Chapter. 17

{Third person's pov}

Arizona was sitting on the couch of their shared bedroom, her eyes were fixed on the book.

Her exams were getting closer and she needed to focus, she glanced at the clock and it was past 12 in the night.

And Everett? he was still in the office, always prioritising his work.

She continued studying and after a few minutes the door of her room opened.

She looked at the door and he was finally back, looking exhausted. He walked inside and placed his coat on the head rest of the couch.

"You are still awake?" He asked and Arizona nodded. "Yeah I was studying, sem end exams are close."

Everett nodded and walked inside the washroom to freshen up. After changing in his trousers he came back.

"Should I serve the dinner?" She asked and he looked at the clock. "I will rather sleep, it's late and I am tired." He said.

Arizona frowned, "You should eat something atleast." She said and he shook her head. "No, let's sleep." he said as he took the book from his hand and placed it on the table.

Everett set the book down carefully, making sure he didn't lose her page. "You've been reading long enough," he said quietly. "Your eyes are red."

He reached over to switch off the bright desk lamp, leaving only the warm bedside light on. "Tomorrow." That was all he said about her studying.

Arizona looked up at him, still unconvinced. "And what about you?" she asked softly. "You haven't eaten either."

Everett gave a tired exhale. "I've skipped dinner before."

"And that's not healthy." There was no argument in her voice, just concern.

He looked at her for a long moment, people usually reminded him about meetings.

Deadlines, contracts and not dinner, a faint crease appeared between his brows. "You worry too much," he murmured.

"I learned it from you." That answer caught him completely off guard.

For the first time all day, Everett let out a quiet chuckle, short and genuine. "So that's my fault now?"

Arizona gave the smallest nod. "It is."

He looked at her for another second before surrendering with a barely audible sigh.."Fine."

He picked up his phone and pressed the intercom.

"Could someone send up two bowls of soup and something light? Thank you."

He ended the call and looked back at her. "Satisfied?"

Before she could answer, he added in his usual composed tone,"But you're eating with me.".He wasn't asking.

Twenty minutes later, a tray arrived. Everett waited until Arizona had taken the first spoonful before touching his own.

Neither of them spoke much and the silence between them no longer felt awkward.

It felt... lived in, halfway through the meal, Everett glanced at the stack of notes she'd been studying.

"When your exams begin," he said, "don't wait for the driver."

She looked up. "I'll arrange my schedule." A brief pause. "I'll drop you in the morning." He took another spoonful of soup as though he'd said something completely ordinary.

For him, rearranging a board meeting was easier than admitting he simply wanted to make sure she reached college without having to worry about anything else.

Arizona looked at him over the rim of her bowl.

"You don't have to do that," she said softly. "Your office is in the opposite direction."

Everett folded his napkin neatly before answering. "It is."

Another spoonful of soup. "And yet, I'll manage."

"You'll be late." She said and he replied. "I won't."

His tone was so certain that she couldn't think of a reply.

He set his spoon down."I've spent years organizing companies with thousands of employees. Rearranging thirty minutes of my morning isn't exactly impossible."

Arizona smiled to herself."You always have an answer, don't you?"

"I prefer solutions." The corner of her lips lifted a little more.

........

The next morning, the dining hall was unusually lively.

Emily had finally returned from her trip and, the moment she spotted Arizona, she practically ran across the room.

"Arizona!" She wrapped her in a quick hug before stepping back dramatically. Arizona laughed quietly for the first time in days.

Emily pouted before noticing Everett at the head of the table, calmly reading the morning business newspaper while sipping his coffee.

She grinned mischievously. "brother..." Everett lowered the newspaper just enough to look at her. "What?"

Emily leaned across the table. "You're smiling more."

"I am not." Everett replied and Emily teased. "You are."

"I've had exactly one expression for the last ten years."

Everett said and Emily burst into laughter.

"No! Yesterday Mom said you actually came home before midnight." Everett calmly folded the newspaper.

"Your mother shares unnecessary information." Everett said and Emily continued. "And today you're dropping Ari to college again."

"I am." He admitted and Emily's eyes widened theatrically. "See? This is growth!"

Several cousins chuckled quietly and Everett remained perfectly composed.

"If you've finished analyzing my schedule," he said dryly, "perhaps you'll remember you have a university lecture in forty minutes."

Emily groaned dramatically. "See, Arizona? This is the real Everett."

For the first time, Everett glanced toward Arizona and his expression hadn't changed.

But there was the faintest warmth in his eyes. "Aren't you leaving with us?" he asked.

Emily shook her head, "Driver will drop me, the married couple needs time to be together and alone."

Arizona glared and Emily and Everett's sister said. "Emily you need to filter your words."

Emily giggled and then Everett looked at Arizona, "Let's go."

Arizona nodded and they both walked out together, Everett didn't pay attention to Emily's teasing.

He simply picked up the car keys from the console table.

As they stepped out of the mansion together, the morning air was cool, the driveway quiet compared to the lively breakfast table they'd just left.

Only when the car doors had closed and they were a few minutes into the drive did Everett finally speak.

"Emily means well."

Arizona looked out the window, smiling faintly. "I know."

A brief silence followed and shen she laughed softly.

"She's nothing like you."

That earned the smallest glance from him. "No."

"she's loud." Arizona said and Everett replied. "Yes."

"She talks without thinking." Arizona continued at Everett nodded. "Frequently."

"And you're..." She searched for the right word. "...the exact opposite."

Everett's attention remained on the road. "I've been told."

Arizona looked at him for a moment before asking carefully, "Were you always like this?".He didn't answer immediately.

The traffic light ahead turned red, and the car rolled to a smooth stop, only then did he speak. "No."

She turned toward him, surprised.

"When my grandfather started preparing me to take over the company," he said quietly, "I learned that every careless word costs something."

His fingers rested loosely on the steering wheel."So I stopped wasting them."

The light turned green and he drove on, Arizona watched him in silence and for someone everyone described as intimidating... He sounded... tired.

Not physically, just... like someone who had carried responsibility for far too long.

A few minutes later, they reached the college gates.

Before Arizona reached for the door handle, Everett spoke again.."One more thing." She paused.

"If you finish early today, call me." He said and she replied. "You don't have to come."

"I know." His tone was calm. "I'm saying I want to."

For a second, neither of them spoke and then Everett reached into the back seat, picked up a small insulated lunch bag, and handed it to her.

"You've been studying until midnight every day."Arizona blinked. "Lunch?"

"You forgot yours." Everett said and Arizona replied. "I... didn't even realize."

"I did." His answer was simple, matter-of-fact.

As though noticing the things she forgot had quietly become part of his routine, he opened her door from the driver's controls. "Now go."

A faint pause.."And try not to apologize to anyone today."

There it was again, that almost invisible smile. "So I don't have to give you the same lecture twice."