Read Online Through Her Eyes by Ava Harrison - Free Book Online Page B

gently bit at his lip.
    “Come here,” he said as he lifted me by my arms and pulled me into his embrace. In his arms, I finally let go. My body was wracked by sobs.
    Owen was dead.
    Owen was dead.
    The words replayed. I’m lost. I can’t find my way.
    It was my fault. It was entirely my fault.
    If I hadn’t gone swimming. If I was a better swimmer. If I’d only listened.
    I felt him wrap me tighter in his arms.
    They held me.
    They comforted me.
    They guided me.
    He was my gravity. He brought me back to him. His arms brought me home. He tethered my soul to his and grounded me. As I lay in Parker’s arms, he brought me back to myself. He held me until all the tears in my body dried up. I rubbed the tears from my eyes, and breathed a choked sigh. “You’re okay, Ari. You’ll be okay. What can I do to make you happy, to make you smile?” And then he repeated what he’d said the first day I met him. “I could get you ice cream?” Our eyes met, and I finally spoke.
    “Okay.”
    “Okay? You want ice cream? I’ll get you some. What’s your favorite?”
    “Cookies and cream.” Moments later I was happily eating ice cream in bed.
    I shook myself from the memory. I file away my sadness and finally answer. “I always loved cookies and cream. I’m not much of an ice cream eater anymore. But now . . . with this gelato—” My tongue darts forward and licks the smooth hazelnut gelato that threatens to spill down the cone. Chase lets out a ragged breath. His pupils begin to dilate as he watches me with . . . desire. His reaction makes me feel something other than sadness. His reaction makes me feel something I haven’t felt in days—playful. I’ll take that over sad any day, and I decide to go with it.
    “What are you doing, Aria?” His voice is raspy.
    “Who, me?” I smirk, and he smiles at the look I’m giving him.
    “You know what they say about playing with fire?”
    “I just like to lick it.” As the suggestive words leave my lips, I can’t suppress the giggle that teeters on the brink of erupting.
    “I’ve got something you can lick.” My eyes grow as wide as feasibly possible, and I swat at him, but he dodges me and dashes toward the Spanish Steps behind the Fontana. Dropping my remaining gelato in the nearest garbage, I take off after him, weaving in and out of the crowd that’s formed around the fountain. I can see its cascading water as I make my climb.
    My lungs burn as I try to catch up to him. God, how many steps are there? The crowd muffles the sound of my feet hitting the pavement. As I reach the top of the Spanish Steps, my body lurches forward in a series of desperate exhales. My shallow breaths come out in gasps while my heart beats erratically. The gelato I had before this silly climb to the top was not a great idea as my stomach wants to revolt against the sugary thick cream. With effort, I might make it to my destination before my feet give way under my own weight. And I thought I was in good shape. What a joke! Better start back up with the yoga.
    Then I eye the scenery before us. My eyes skate across the distance, and I see everything. The view from the top of the steps is awe-inspiring.
    “Beautiful, right?”
    “It’s magnificent!” I marvel at the beauty.
    “Yeah, it is.” But he isn’t looking at the view or the distance. He is looking at me.
    We stare at each other, panting heavily, our gazes locked. Then Chase coughs once and breaks the connection.
    “So, Aria, what’s the plan from here? Where you going? What’s your destination?” I bite my bottom lip as my eyes wander across the distant scenery, looking out into the great unknown.
    “I’ve no idea. I’m searching for something, I’m just not sure where to find that something yet.”
    “I’m a pretty good detective. Do you have any clues to give me?”
    “I have this silly idea that I need to go somewhere, and maybe once I’m there I’ll find myself.”
    “I’ll get you there. Wherever there