Quixotic (2)

23

"I'm sorry --." Brian hummed nervously as he walked into the room to see Eliza shift in her seat, slouching against the back of the couch with a frown on her lips as she stared up at the television, "Did you find something to talk about while I was gone?" He asked nervously, noticing how Aria avoided his eyes.

"That was Pete." Brian spoke to fill the silence, adding, "He was calling about the details for the soiree tomorrow night." The room remained silent as he moved to take a seat, announcing, "I have to leave early in the morning to help set up."

After a few moments of silence, Aria pushed herself to stand and lifted Mila into her arms, sighing, "Should we go back to Murray's?"

Brian stood, his eyes locked on hers as his body flinched forward, "No." He said quickly, glancing down to Eliza as he shrugged, "I'm sure the bed in the guest room is big enough for two." He shifted uncomfortably, telling Eliza, "It's probably time you go to bed too."

"I don't have a bed time." The child spat back at him, and Aria stepped toward the guest room with Mila, "Can't I just sleep on the couch?"

"No, you can sleep in the room with Mila." Brian fought back. He glanced over his shoulder to see the door to the guest room swing shut, and turned back to look at his daughter, growling, "Pull yourself together and fix the attitude, or I'm shipping you back to Brody's place."

"Geez, Mr. Brian, no need to be so harsh." She mocked the younger girl as she pushed herself to stand and walked around the coffee table with her lips pressed in a straight line. She walked toward the room, and opened the door to see Aria leaning against the side of the bed, humming a story. A grunt escaped Eliza's lips, and she turned to open the first drawer.

Grabbing her night clothes, she paced out of the room, "You've got to be kidding me!" She growled with anger behind her voice as passed her father, letting the door to the bathroom slam shut behind her.

Aria walked out of the bedroom, and hesitantly approached the sofa to sit beside Brian, "Let me guess, you want nothing to do with me?" He asked, his eyes staring forward as she shifted to angle her knees toward him.

"That's a bit extreme." Aria hummed, catching his attention.

He turned to look at her with wide eyes, sighing, "I thought you'd be upset --."

"Oh, I am." She clarified, nodding, "I mean, that was a huge secret to drop on my shoulders." She said uncomfortably, but added with a shrug, "I'm just shocked and confused."

"Do you have any questions?" He asked nervously, humming, "I promise, I'll be honest."

There was a moment of silence, and she turned to look away for a moment before asking, "What was her name?"

"Olivia." He answered before he gave himself time to react, repeating himself louder, "Her name - Olivia Parker." He wasn't sure whether to say 'was' or 'is', so he left the word out entirely, swallowing his fear. 

"Did you love her?" Aria asked hesitantly, her eyes locked on his features as he turned to look in her direction. Her heart sat low in her chest, and from the look in his eyes she already knew the answer.

She could hear his heart beating, racing in his chest, and he nodded, telling her with a broken voice, "More than anything --." He watched as she shifted beside him, pulling her shoulders back as she tore her eyes to look away

His head was pounding, but he was numb to the pain, waiting for another question. When the room fell silent, he looked at the beautiful woman again, and she distracted him from the terrible feeling that slashed at his heart, "What else?" He asked, wanting to clear the tension from the air.