Chapter 66

Aria’s POV

“You don’t have to look so skeptical,” Logan said. “I can assure you that I am being genuine.”

I didn’t want to throw my friendship with Logan, but it was still difficult to reconcile what I thought we were compared to what we actually were, with Logan only pursuing me in friendship or otherwise as a way to get back at Liam.

After being an unwilling pawn to Logan’s malice, I wasn’t willing to trust him as quickly or as easily as I would have once – even if he assured me many times that he had changed.

“I don’t like games,” I said.

“I’m not playing any,” Logan replied.

“You have in the past.”

“I’m sorry for that, Aria. Truly. But whatever happened in the past, I will tell you again and again until I lose my voice, my feelings are genuine now. It didn’t start that way, no, and I regret that deeply.” He inhaled slowly, exhaled deeply. “Now, I just want to help you.”

Uncertain, I stood in the doorway, holding the door, half-closed. Easily, I could close the door in his face, but… with the way he looked at me, his gazed focused and determined, he seemed genuine.

“Please, Aria. May I come in?”

“No more lies,” I told him. “No matter what. Even if it’s something you think I won’t want to here. Don’t ever lie to me again.”

He lifted his hand and drew an X over his heart with his finger. “I swear.”

I looked at him a moment more. I’d already decided I’d let him in, but I didn’t want him to know that right away. After all the lies, he should sweat it out for just a moment longer.

Then, I stepped back, opening the door wider for him. “Come in, then.”

“Thank you,” Logan said.

After I closed the door behind him we walked together into the living room. We both glanced at the couch but neither of us sat down.

I hated how awkward things have become between us. Not that long ago, Logan would have been a regular fixture in my house. I wouldn’t feel the need to ask him if he wanted coffee like he was a guest; he would just go and get it himself.

“Do you want some coffee?” I asked.

“No. Thank you.” Logan glanced at the couch. “Why don’t we sit and talk.”

“Okay.”

I waited for him to sit first. After he chose one end of the couch, I chose the far other side.

“Aria, please. Talk to me.”

“I know you want to help,” I said, “But I’m honestly not sure how you can. I don’t even know what to do myself. All I know is that I didn’t do this.”

“I know that,” Logan replied. “I knew that as soon as I saw the news. The question is then, who would have cause to set you up for this?”

Only one name came to my mind. I didn’t want to believe she could be so vindictive as to want to totally ruin my life. But… if she wanted Liam…

“Would it be paranoid of me to think Sophia might have something to do with this?” I asked.

Logan pressed his mouth into a hard, flat line. “No.”

Liam’s POV

I spent most of my day trying to track down where this rumor of Aria adding stimulants to the drivers’ diets came from. The drivers themselves seemed to not have any idea. Jackson was particularly incensed, half ready to storm down to the news building and insist they retract their story about Aria.

Angry myself, I had to calm him down. “We can’t stop the story without proof. Else you will just make yourself look like a jackass.”

I checked and rechecked all of Aria’s work, but I just couldn’t find any discrepancies.

Where had these rumors even started from? I was at a total loss.

After work, I swung by Aria’s house to check on her. My stomach flipped when I saw Logan’s car parked in the driveway.

What the hell was he doing here?

I parked his car beside Logan’s, then walked to the front door and rang the bell. After a moment, Aria appeared.

“Liam.”

“I wanted to check on you.” I tried to peer around her, but I couldn’t Logan from where I was standing. “To make sure you are doing okay.”

“I’m okay,” Aria said. “As best as I can be, considering…” She seemed sad for a moment. After clearing her throat, she pulled herself together somewhat. “How are things at the office?”

“Everyone is on your side,” I said. Realistically, someone mustn’t be, for the rumors to have spread like this. But the more I look into it, the more I think the rumors weren’t started by anyone in house. “Jackson was ready to go to war.”

Her face had been grim since my arrival, by now, she cracked a small smile. It was fragile and didn’t last, but it was genuine. That made me feel like a king.

“Come in,” Aria said. “Logan’s here.”

I hummed, already guessing that. Aria turned and I followed her into the house. We walked into her living room, where Logan was already sitting. Joe was there too, doing his homework while sitting at the coffee table.

“Liam,” Logan said.

“Logan,” I replied.

Joe looked up at the sound of my voice.

“Hey, buddy,” I said.

Oddly, he didn’t smile like he usually did when he saw me.

“Liam…” His voice was small. “Can I talk to you about something?”

“Yeah, of course.”

All eyes in the room went to Joe.

“Just you…” he said, glancing around.

I looked at Aria.

“Everything okay, Joe?” she asked.

“I just want to talk to Liam,” he insisted.

Aria looked back at me, a bit hopeless. Then she nodded.

“Alright, Joe,” I said. “We can talk.”

Joe stood up and walked into the kitchen. I followed him inside, not sure what to expect. Was he being bullied at school again? Did I need to have another talk with William?

Worrying his hands together, Joe said, “I don’t know what to do…”

“About what?”

“I know things… Something that could help Mom. But if I tell anyone, I’m going to hurt my friend. He doesn’t want me to tell anyone. I promised I wouldn’t.”

“You should always tell the truth, Joe. If you don’t, the guilt will eat you alive. Trust me, I know. And if it could help your mom…”

“But I promised.”

“Promises are important. But this is your mom’s entire career, buddy. This is important, too.”

Frowning, Joe seemed to curl in on himself somewhat. I was no closer to convincing him, it seemed.

This was too heavy for a six-year-old. A kid shouldn’t have to carry this much weight around on his shoulders.

“I have an idea,” I said. “Why don’t you tell me what you know, and then we can figure out a solution together.”

Joe seemed to come out of his shell a little. “You won’t tell…?”

“We’ll find a way to keep your promise, while also helping your mom,” I said.

“Okay…” Joe said. He took a deep breath, then said, “William’s mom is the one who started those rumors about Mom…”