how obvious his hints were, I had always managed to dodge the subject. But being pushed by the appearance of Nicholas, it had made him speak more directly than ever before.

However, for something that had nothing to do with him, why would I explain so much? He didn't dare continue to think what could make me this flustered.

"Ari, from tomorrow until we leave, I'm staying by your side the whole time." Pete's voice was heavy with emotion, his eyes already wet.

He turned around and let out a deep

sigh. He still couldn't understand how, after all these years of waiting for me, someone else had swooped in so suddenly. Did he realize too late how much he cared for me?

I stood there quietly, watching him. Seeing how much he was hurt because of me pained me too.

"Pete, you don't have to do this. Yes,

I met Nicholas today, but nothing happened between us. We just caught up briefly and discussed some work matters. It wasn't long

before I went to check daycares for Tabitha.

"I'm not telling you this because you have any right to ask about my life. I'm telling you because I consider you the closest person to me.

"Even though I've said before that I'm not always great at showing how much I appreciate you, I'm not blind. I know how much you've done for me. That's exactly why I don't want to see you upset."

I grabbed Pete by the shoulders, turning him around to face me. I needed to look him in the eyes to understand how much my words weighed on him.

Some things needed to be said sooner or later, but figuring out how to tell someone who had given everything for me without breaking their heart was the part I struggled with.

"I know you came back to take your family abroad. They were being targeted by Nicholas because of me. I feel guilty about that.

"You've been handling so many things personally to clean up after me, so you don't need to spend extra time worrying about me. If you want, just come by and spend time with Tabitha when you can." Pete's eyes were red as he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Just catching up would leave you covered in his scent? I want to see how long I need to hold you for you to smell like me! Ariana, you say you don't want to hurt me, so why do you keep lying to me?"