Chapter 25

𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚢𝚗

Aries didn’t ask. She never did when it mattered.

“Pack a bag,” she said, already halfway to the door with her keys in hand. “We stayin’ at mine for a while.”

Not do you want to. Not you good with that? She just decided. And see—normally? I don’t do well with being told what to do. Like at all. ‘Cause my attitude be clocking in before I even open my mouth.

But something about the way she said it…like she knew I’d be safer there?

Yeah, I ain’t even argue with that one. I just stood there for a second, then went to grab my bag.

…Which is crazy progress, or I’m just down bad? Who knows.

Plus, I liked her place.

Her apartment ain’t got that mansion quiet, where every lil’ sound echoes back at you like a reminder you got too much space and not enough people.

Nah. Her place felt lived in. Warm. Like somebody actually existed there. It smelled like food, clean sheets, and that cologne she be wearin’ that lingers just enough to mess with your head if you stood by her for too long.

I dropped my bag by the couch and immediately got nosy, my eyes landing on a few framed photos she had sittin’ around. I picked one up, squinting at it before my face broke into a grin.

“Is this my baby Aries?” I cooed, draggin’ it out just to be annoying and extra.

She sighed like she already regretted bringin’ me here, steppin’ over and gently taking the frame from me, then setting it back down before I could start asking her about her childhood.

“You were soooo cute,” I added, leanin’ in like I was examining rare art. Then I paused, tilted my head, and raised a brow. “The hell happened?”

She shook her head, letting out a small chuckle, and I smirked, reachin’ up to hold her face between my hands.

“I’m just jokin’,” I said softer this time, my tone easin’ up without me even realizing it.

She hummed, and for a second, we looked at each other.

“We gotta get ready for school,” she finally said, breakin’ the moment.

I nodded, squeezin’ her face one last time before letting go. “I’d drive because of your hand,” I started, already heading toward the door, “but then I’d kill us both, so…let’s not do that today.”

She laughed under her breath, following behind me.

After last night, we both needed something normal. Something loud. Something that didn’t involve blood, threats, or me nearly losing my damn mind. So after school, the group pulled up, all loud, and actin’ like the penthouse belonged to them.

Bags were dropped everywhere, music blasted, and shoes got kicked off in every damn direction like nobody had a mama. And Imani and Khalil started arguing within five minutes—five—about what to watch.

Yet, Aries moved through all of it like she always did. Like she was there, but also ten steps ahead mentally. But this time… she wasn’t talkin’ much. Not like usual.

And I peeped that real quick.

I tried to pull her out of it a couple times, like throwin’ a couple jokes her way, nudging her a bit, subtly touching her, and even just standing a little closer than I usually would, but she just gave me those small responses and those quiet hums. And I knew it wasn’t me this time. It wasn’t us. It was somethin’ else sittin’ on her mind, and I ain’t like not knowing what it was.

Because now my ass sittin’ here like, ‘what is it then?’.

After a while, she ended up in the kitchen, cookin’. Sleeves pushed up, tattoos shiftin’ everytime she moved, focused like the world outside that stove didn’t exist.

I leaned against the counter, pretending to scroll on my phone, whole time? I done opened my calculator, my camera roll, my bank app… anythin’ but watching her fully. ‘Cause my attention kept driftin’ back to her like it had a mind of its own.

She passed behind me at one point, and her hand settled on my waist for just a second, maybe two, but it lingered long enough to make my stomach flip.

And I hated how fast my body reacted.

Like girl…stand up. It was just a hand on your waist…

“You in my space,” I muttered. But It came out softer, and a lil’ too aware of how close she actually was.

“You leanin’, Lo,” she replied easy, like she already knew I wasn’t ’bout to move. “Starin’ too.”

“Girl hush,” I shot back, rollin’ my eyes. “You in my line of sight.”

