Do You Hate Me?

Aria’s POV:

What did he mean? How did we behave like kids? He disrespected me not just in private but also in public, so how is divorcing him a childish behavior?

Our conversation got interrupted with a phone call; he sighed when he saw the call. “Go get dressed and come with me,” he ordered, and my brows furrowed. Did I hear him correctly?

“Aria,” he called, and I nodded and dashed off to the stairs, quickly slipped into a decent dress, and then returned downstairs.

We both got to his car before he drove out. “Brother, where are we going?”

“Your mother set me up on a blind date,” he blurted, and I chuckled. Mother was still not off his back, huh?

She was good friends with Mrs. Martins, and they always talked about finding the perfect wife for him, but she had to leave so soon; may her soul rest in peace.

Wait a minute.

Huh?

A blind date—so why am I tagging along? I don’t want to be the third wheel.

“Brother, is it fair that I am coming with you?” Oh God, why couldn’t I just stay in bed…?Why did I have to come downstairs to fetch something to eat?

“Won’t you be bored home alone?”

“No, I won’t.”

“Just talk to my date; I am really tired of all these, but if I say no, then Aunt won’t stop bugging me.”

I am glad he let my mom do this; she really considers him a son… We were literally a family, and I wonder how people with different bloodlines end up creating such a strong family bond.

The strongest of bonds isn’t about blood.

Kraig parked the car before the restaurant I had come to last time with Ava and Sam. “You also love this restaurant?” I asked as we walked down from the car, and he checked the place out.

“Hmm.”

He asked for a reservation made to the name Shannel York, and we were directed to a table at the far end.

A girl sat there; she had glasses and short hair. Her gaze moved to us, and she had a contemplating look before my brother asked, “Miss York?”

She stood up while nodding. “Yeah, and you must be Kraig Martins.”

“Nice to meet you,” they exchanged pleasantries before Kraig turned to me. “This is my sister, Aria.”

“Of course I know her..just never knew she was your sister ,” she chuckled, and I tilted my head to the side. I am sure this was the first time I met her. “I mean, she is a public figure,” Shannel added, and I smacked my lips. I completely forgot about that.

“She insisted on coming along,” Kraig added, and I froze for a moment. What did he just say?

He pulled out a chair and signaled I sit; now he had really caused me humiliation… When did I insist on coming along?

Shannel laughed, and I could tell it wasn’t sincere. The waitress approached, and we placed our orders before she started.

“So, uhm… My mom mentioned you are a sergeant.”

He simply nodded without trying to strike up a conversation. Was he being real right now?

“What are you into, Miss?” I took the liberty to ask for him.

“Just call me Nel,” she said, and I nodded in understanding.

“And I am a doctor,” she added, and I turned to Kraig, but he had a neutral look. Couldn’t he say something? She had such a respectable job.

Our meal arrived, and we ate quietly; after all, I was starving.

“Kraig,” I heard someone call, and we all turned to find Caleb. What was he doing here? Was this city really so small that it was impossible to ignore someone?

Kraig threw a glance at me before he stood up and shook hands with Caleb. “It’s been a long time since we met,” Caleb added, and I noticed Nel staring at me; of course, she knew about the online scandal.

“You could use the restroom,” she muttered, and I nodded; that was a great idea to avoid this awkward moment.

“Excuse me.” I stood up and headed to the restroom.

I lingered in the restroom for more than ten minutes, hoping to return and not find Caleb. So I washed my hands and walked down the corridor when I spotted Caleb. I turned to return to the restroom before he spotted me.

“Aria,” he called; it was too late to escape. I maintained a neutral look and walked to him.

“What?”

“I stopped by the house last night, but you weren’t around,” he explained, and I frowned. Why would he ever even stop by? “I guess you spent the night at the Martins; that’s relieving.”

What did he mean by it was relieving?

“Do you hate me that much, Aria?”

“I shouldn’t answer that in a corridor; why don’t I do it online so everyone could listen?” I answered sarcastically.

“You were the one who walked in with a live camera,” he sighed frustratedly, and I wasn’t even surprised by his words.

“Come on, be honest with me.”

I folded my arm and bit my lip. The truth was I didn’t hate him, but I also wanted him away from me. “We met when I was in my worst moments; you comforted me, and for that I will always be grateful.”

“Can we not talk about the past, Aria? How about you come over for dinner tomorrow… You must miss our home, right?”

Miss our home? He was never around, and anytime he was, we hardly had a heart-to-heart conversation, so I chose to buy a place and move out… I had used the excuse that I needed to be alone while writing; I had expected him to object to it, but he didn’t… He let me move to a new house and allowed us to stay separately.

That should have been my sign right there, but I was so stupid, so confident that he loved just me.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to come over; we could just meet at a restaurant.”

None of his offers were convenient for me. “I am not interested in having a meal with you.”

Turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand. “Tell me at least, do you hate me?”

“No, I don’t, so can you stop bugging me?” I pulled my hand from him and returned to the table, and Nel raised a brow.

“I am going to meet with Ava; she needs me to try out some outfits,” I lied, and Kraig frowned.

“You could try them out tomorrow.”

I really didn’t want to be here. “Sorry, brother.” I picked up my bag and walked out.

Now I didn’t have a ride back home; I stood there and booked a taxi. I hated when people passed and glanced at me and then chattered amongst themselves; they could just say whatever it is to my face already.

I sent a message to Ava telling her I was going back to my place; I really had nothing to do. Should I start a new book? But what if it doesn’t sell?

But should I really be writing for money?