Chapter 33
LONDON, ENGLAND
A va jumped up with a start when a knock resonated loudly. She dropped her phone, a loud thud echoing when the device hit the bureau. She looked up and sheepishly smiled at Eliott.
Hopefully, he hadn’t caught her texting Rowan. Or blushing at his risky messages. Or smiling like a fool at his verbal applause. Or complimenting her on the outfit she’d been wearing today. Or thanking him again for bringing her breakfast every day for the past week.
“Still not off?” Eliott asked, gesturing towards her laptop.
She calmed her racing heart, and closed her planner—hiding the nerves rattling her body. “I should be done in a few. What about you?”
“I just got done editing the recap video of the Canadian GP,” Eliott said as he stepped inside. “Still a bummer you missed it.”
She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “The flu got me good.”
“You feeling better now?”
A subtle smile spread across her lips. “Yes. I mean, it was over a week ago, so I’m all good.”
“That’s cool.” Eliott tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans and bounced on his heels. “Have you eaten yet?”
She had some plans with Rowan, but for obvious reasons, she couldn’t say that to her coworker.
“Not yet,” she responded. “I’m having dinner with my housemate and a few friends.”
Not a complete lie since she had asked if Rowan was down for eating over at her house tonight.
“Oh. I wanted to ask if you wanted to grab a bite in town or something.”
She couldn’t help but smile sweetly. “I appreciate the offer.”
When he rubbed the back of his neck, Ava held her breath. It had been a few weeks since he’d been invading her space more than usual—always following her everywhere, trying to check who she was messaging, hanging around when she was supposed to attend meetings with Rowan.
Obviously, Eliott was suspecting something. And she didn’t know what, to be precise. So, all Ava could do was keep her answers short, cold, and create more distance between them.
As much as she appreciated him and found him to be a funny guy, Rowan’s safety came above everything. She would protect her man with everything she had.
“Okay.” He took a deep breath in and spat out the next words so fast that they were barely comprehensible. “Iwouldliketotakeyououtonadate.”
Ah.
Of course, Ava had understood it all.
She tilted her head, ignoring Rowan’s message. “Sorry, I didn’t get that.”
Eliott exhaled. “Sorry. Nervous. Um, I’d like to take you out, Ava.”
She lowered her gaze, searching for the right words to say without hurting her friend. Her eyes landed on Rowan’s message, and there was no doubt about the direction in which her heart was gravitating.
Rowan
I’m right outside your office.
Please shout “DOUGHNUT” if Eliott tries to make a move on you
But I’m really looking forward to hearing you reject him. Cause at the end of the day, it’s my cock that’s filling you up.
Ava snorted, covering her mouth as she read the messages.
“Are you laughing at me?”
She found Eliott’s gaze again, sighing softly to calm herself down. “No. Oh my gosh, sorry. Look, I really appreciate you, but I can’t go on a date with you.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“Because…”
“Because why?” he pressed, aggressively. “It’s just a date, Ava. I didn’t ask if you wanted to shag right here and right now.”
“Wow,” she cut in, lifting her brows, surprised by his tone. “I’m seeing someone, Eliott.”
“Who?”
“It’s none of your business.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Is there a specific reason why you won’t tell me?”
“Just keeping my relationship private.”
Elliott’s jaw clenched as he took a step back. “You know what? I deeply regret asking you. You don’t have to lie if you’re not interested.”
Standing up, Ava felt anger seep through her system, but she controlled her tone to stay gentle and soothing. “I’m not lying. I really am seeing someone. I didn’t mean to hurt you or anything.”
The man she had once referred to as her friend only shook his head in disappointment and turned on his heel. “You’re such a bitch. No one would date a girl as prudish as you, anyway.”
Rounding her desk, she folded her arms across her chest, rapidly slipping her gaze to the door when Rowan’s silhouette appeared. “Calling me a bitch because I told you no is very low coming from you, Eliott.”
“Well, I think I have every right to—”
“Avery,” Rowan cut in as he marched inside the room. “I’m having an existential crisis. I need my publicist to help me sort out this mess.”
She emitted a soft sigh of relief, though she could see the fury blazing around Rowan’s pupils. The wrath emanating from his demeanour.The curl of his hands.
She knew he didn’t need help. He had come to save her.
“Sure,” she said, keeping her gaze on Eliott.
The latter didn’t say a word and exited the room, making sure to bump into Rowan’s shoulder.
“Lovely seeing you!” Rowan called out, a faux smile on his lips.
He then slammed the door shut, turned the lock, and strode towards Ava with anger-filled steps.
“Are you okay?” He tucked her into his broad chest, one hand cupping the back of her head.
His torso rose and fell rapidly as she looped her arms around his waist. She was trembling with rage, shaking with sadness because the sentiment of culpability was too overpowering. But when he caressed her hair, coaxingly, she couldn’t help but bask in his comfort.
“I’m fine,” she murmured. “We’re in trouble.”
“I know.” He kept the volume of his voice quiet, just in case. “We’ll figure something out, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“And I won’t let anything happen to you, either.”
He kissed her temple, and she felt a smile form on his lips. “Look at us, having each other’s backs.”
“Always,” she whispered.
When Rowan placed a delicate kiss on her forehead, she couldn’t help but smile.
She watched stars shine in his gaze, causing her heart to burst open. “Keep doing that and I’ll fall in love.”
And so, Rowan planted another kiss on her forehead. And another one. And another one until he started pecking her cheeks and nose and jaw.
Soft giggles fled around the room. Ava pulled Rowan down, bringing her lips to his forehead. She heard him sigh, and when he looked into her eyes, that gleam swirling around the edges of his irises told her everything she needed to know.
Rowan pulled her into a long embrace, and despite that unbreakable feeling of safety in this moment, she couldn’t help but feel like their world was about to crumble down.