I Shouldn't Feel This Way- Chapter 2

Chapter 2 So there I was, walking out of the courtroom when I felt a strong warm hand grab my arm.

“Aria—” His voice was deep and husky and his touch made me shiver. I slowly turned around and looked into my father’s ocean eyes. The intensity of his stare was intimidating me, but he softened his expression and I noticed a hint of a sad yet subtle smile, before he pulled me into his arms and hugged me.

My god his cologne was intoxicating me. And his body…oh his body was so warm and muscular. I could tell that his incredibly fit physique was well hidden underneath the expensive fabric of his clothes.

I felt my heart rate slow down, as I held my breath, my eyes filling with tears. Why was this happening to me? Why was I getting so emotional? Maybe because all my life, I felt so unloved and unwanted, thrown away like a piece of trash and now here I was, finally reunited with the man who made me, my father, and all I could feel was heart break because I knew….I knew as soon as I saw him and discovered who he was, that I could never ever love this man as a father. He was a walking Adonis in life form, a God that created me, and when he enveloped his arms around me so tenderly, I knew that I would worship my creator forever, no matter how angry and hurt I was underneath. The faded traces of Noah Hunter’s name had been scarred on my heart ever since I was old enough to learn who he was, and in that moment, while I was within his warm and loving embrace, I felt my heart set ablaze resurrecting my love for him like a phoenix from the flames.

“Aria, I’m so sorry I’ve missed out on so many years.” He sounded like he was trying to hold back his most vulnerable emotions from betraying him. Noah sounded genuinely hurt.

I was frozen like a statue, I couldn’t move.

“We have to get going.” My mother said bitterly.

I felt him slowly release me and hold my arms while his eyes scanned me from head to toe, my face flushing in heat as I averted my eyes.

“God you’re so beautiful, you’re beautiful Aria.”

He extended his arm and reached for the side of my face, stroking my cheek in the most gentle and affectionate way that it made me want to cry again.

“Let me take her out to dinner Emily.”

“You can take her out to dinner on the weekend.” My mother held my hand and pulled me towards her. She looked incredibly uncomfortable being around my father. Probably because he was a waking sex symbol. I haven’t the slightest clue how she could’ve refused his offer of marriage. My step dad Rob was a balding fat slob, while my father…my father, (just saying those words out loud in my head makes me feel such a strong sense of pride) he was perfection, and if not a God, a demigod for sure. I can’t believe I’m in the same gene pool as this man.

“Why don’t you ask Aria before you decide for her.” His tone sounded angry, but I could tell that he was trying to control it. Perhaps my father was a temperamental kind of guy. He did give off this intimidating vibe. Maybe because I thought he was beautiful beyond human comprehension, like a fallen angel, you naturally shy away when his eyes cascade over you. He must’ve been a super masculine man, with testosterone levels much too high, since he knocked my mom up!

“I’d like to go.” It’s like the words came out of my mouth before I even thought of a response, almost as if my body and my soul already knew where they belonged; in Noah Hunter’s presence, by his side. I was shocked by my newfound loyalty to him to say the least. This man could’ve spared me from so much pain, loneliness, and heartache, had he only made the effort to have fought for me sooner. I made a promise to myself to address these things to him.

“Aria, your dad’s expecting us back for dinner.” Mom glared at me.

“He’s not her dad, I am.”

Is this for real?? Did my dad just stick up for me? I felt my heart flutter and my stomach tighten in knots when he stood behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, sending shivers all down my spine.

“He’s more of a father to her than you ever were. Where were you the last 16 years?”

“You moved away Emily!”

“You could’ve easily found us Noah!”

“Mom, please. We’ve had a long and stressful afternoon, please don’t fight. I just want to catch up and ask him those questions that you couldn’t answer.”

She gave me a worried look and then scowled at my dad.

“Don’t dictate to her Em.”

“Like the way your bitch of a mother dictated to you? Don’t worry, I won’t.”

I felt the loss of contact as he dropped his hands from my shoulders.

“No need for low blows.” There was an icy undertone in his voice.

“Have her home by eight o clock, the latest and I mean it.”

I suddenly felt so happy and nervous at the same time. You know that feeling you get when you get to spend time with your crush? It feels amazing and agonizing all at once…that’s how I was feeling.

“Eight, got it.”

oOo 
My dad whistled and waved at a taxi cab as a yellow vehicle pulled up to the curb near the front street of the court house. He opened the door for me and let me in first.

“After you.” He beamed at me all gentlemanlike and then moved in next to me before slamming the door shut.

“Take us to Per Se restaurant.”

I heard him give directions to the cab driver while I strapped on my seat belt. God was I nervous. I was just hoping that he wouldn’t hear my heart hammering in my chest.

He leaned back into his seat, took a deep breath and turned his head to look at me. It was a little unnerving because I suddenly felt insecure about my physical appearance.

“You’re more beautiful than I imagined.” He brushed back a dark strand of my silky hair behind my ear and I shivered in reaction.

“Look at me.” His tone was gentle and pleading at the same time.

I turned my head and met his gaze with caution. Those penetrating blue eyes were killing me. He looked surprisingly tan considering it was almost winter; probably because he lived in a warmer climate than me.

“Wow…you really have my eyes.” He smiled warmly.

“Yours are lighter.” I mumbled.

“But yours are alluring.”

No one had ever complimented me like that before. I’m sure he must’ve noticed the rosy pink blush that spread across my cheeks. Growing up, I felt like a tom boy, but all that changed once I hit puberty. I wanted to paint my nails, do my hair, wear makeup, dress up in girly things and once my breasts got big enough, I was definitely attracting all male attention to myself at school. If there’s one thing I prided myself on, it was my body. I really took care of it because I was athletic.

But sitting in that cab next to…my dad, made me feel inferior to his beauty, he was too handsome for words, like an immortal being that never aged and remained eternally youthful. His face was clean shaven and my eyes soon wandered down to his hands, they looked big and strong and very clean, unlike Rob’s nasty finger nails and laboured calloused hands.

I noticed a platinum wedding band on his left ring finger. “You’re married?” I just blurted it out.

“Yes, I got married two years ago. My wife’s name is Vanessa. I’d love for you to meet her when you visit us in California.”

I was silent and suddenly uncomfortable.

“Forgive me, if you decide to visit. I would never force you to do anything you’re not ready to do Aria. You have my word on that.”

Why did I feel like crying? Of course he’d be married. Who wouldn’t want to marry this man? He was successful, probably rich since he was a lawyer, and unbelievably attractive.

“Do I have any other brothers and sisters?”

“Unfortunately no, but we’re trying. Hopefully soon.”

The thought made me sick to my stomach. I didn’t want any more siblings, but in truth, my subconscious was hiding a much darker secret…I didn’t want my dad making babies with any one. Period.

“I know everything may feel overwhelming for you at the moment, but I promise not to rush things, I just want to spend the evening catching up at your pace.”

I fixed my eyes on my hands and fidgeted with the zipper of my faux leather handbag.

“Do you like Gucci? Prada?”

Although I have never owned anything from those famous designer brands, I was sure as hell familiar with the names.

“Yeah…what girl doesn’t?” I laughed nervously.

“Great, I’ll take you out shopping on Saturday and we can buy you a new handbag.” His lips curved up into a half smile and I just melted.

I was trying to force my brain into accepting the fact that my father was offering to take me out and spoil me. I couldn’t tell if I was in a nightmare or a dream. A nightmare because I understood the fact that I wasn’t supposed to feel this way about my dad, and yet I still did, and a dream because he appeared to possess one of the qualities I always wanted in a father; spoiling and pampering his daughter.