Forced promises

Aries Pov

When I arrived home later that evening, the weariness from the day was evident in my stride. The office had been a whirlwind of issues, but the thought of returning to the house—especially after seeing Josh's growing rapport with Vivian—added an extra layer of tension to my day.

As i entered the house, I heard the sound of laughter coming from the living room. My jaw tightened involuntarily. I wasn't sure what i'd find, but I could already sense the undercurrent of irritation building up inside me. I made my way toward the sound, trying to maintain an even composure.

When I walked into the living room, i saw Vivian and Josh seated on the couch, their faces illuminated by the warm light of a nearby lamp. They were laughing together, and the sight of Josh's easy smile and the way he leaned in slightly toward Vivian made something inside me twist. The casual intimacy between them was unmistakable, and it stung more than i'd like to admit.

Josh's hand brushed against Vivian's as he gestured animatedly, clearly in the midst of some light-hearted story. Vivian was smiling broadly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. The connection between them was palpable, and for a brief moment, I felt a pang of jealousy that i struggled to suppress.

I cleared my throat, announcing my presence without intending to. "I'm back."

Vivian turned, her smile faltering slightly as she saw me. "Oh, Aries. You're home."

Josh looked up, his expression shifting to one of polite acknowledgment. "Evening, Aries. How was your day?"

I forced a neutral smile, but my eyes were cold. "Busy. Just got back from dealing with a situation at the warehouse."

Josh nodded sympathetically. "Sounds like a rough day."

"It was," I replied curtly. "I'm going to grab a drink. Can I get you anything?" I asked, trying to sound polite but failing to mask the underlying tension in my voice.

Vivian shook her head. "I'm fine, thank you."

Josh gave a small, friendly smile. "I'm good too, thanks."

As I moved to the bar cart, i kept my back to them, trying to compose myself. I could hear Josh's voice continuing, the tone light and engaging, and it only made the jealousy I felt worse. It was clear that Josh was enjoying his time with Vivian, and the flirtatious undertones were impossible to ignore.

I poured myself a drink, my movements deliberate.I took a deep breath, trying to focus on calming the storm of emotions swirling inside me. When I finally turned around, I found Josh standing up, preparing to leave.

"Well, I should get going," Josh said,
His gaze shifting between me and Vivian. "It was great catching up, Vivian. I'll see you soon."

Vivian stood as well, walking Josh to the door. "Thanks for coming by, Josh. It was really nice."

As Josh left, my' eyes followed him, and the tightness in my jaw increased. The sight of Josh's retreating figure did nothing to quell the feeling of jealousy and frustration that was building inside me.

Once the door closed, I took a deep breath, trying to mask his feelings.I moved toward the couch, where Vivian was still standing. "So, how was your evening?" I asked, my tone attempting to be casual but betraying a hint of my underlying irritation.

Vivian looked at me, sensing the tension but choosing to remain composed. "It was good. Josh is really easy to talk to."

I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I can see that. He's quite personable."

Vivian raised an eyebrow, sensing the edge in my voice. "Is something wrong?"

I stared at her.