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Arias sat at his cluttered desk, the soft glow of the desk lamp illuminating piles of papers marked with numbers and shipping details. The hum of the city outside faded into the background as he meticulously reviewed the figures from his last shipment. Business had been good for him lately but he was determined to make sure every detail right and he doesn't get caught again.
The familiar sound of the door creaking open pulled his attention away from the spreadsheets. It was Luis, his friend came walking in and seat the chair in front of the desk. "What up?" Arias said looking at Luis and back the paper in his hand. There was an unusual energy about him, a nervous excitement that Arias couldn't ignore, Arias put the paper down and looked at Luis who now had a big smile on his face "What do you want Luis?" Arias said raising an eye brow
Luis leaned against the chair and looked at Arias before asking him the question that has been on his mind. Arias brow furrowed in confusion trying to read Luis mind, Arias just looked at Luis who couldn't help but smile; Luis pushed himself closer to the desk and clasped his hands together, a playful glint in his eye. "Heard you and Jenna are back together," he said, the teasing lilt to his voice barely concealing the curiosity behind it.Arias looked at Luis and his expression shifting from furrowed concern to a more playful frown. "Not quite yet," he replied, an earnestness in his tone that caught Luis off guard. "I'm working on it."
Luis raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Working on it? What does that even mean?"Arias sighed, the weight of unspoken feelings evident in his posture. "You know, it's complicated. After everything that happened, I just need to figure things out... for both of us." Arias knew that him still being in the game could jeopardize his future relationship with Jenna. He had to make sure that he doesn't disappoint her again and keep her out of this lifestyle
Luis nodded, understanding that relationships were rarely straightforward. He admired Arias's determination to mend things with Jenna, even though he himself was a bit skeptical about such second chances. "Do you think she'll be okay with you being in the game still?" he inquired gently, hoping to nudge Arias toward clarity.Arias cast his gaze downward, lost in thought. "No she won't, she made that clear to me she can't handle this shit anymore and I don't want her involved. I messed up, and I just need to prove to her that I can be better... that we can be better." Arias looked at Luis "She thinks I own a bar so we keep it like that"
Luis Looked at Arias, He had a confused looked on his face, "Arias you know I won't say anything to her, but you need to be honest with her. Show her you're serious, you know?" Luis looked at Arias. "Yeah, your right but right now I just need to win her back and I will tell before we even get back together for now I'm a bar owner " Luis raised his hand up "Alright I'll back you up and let the boys know." Luis agreed, "But think about it this way: what happens if she finds out and leaves again? you gonna have to face the possibility of getting hurt"Arias sighed softly, the tension in his shoulders raised. "You right I will tell her soon." "thanks for the advice" Arias said
"Always," Luis said, dapping Arias up and pulling him into a friendly side hug. "Just take it one step at a time. And if you need my help, I'm just a call away."The two friends shared a laugh and began to walk out the room, the weight of the previous conversation lingering yet light among the hopeful possibilities. As they chatted about everything from upcoming events to weekend plans, for Arias, the path ahead seemed just a little less daunting. Arias and Luis walked to their cars "see you around" Luis said getting in his car and driving off Arias got into his car
Arias sat in the driver's seat of his car, the engine idling softly beneath him. The late afternoon sun slanted through the windshield, casting a warm glow across the interior, but he felt anything but warm. His mind was a tempest of worry and doubt. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as he thought about Jenna—her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke about her dreams.
What would happen if she found out? The question gnawed at him like a hungry dog, scratching at the corners of his conscience. Jenna had always been his light, the one person who brought joy into his chaotic world, and yet he felt like a thief in the night, hiding secrets that could shatter their fragile happiness.
He could picture her face if she ever learned the truth—that the shadows of his past were still creeping into their present. He had promised himself he would leave the drug business behind. After the last deal had gone wrong and nearly cost him everything, he had vowed to escape that life. But the money was too good, and old habits die hard. Just one last job, he had told himself, but now that job hung over him like a dark cloud.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to push away the guilt crashing over him. Thoughts of Jenna filled his mind, her supportive whispers urging him to do better, to be better. It stung to think about how much he loved her, knowing he was lying by omission. He needed to tell her. Deep down, he knew it. But tonight was not the night for revelations. They had plans—a dinner, just the two of them, Arias was making her favorite Italian dish she loved. He could almost hear her excited voice.
Taking a deep breath, Arias opened his eyes and let the sunlight wash over him. For now, he would enjoy the evening, even if he felt like a predator hiding in a den. He would listen to Jenna, be the man she thought he was, even if the truth weighed heavy on his heart.As he put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb, he felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. This was his chance to savor the calm, to enjoy the moment. But in the back of his mind, the clock was ticking, and with each passing day, the truth loomed larger. He just hoped that when the time came, he would find the courage to tell her—and that she would still want him after the truth had been laid bare.
