Chapter 56
Aria’s POV
I sit at my desk, absently clicking through emails while my mind swims with the unresolved weight of everything. The looming job promotion, my tangled feelings for both Liam and Logan, and of course, Joe’s place in all this.
A knock at the door snaps me out of my thoughts.
“Hey, Aria, someone’s here for you,” my colleague, Sarah, peeks her head into my office, eyebrows raised in a knowing way. “He’s in the breakroom.”
I blink. "Who is it?"
Sarah grins. “Tall, dark, handsome, and carrying lunch. Need more clues?”
I already know who it is, and for some reason, my stomach knots up a bit. I gather my things and walk to the breakroom, trying to keep my face neutral.
When I step inside, Logan is standing by the table, leaning casually against the counter with two paper bags of takeout.
“There she is,” he greets me with a smile that, as always, has a way of making the room feel lighter. “Brought your favorite. Thought you could use a break.”
“Logan, you didn’t have to do that,” I say, though I can’t stop the small smile from forming.
He shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but I can see the slight tension in his posture. “I wanted to.”
We sit down, and as we unpack the food, I notice some of my coworkers glancing over, whispering among themselves.
It doesn’t take much to see where their minds are headed. Logan and I have always had an easy way about us, and his charm isn’t exactly subtle.
Today’s no different, but the unspoken pressure building around us feels a little too present.
“So,” Logan says after a bite of his sandwich, “how’s the great decision-making going? Promotion still weighing on you?”
I nod, focusing on my food to avoid his gaze for a moment. “Yeah. I just haven’t made up my mind yet.”
He studies me for a second. “It’s a big step, but I know you can handle it. And hey, even if you say yes, doesn’t mean you have to decide on the rest of your life today.”
I manage a small laugh, but I can tell he’s getting at something else. Logan’s good at sensing when something is off, and I know that despite our playful back-and-forth, he’s trying to get me to open up.
“I’m not asking you to choose right now,” he continues, softer this time. “But don’t forget that I’m here.”
I don’t respond right away, and Logan can tell. He doesn’t push me, though, which is one of the things I appreciate about him.
We continue eating, slipping back into easy conversation about work and life, but I can sense the tension lurking beneath the surface.
After a pause, he leans forward, dropping his voice. “Look, Aria, there’s something I need to tell you. Liam’s starting to ask questions—about Joe.”
My heart skips a beat. “What do you mean?”
Logan sighs. “He’s looking into it. He hasn’t said anything directly to me, but I can tell. He’s piecing things together.”
I set my sandwich down, my appetite gone. “Logan…”
“You need to be honest with him,” he says, cutting me off gently but firmly.
“I’m not saying it to push you in one direction or the other, but if you’re serious about giving Liam a chance—if that’s even what you want—you can’t keep this from him. It’s not fair to anyone.”
“I know,” I whisper, barely able to meet his eyes. “But it’s not that simple.”
Logan nods, understanding but persistent.
“I get that. But it’ll only get harder the longer you wait. You’ve told him you’re willing to hear him out, so maybe it’s time he hears the truth from you.”
The words hang in the air between us, and I find myself staring out the window, avoiding the weight of his gaze..
“Just... think about it,” Logan says, his tone softening. “I’ll back off for now, but I wanted to be upfront with you.”
I nod, not trusting myself to say more.
After lunch, Logan walks me back to my office, and we exchange quick goodbyes. But before he leaves, he turns back one last time. “Whatever happens, Aria, I’m rooting for you. Always.”
His words, though meant to reassure me, only add to the confusion swirling in my mind.
“Thank you, Logan.” I say earnestly as he walks away.
Later that week, I’m sitting in a polished, high-rise office building across from the executive who’s been pushing the promotion on me. She’s a seasoned professional—confident, articulate, and clearly eager for me to join their upper management team.
She runs through the expectations of the role again, highlighting all the perks that come with it.
“Aria, we think you’re the perfect fit,” she says, clasping her hands on the desk. “This opportunity is rare, and I don’t want to pressure you, but we need your decision soon.”
I nod, my throat tight. “I understand. I’m just... still considering all the factors.”
She smiles politely, though I can sense her impatience.
“Of course. Just know we believe in you, and we want you to succeed here. This could be the start of something amazing.”
The words should excite me, should fill me with the ambition I once had. But instead, they feel heavy, like another layer of weight on my already crowded plate.
I smile and thank her, but the moment I step outside, the pressure mounts again.
That night, as I sit on the couch, I get a text from Logan.
You okay?
I glance at the message, hesitating before replying.
Yeah. Just thinking.
Don’t think too hard. Sometimes the answer’s right in front of you.
I stare at his message for a moment, then set my phone aside.
The doorbell rings, and I open it to find Liam standing there. He’s holding a small box, his expression softer than usual.
“I found this in an old box of ours,” he says, handing it to me. “Thought you might want it.”
I open it slowly, revealing a necklace I hadn’t seen in years—a simple pendant that Liam gave me when we first got married. My fingers brush over the cool metal, memories flooding back.
“I thought you might’ve lost it,” I say softly.
“I kept it,” Liam replies. “Thought maybe it would mean something again one day.”
We stand there for a moment, the air between us thick with unspoken words.
“Aria,” he says after a beat, his voice low. “I know things have been complicated between us. But I’m trying... for us. For Joe.”
“I know,” I murmur, my heart tugging in different directions.
He steps a little closer, his eyes searching mine. “I don’t want to push you, but I need to know... can you see us finding our way back?”
I don’t answer right away. Instead, I hold up the necklace, turning it over in my hand.
“I don’t know, Liam,” I admit quietly. “I just don’t know.”
He nods, looking a little defeated but not surprised. “I’ll wait,” he says simply. “However long it takes.”
As he turns to leave, I’m left standing in the doorway, holding onto a piece of our past while the weight of the future presses down harder than ever.
