While we were talking, she spilled wine all over the dress she was wearing, so I got her a robe. Then she came on to me. Not once did I ever touch her. But of course, that’s not what she made it look like because she’s evil and vindictive. I should’ve never fell for her act to begin with.
Turns out the story about the music producer being an asshole was true but the part about him putting his hands on her was a load of horseshit. She came clean in a moment of anger when I was going off on her after Ava left. I kicked her out and made it clear if she ever contacts me again, I will file a restraining order on her crazy ass. I think she got the message, but if she didn’t, I will file it with no hesitation.
Lincoln stopped by as Victoria was leaving and got to witness the tale end of the argument.
I spilled my guts about what had just gone down. If anybody knows about dealing with heartbreak, it’s him.
Sitting at my desk at Tempest, I look out over the city before grabbing my phone and calling Ava again. It goes to voicemail.
Cursing under my breath I hang up, throwing the phone down. I miss her so fucking much, I feel like I can’t breathe.
The ache inside of me is so severe, it feels like she took a chunk out of me when she got on that elevator.
Cursing under my breath, I grab my keys and jacket. It’s time I paid my girl a visit.
Chapter 14
AVA
Nothing in my life up to this point could have prepared me for this level of heartbreak. It’s clawed at my insides making me feel like a shell of myself. I never knew I could miss a person so much. I never knew I could need a person so much.
But that’s exactly what it feels like with Liam. Being away from him has opened up a hole inside of me that I’m not sure can be fixed.
After I bolted from his place, I went to Lisa’s place.
I took some time to think and process the situation and it started to dawn on me that maybe Liam was telling the truth. I know I need to hear him out I haven’t worked up the courage to reach out to him yet. The image of Victoria strutting around in that robe is still too fresh in my mind. I don’t want to accuse him of something that didn’t happen.
“Here you go,” Lisa says handing me a pint of strawberry ice cream.
“Thanks.” She and Jayden have been coming over to my place for the past four nights after work trying to cheer me up.
“Hey Av, I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I think you should hear Liam out.”
“Jay I don’t wanna-“
“Just hear me out okay.”
I shut my mouth.
“Now, I’ve heard stories about this Victoria chick. Word on the street is she’s a vindictive person. Now I don’t know what went down between the two of them, but my gut tells me the guy really loves you. I think you should hear him out. If for no other reason than that the what ifs will haunt you if you don’t.”
I stare down into my carton of ice cream as though it holds all the answers.
I know I need to hear him out and listening to Jayden makes me wonder if I handled this all wrong.
Just then there’s a knock on my door. Getting up from the couch, I go to the door and open it. My breath catches in my throat when I see Liam on the other side.
He looks disheveled. His hair is sticking up all over the place as though he’s run his fingers through it multiple times. His clothes are rumpled and there are bags under his eyes. Despite all that that sight of him still makes my heart race.
He still makes those butterflies in my stomach flutter to life.
Damn him.
“Hi,” I squeak out.
“Hey,” he says his voice husky.
He takes me in from head to toe and I know I must look a mess.
His hands clench together as though he’s trying to restrain himself from something.
“Can I come in?”
“Uh yeah, sure.” I take a step back so he can come in.
“We were just leaving,” Lisa says. She and Jayden exit.
We go sit on the couch.
He blows out a breath running a hand through his hair.
“Nothing happened between me and Victoria.” He then proceeds to tell me the full story, including where she threw herself at him.
When he finishes, we sit there as I process the information. My conversation with Jayden and Lisa replay in my mind along with all the doubts I’d already been having about what I’d initially thought happened between him and Victoria.
Looking at him now, I take the leap and give voice to my thoughts.
“I believe you.”
His head snaps up.
“You do?”
“Yeah. When it first happened, my brain felt like it was imploding. I didn’t know what to do. I needed time to process everything I was seeing. But after thinking about it and hearing you speak; I don’t think you would ever intentionally hurt me.”
He’s off the couch and I’m in his arms before I can take my next breath.
“God, baby, I missed you so much.”
I squeeze him back.
“I missed you too. I love you,” I say pulling back to look into his eyes.
He lowers his head just as I rise up on the tips of my toes. The first brush of our lips has my heart settling back into place.
Liam groans deep in his throat as his arms wrap around my waist. His hands slid down to my