She smirked like she caught me red-handed anyway and then—quick as hell—she smacked my ass. I whipped around and smacked her arm immediately, my eyes widening as I glanced over at the group, making sure nobody caught that.

“Girl—” I hissed low, leaning closer. “Behave.”

She chuckled, holdin’ her arm like I did real damage when we both knew I ain’t do shit.

𐃯

Dinner ended up turning into one of those loud, layered conversations where everybody talking all at once, nobody really listening, but somehow still worked. Aries moved around the kitchen to the dining table, plating food neat, passing stuff out, making sure everybody got what they needed without even askin’.

When she finally sat beside me, her thigh pressed right up against mine, as well as her shoulder brushin’ mine every time she laughed. I had to act like I wasn’t noticing every little thing. Which was hard. Because she kept leaning in to talk to me, voice dropping low only for me to hear.

And don’t let our hands brush. Oh my God. Every single time, it felt intentional. And the worst part? I wasn’t even pulling away. I just let it all happen like I lost my damn mind.

But just when I was gettin’ used to it, there was a knock at the door.

The room didn’t go silent, but it paused. Aries glanced toward the door, then stood up, wiping her hands before heading over.

The second she opened it, I already knew I wasn’t about to like what I saw.

Whitney.

“Oh—” she blinked, eyes scanning past Aries into the penthouse. “I didn’t know you had company.”

And just like that, the room went quiet in that fake, suspicious ass way. Everybody suddenly real focused on their plates, their drinks, the wall, the air, anything but the doorway.

Essence raised a brow, her face scrunchin’ up in pure disbelief, and I swear… for the first time ever? Me and her was on the exact same page. A generational moment. Somebody should’ve recorded it.

But best believe it’s the last.

I sat up straighter, smoothing my expression into something sweet. Too sweet. “Oh heyy,” I said, voice drippin’ in sugar that could honestly rot teeth. “You like my place?”

Whitney scoffed like she expected me to be joking. “Hey, Londyn.”

She stepped inside anyway, eyes scanning the room before landing back on Aries. “I was just in the area. Thought I’d stop by.”

Of course you were.

The streets must’ve sent you personally. They sure is lively at this time.

Aries nodded. “You good?”

Whitney’s smile stretched. “Yeah. You look… good. Real good.”

And there it was. That little tone. That little look.

The hater in me clocked right in, and said we not doing this tonight. I let out a scoff before I could even stop myself, loud enough for everybody to hear.

Imani choked out a laugh under her breath and I didn’t even look at her because I knew she was enjoying this way too much.

Whitney hesitated for half a second before deciding she still had audacity left in her system. She walked over and sat down right next to Aries.

They started talking. Laughing. And then… Whitney touched her arm.

Not a lil’ brush. No. A full, comfortable touch like she forgot I was sitting right there with eyes, and hands.

Oh, aight.

I slid my hand onto Aries’ thigh slowly. “Oh wow,” I said lightly, tiltin’ my head just enough. “Y’all this friendly in class or is today special or sumn?”

Britney froze mid-bite like her brain said pause the show, and Chelsea suddenly found the wall fascinating as hell, clearing her throat.

“Londyn,” Aries warned softly.

I shrugged, feignin innocence. “Whatt? I’m social.”

Under the table, Aries’ fingers curled around my knee, ‘Like I got you, but chill out a lil’.

But I did not give a fuck.

I smiled at Whitney again, slower this time, letting it stretch just enough to feel like a warning. “You tryna stay or…?”

It didn’t even take long. Maybe a minute. Maybe less. Whitney laughed awkwardly, and pushed her chair back.

“I should prolly head out,” she said, actin like she had somewhere else to be.

“Mm,” I nodded, folding my hands. “Them streets wicked. Stay safe gang.”

She left quickly after that. And Aries? She ain’t say shit. She just looked at me, eyes warm in a way that made my chest feel weird, her hand still resting on my knee.

And yeah, I’ll admit.

I was jealous.