Sin Series novel Chapter 7

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MY GUT clenched. That son of a bitch hurt Arella and messed up her head. Now she left angry and possibly wouldn't talk to me again. What the fuck was I thinking? I dialed Brett immediately. Gladly, he picked up like he was expecting my call. "Yep?"

"I want Arella's number," I quickly said what I wanted.

"Why?"

I groaned, "I thought you need my help. I need it now, Rogue."

I ended the call after he agreed. I waited for him to send his sister's number. After a few minutes of agony, I took a deep breath, trying to come up with a better idea of how to apologize before I made the call.

I dialed.

My heart leaped when she answered quickly. But there was something off in her voice and thought the call was from her brother.

"Arella?"

"Who's this?"

"You should've checked first before you answered, lo-" The line went off.

Fuck! She hung up on me. Great! Just great.

I parked the rental at the corner of her apartment building. Brett gave me her address as well, and it was just a few blocks away from the supermarket. I closed my eyes and redialed.

"What do you want, Skipper?"

My name made my lips curve. "Can I come up, please?"

"Wait a sec. Did you follow me here?" The shock in her voice made me guiltier.

"I asked your number from your brother, and he was quite generous to give me your address as well."

"Well, how nice of him. Why did you ask for my number?"

I ignored her sarcasm. I deserved it anyway. I climbed out of my car and looked up at the old brick building in front of me- not old enough to be destroyed by a low magnitude earthquake, but old for someone who could afford a decent apartment. "I was an arse earlier, and I want to apologize in person."

"Apology accepted. And here I thought you're late for your appointment."

"I said in person, Arella. And you can't avoid me all the time. Your lab and your future job lie in your hands, and we have a seven-figure deal together, remember? So whether you like it or not, we still see each other at work and on weekends, love." Yeah, idiot, way to completely scare her away.

"Don't threaten my job, Skipper. And I'm not working alone on that project, remember? And you missed a few details, blokey because I'm only a trainee, so I don't give a damn about the deal."

I grinned., "I know, love. So why don't you invite me up so we can have dinner?"

"Oh, my God! You're unbelievable!" She was clearly unamused. "You just hurt my feelings and accused me of lying earlier, Skipper. I'm alone, and I don't trust you. You're literally a stranger to me." Smartarse! You trusted me back there, so what changed now when we both knew we were free to do whatever we wanted?

"Fine, I'll go. We still have a game to play on Saturday, right?" I got back in my car, squeezing my eyes shut, unable to fathom her rejection.

There was a moment of silence. My phone was still pressed against my ear and I could hear her sigh.

"Fine. Come up. It's apartment 03B. I am doing this for the sake of Brett, and nothing more."

My heart raced of the possible scenario I could think, but I wouldn't dare make any stupid things. We both paid the consequences back then, and I was not planning to let that happen again. She may have lied to me, but nothing was going to change the fact that her ex-husband had hurt her, and she had enough pain he had inflicted.

I knocked and stepped back, shoving my hands in my pockets. The door ajar, and gorgeous Arella looked adorably homey on her white bunny shirt and apple green pajama bottom. She tied her hair into a messy bun. And I fucking loved how she didn't try to conceal her freckles on her makeup-free face. Her eyes and nose were still red. She was crying, wasn't she? and it was all because of me.

My chest tightened. "Hi." I smiled, washing out my guilt out of my face.

She just made my day when she genuinely smiled back. "Come in." Her voice was soft and a little bit unsteady.

"Thanks."

"There's nothing much to see inside. It's the opposite of Brett's apartment, but I love this place to even plan on moving out," she explained, and I followed inside, locking the door behind me.

"I'm not here to judge your apartment, Arella. I just want to apologize for what I did earlier." I sat on her couch with some colorful throw pillows placed on.

She picked one and sat on the sofa to my left.

"I already told you, apology accepted." She shied, not meeting my gaze.

"About what you said earlier-"

"I don't wanna talk about it," she cut me off.

"No, Arella. I need to say this." I stared at her closely, and she looked surprised. "I don't date a woman by her size or her pretty face. I go out on a date with her because she's funny and accepts her flaws. My ex-girlfriend was a model, but still, our relationship ended because something didn't work out between us. I want you to know that size and looks don't matter to me as long as she's true to herself."