“Ava. It’s very nice to meet you.”
And that’s how I find myself surrounded my all the women in Liam’s family as well as Mia, chatting laughing and eating. For the first time, since I met Jayden and Lisa, I feel like I belong.
***
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes, your family is amazing.”
“Yeah they’re pretty great.”
Liam glances at the clock.
“Oh look at that it’s officially my birthday. You know what that means right?”
“What?”
“I’m owed a kiss.”
“Oh I’ll give you more than a kiss.”
And once we get back to his place, I do just that.
Chapter 12
AVA
One week later
Liam’s best friend, Simon, is now back at the club full time and Liam had to go to Los Angeles to handle an emergency with the restaurant there. He’s supposed to be back tonight, and I’m going to be meeting him at his place. To say I’m excited to see him would be an understatement.
I’m wrapping up the last of my work for the day when my phone buzzes. I ignore it while I finish the last of my paperwork for the day.
Things have been…slightly different at work since I started dating Liam. Some of my coworkers look at me differently as though my dating a billionaire somehow affects them. I’ve seen a couple of paparazzi taking photos outside the library when he drops me off. I’m not a magazine reader but Lisa points stuff out to me occasionally when she thinks I should see it.
I try not to let it get to me. Does it make me slightly uncomfortable having people care about my dating life? Yes. But I try to ignore it the best I can. After all this is a part of the package that comes with dating Liam. Therefore, I’ll take it.
Besides its not nearly as bad for me as it is for the actual celebrities out there.
Looking down at the screen I see that I have two text messages. One from Liam and the other from Natalie.
Clicking on Liam’s first I read it.
LIAM: Hey babe., I just landed. I’ll be at my place so come over after you get off. Drive the truck. I miss you so fucking much. I love you.
A smile pulls at the corners of my mouth and I get that warm fuzzy feeling every time he says ‘I love you’. I do roll my eyes at the mention of the truck. Before he left he tried to have his car service stay and drive me to work or anywhere else I needed to go. I refused so he left me the keys of his SUV. Initially I refused that also, but he sweet talked me into it. And honestly, I’ve found that I like driving the truck. I send him back a quick text.
Clicking on the one Natalie sent me I read it.
NATALIE: Hey girl, do you want to grab lunch with Sara and I later this week?
Natalie, Sarah, Lisa and I have gotten together a few times and I’ve really enjoyed spending time with them as well. Responding quickly to her message also, I put my phone away.
Wrapping up the last of things for the day. I grab my stuff and make my way to the exit of the library saying bye to Claire as I pass her in the hallway.
I’m almost to the door when I hear somebody call my name. I look over my shoulder and everything inside of me freezes at who I see.
Matthew King stands a few feet away from me. My stomach drops. Curly black hair frames a face that most consider handsome. I used to be one of those women that thought he was handsome.
Now all I see is ugliness in the form of a six-foot one man.
“What are you doing here?” I ask
He takes a few steps towards me.
“I wanted to see you. I was wondering if we could talk?”
“I have nothing to say to you. Have a nice life.” I turn on my heel and exiting the building.
“Ava, wait.” I feel him behind me before he even touches me. His hand grabs my elbow. I jerk away from him.
“Do not touch me,” I snap whirling on him. Anger is building up inside of me. Why won’t he leave me the hell alone? I was perfectly fine before he showed up.
He holds his hands up in surrender. It’s then that I see the bags under his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk to you.”
“What do you want?”
He runs a hand through his hair before blowing out a frustrated sigh.
“I’ve been trying to get in contact with you for a while. I just wanted to say I’m sorry for the way I treated you back in college.”
I stare at him for a moment dumbstruck. “What?” I ask lamely.
“I was an asshole back in college. I was the man on campus, and I let myself be pulled into some ugly shit that I shouldn’t have. I didn’t realize how far I’d gone until recently when I had some…issues pop up. Anyways I just wanted to apologize to you in person.”
I’m struck speechless because god help me, I believe him. Unnerved and not wanting to continue this conversation any longer. “Oh, um well thanks for the apology.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s long overdue,” he breaks off into a fit of coughing.
My brows knit together and before I can stop myself, I’m asking him if he’s okay.
“Yeah,” he pauses. “I wasn’t going to say anything because I didn’t want you to think less of me but while I was preparing for the Olympics, I had a physical and it revealed that I had a blood
