365 Days with the Celebrity

Chapter 51 - Hate

[Dedicated to @sapphiregirl22 whose book "Engaged to the Heartless Heartbreaker" has been one of the influences of this chapter. Thank you so much]

Ariel could not emotionally take it anymore. NDA or not, she decided to divulge that secret kiss to Rita, who was the next person available. Camila had been loaded with many Hollywood film projects and Beth was busy with her house hunting, wedding and honeymoon preparations.

Beth and Camila were kept in the dark for now as Ariel did not want gossipy Camila to get overly excited about it nor have Beth to unnecessary throw shade. It was already painful enough sharing it with another person apart from Evan, but she needed solace for her broken heart.

"Just hang in there, only two months left," encouraged Rita.

"Thanks for the reminder. It's unbearable to see him with his girlfriend, but I'll survive this," said Ariel. She never revealed that Jasmine was in fact, a fake girlfriend. Now, she wasn't sure anymore seeing that they were getting comfortably close to each other that it was looking believeable.

"You know we all got your back," Rita assured, which gave Ariel renewed her strength in the knowledge that her friends would never leave her in the lurch.

Ariel busied herself with her work and began drafting out plans for her future restaurant. She also did her own online house hunting for her and Andy, and for Rita whom she had promised. She found those activities pretty exciting during her break times and they helped distract her from Leon and Jasmine. She also found herself hanging out with Evan even more.

Whenever their off-days coincide on the same days, they brought their children out together to the parks and other popular kid-friendly hang-outs. Ariel found herself clicking quite well with Evan, a fellow single parent who understood what it was like being in her shoes. Andy was quite friendly with young Imogen, treating her like a little sister. Occasionally, Rita, Beth and Theo would join them, and Camila would pop by on certain weekends where her schedule would permit. Leon was off the radar as he no longer hung out with them and Cody was no more.

"Mum, why doesn't Leon go out with us anymore?" Andy asked one day.

"He's very, very busy. You know that," Ariel replied with a sigh.

"I know we live with him but I hardly see him since he works very long hours. I miss it when he hung out with us like the first time we all went to the theme park. He's fun to be with."

Ariel bit her lower lip. She could not deny that she felt that same loss as she remembered the fun times when he was out with them in his many odd disguises, but life must go on. Leon was after all, from another planet and once the contract was up, they would no longer stay with him.

"Well, you have Theo, Evan and Imogen. And me, Rita, Beth and Camil."

They were the most important people in Ariel's and Andy's life, not Leon. However, she could see that Andy remained fond of him and wondered if Leon would be open to remain in touch with Andy in future after the contract ends.

———

Ariel was out buying groceries on a Saturday afternoon.

While his mother was at it, Andy slouched over the backrest of the sofa, head resting upon his folded arms as he started blankly at the stretch of the massive sea through the windows. He was still in his pyjamas, with a Lego car in his hand that he had built and was playing with while running it across the sofa.

Leon noticed he looked dispirited and approached him, "Andy, you okay there?"

"Hey Leon," he muttered without lifting his head, his cheerless gaze stuck to the panoramic view.