Chapter 133

Aria's POV "Almost ready, Mrs. Carter! Just five more minutes!" "No rush, I was just asking," I said, silently thanking her for the perfect excuse to escape my uncomfortable situation. After sorting through my feelings about Aiden, I'd been desperately trying to control them. At the very least, I needed to stop staring at him like some lovesick teenager! But crushes aren't exactly something you can switch off at will. I'd been struggling for days with pathetic results. Ever since realizing my feelings for Aiden, I couldn't act normal around him anymore. Several times, I'd made flimsy excuses just to flee the room when I couldn't handle being near him. While I was suffering through this "sweet torment" of attraction, amazing news arrived: Aiden was going on a business trip! And not just for a day or two—he'd be gone for seven whole days! Finally, I could breathe again. The night before his departure, I decided to stop avoiding him like I had been all week. When Aiden returned from a pho