“Wow, well I’m glad you’re okay. And thank you for the apology. I appreciate it. Seriously.”
A smile tinged with relief lights up his face and it hits me that he really did want my apology. “Great, maybe we could get together for coffee sometime?”
“Oh, um I’m dating somebody.”
His face falls. “Oh, yeah right. Sorry.”
Could this be anymore awkward? “Yeah, I have to get going. Take care, Matthew.”
“You too, Ava.”
With that, I turn and walk away my mind whirling a mile a minute. Holy crap. Never in a million years did I think I would run into Matthew King again. And I never expected him to apologize to me.
The Matthew I knew back in college was arrogant and conceited, yet I overlooked those things because I thought there was a good person underneath. Maybe dealing with a health scare really did change him. I hope so. Shaking off those thoughts, I head home first. Showering and changing I pack an overnight bag and soon I’m out the door headed to Liam’s place.
Making a quick detour I stop at the store and grab a few things to make dinner with. I’m sure he’s probably tired and jet lagged so a nice home cooked meal might make him feel better.
Once I have everything, I need I get back on the road and soon I’m pulling into his garage.
I greet the doorman on my way past and punch in the access code for his floor. The doors slide open on his floor and immediately I can tell that something is wrong.
As soon as I step off the elevator, I see a shoe laying in the entry way. Not just any shoe a red stiletto heel that is several inches long.
“Liam?” I call out.
Dread fills my stomach as I sit the bags down on the kitchen counter and walk back down the hallway towards the bedrooms. I pull up short at the sight of Victoria coming out of the opposite bedroom, dressed in nothing but a robe.
The smug smile she gives me guts me.
“Well look who’s here.”
I open my mouth to say something. What? I’m not exactly sure. Just then Liam comes around the corner pulling a shirt over his head.
Nausea swamps me.
This cannot be happening.
He pulls up short at the sight of me and the color drains from his face.
I take a step back.
Victoria leans a shoulder against the door looking smug. So fucking smug I want to wipe that look off her face.
“Babe, it’s not what it looks like” Liam says advancing towards me.
“Don’t lie to the girl Liam, it’s exactly what it looks like.”
“Shut up, Victoria. And put your damn clothes on.”
She snaps something back but I don’t hear it.
I can’t hear past the buzzing in my head.
I feel like I’m going to be sick.
I have to get out of here.
Liam’s in front of me saying something but I don’t understand what.
All I know is I have to get out of here.
I turn on my heel and bolt for the elevators
“Ava, wait!” Liam yells grabbing my arm.
I recoil from him.
“Don’t touch me right now.” My voice is trembling but I can’t seem to stop it.
“Look at me babe. It’s not what it looks like. I swear to you. Just let me explain.” He speaks urgently. But my brain just can’t compute what he’s saying right now.
The elevator doors slide open and he takes a step towards me but I put my hands up in front of me warding him off.
He stops, but the look in his eyes is almost pleading.
For what I’m not exactly sure.
“I-I need to go. Just give me time to think.”
The doors slide closed and, on the ride, down I go completely numb.
Out on the street, I bypass his truck and call a cab trying to scrub the image of Victoria in a robe in Liam’s apartment out of my head.
The tears start to fall and I have no such luck.
Chapter 13
LIAM
It’s been five days since the incident at my place and Ava still won’t return my calls. After she fled my place, I tried to give her some space. That lasted for about an hour before I tried to track her down. I went to her place, but she wasn’t there. I got in contact with her friend Lisa, but she refused to tell me where she was.
I’ve never been more fucking miserable in my life.
I can’t eat.
I can’t sleep.
Every room in this damn apartment reminds me of her and the time we’ve spent together over the last few weeks.
I’m a fucking mess.
And all because of Victoria. When she showed up at my place unannounced hysterical and crying, I let her in. That was my first mistake.
After she calmed down enough to speak, she spun this story about how the music producer she’s been seeing recently was an asshole. She said in the past, would get overly aggressive with her but he’d never put his hands on her. Until last night. She said she was trying to break up with him for good when he grabbed her arm and tried to shake some sense into her. She was so terrified that once she was able to get away, she ran to the first place she could think off and apparently that was me.
I may not like Victoria, but I couldn’t turn her away, especially when she’d been assaulted. I tried to get her to file a police report, but she
