Chapter 11
ALEX
Alex shifted his weight from foot to foot as he peered again through the semi-frosted glass that closed off Ava’s hospital room.
Chris had insisted on a private moment with Ava, and she’d given in to him. He didn’t blame her, but it had broken his heart when she’d asked him to leave.
The bothersome builder had made it clear he was no longer a part of Ava’s life. And he wasn’t wrong. They’d grown apart. That had been his fault.
He never should have let her go. He should have told her earlier.
He tried to imagine his life if he could go back and do things over. What if he had told her the night it had occurred to him during their college study session?
His mind recreated the evening and the moment he’d glanced at her, her genuine laughter bubbling. He’d realized in that instant how he felt. He’d known she was everything he’d ever wanted.
He had been in love with Ava Collins since that very day. And he’d said nothing.
In his mind’s eye, he changed that. He leaned closer to her, sliding a hand across her cheek and twisting her to face him. Her sparkling seafoam eyes glanced at him, questioning.
“I love you, Ava,” he said before he leaned in for a kiss.
Would it have led to them happily married?
He ripped himself from the warm non-memory with a shake of his head. He hadn’t been brave enough to say anything. And now he suffered because of it.
“You’re an idiot, Alex,” he said.
Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He stood by, peering through the glass as her fiancé spoke with her after insisting he would take care of her.
From what he understood, Chris Maxwell didn’t dirty his hands with anything except a perfect version of Ava.
Since he’d arrived unexpectedly, he’d commented constantly on everything he didn’t like about her.
From preferring her hair “done” to casually swept up into the floppy topknot she loved to sport while gaming to insisting she wear a certain set of pajamas, he hadn’t appreciated any aspect of casual, laid-back Ava.
And now, he’d insisted that wasn’t the real Ava. Had she changed that much? She seemed to still enjoy everything they’d loved in the past. Was she merely humoring him?
He paced the hall outside of her room, tugging at his hoodie as his doubts gnawed at him.
A nurse scurried past him toward the desk, and he followed her, unable to contain his energy. “Hi, I’m Ava Collins’s husband. Do you know when her discharge papers will be ready? I want to take her home.”
“Let me check,” she said as she plopped into her chair and tapped on the keyboard. “Looks like we have everything we need. I just need to print these and go over all the instructions with you both.”
“Ah, can I get all the instructions? She’s visiting with her…brother, and he’s kind of…difficult. I just want to take her home as soon as they’re finished.”
The woman rolled back to the printer and grabbed a stack of sheets, smacking them against the desk before she stapled them.
“Sure, I understand. She’s lucky to have such a caring husband.”
He smiled at her, hoping those words were true.
“Okay, basic stuff. Your wife has been diagnosed with a concussion, sprained wrist, and bruised ribs. Over-the-counter pain relievers as needed. Rest, fluids, ice on the wrist. Any excruciating pain, slurred speech, confusion, disorientation, bring her back to the emergency room. Otherwise, follow up with her regular doctor in ten days.”
“Got it,” he said as he took the papers. “I’ll make sure she does all of this.”
“All right, you’re all ready to go then. You can take her home whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks,” he said before he strode back to her room.
She and Chris continued to talk inside. He eyed them through the glass door as she stared at something on his phone. His heart pounded against his ribs. Should he burst into the room and tell her they could leave?
He’d risk the wrath of Chris. But as long as he didn’t risk the wrath of Ava, he didn’t care. He weighed it in his head before he decided she’d want to go home.
He hesitated at the door, his hand trembling slightly as it hovered over the handle. With a deep breath designed to steel his nerves, he gently slid the door open and stepped inside, his voice soft yet carrying a hopeful note. “Hey, Avs, you’re free.”
“Ah, perfect timing, Geek Squad,” Chris answered as he snatched the papers from Alex’s hands. “Let’s get you to the hotel.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes going wide as his gaze flicked to Ava. “Hotel?”
“Chris–”
“Ava, this is not up for debate,” Chris answered as he scanned the papers. “Okay, looks like you basically just need some rest, but there’s no reason we can’t go home tomorrow.”
“Go home? You’re leaving.” Panic sent Alex’s pulse racing.
“No,” Ava said with a shake of her head.
“Yes,” Chris insisted. “This little game is over. Ava could have been seriously hurt.”
Alex tried to cross closer to her bed, but Chris blocked him. “Yeah, I know that.”
“I hope you’re happy.”
“Of course, I’m not. What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about how you set this all up. I’m talking about how this is all your doing, and it stops now.”
Alex’s features pinched as he flicked a concerned glance Ava’s way. Did she believe this?
“Chris–” she began when he cut her off with a wave of his hand, his eyes fixed on Alex.
“No, Ava. You saw the pictures.”
“And I agree we need to talk about them. But I did not agree to going to a hotel, and I certainly didn’t agree to go home tomorrow.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed, reaching for the bag containing her clothes.
Alex’s heart continued to pound against his ribs as he tried to reach for them to help her, but Chris stopped him again. “I don’t think so. Stay away from her.”
Ava sighed as she finally latched onto the bag. “Chris, that’s enough.”
“No, Ava, I don’t think it is.” He shook his head, glancing over his shoulder at her before he flicked his gaze back to Alex. “You need to leave.”
Fear ate away at Alex as the situation spiraled out of control. What was happening?
“Chris, I said that’s enough,” Ava insisted, her voice raising as she rose, tugging up her pants under her hospital gown.
She winced, grabbing her ribs. Alex reached toward her, but Chris knocked his hand away.
“She’s hurting, stop being an idiot,” Alex warned, his voice shaky.
“I’m not the one being an idiot. And now Ava knows exactly what kind of game you’re playing.”
“Stop it. We’re not having this discussion in the hospital. Let me finish getting dressed so we can go home.”
“No, Ava. I’m not going back to that house. If you insist on talking to him about what he’s been up to, fine. Call him from the hotel.” He set his fiery gaze on Alex again. “Otherwise, you’re not getting anywhere near her.”
With another wince and a groan, she shimmied into her top under her gown before she ripped it off and tossed it on the bed. “You both need to calm down.”
Chris spread his hands, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of unrest. “I’m completely calm. But I’m tired of him pushing the boundaries with you.”
“I’m just trying to help her,” Alex pleaded.
Ava set her gaze on him, her eyes flickering with upset and another emotion he couldn’t read. He swallowed hard, wondering if it was anger. Was it aimed at him? “We are going back to Alex’s, and that is the end of the discussion.”
The finality in her voice made Chris finally twist to face her. “Fine. You can talk to him while I pack our stuff.”
Alex’s lips parted as his heart continued to hammer. What did they need to discuss? What had happened?
Ava grabbed her purse and stepped around the bed toward them. Alex reached for her again, and Chris held his hand up. “Uh-uh-uh, no. She’ll ride with me.”
“I was going to carry her purse,” Alex said quietly, his confidence knocked as the tense standoff continued.
“Thanks, Alex,” Ava answered as she held it out toward him.
He offered her a fleeting smile but the creases in his forehead stayed put as he took the bag from her.
“Let’s go,” Chris said, palming his keys as he wrapped an arm around her waist and led her from the room.
They left the hospital behind, climbing into their respective vehicles in the parking lot.
Alex glanced in his rearview mirror nonstop as he drove home, his agitation building.
The night had been difficult enough with Ava’s accident and now the tension coupled with Chris’s insistence that they leave.
His stomach twisted in knots as he weaved through the streets to his beachfront property.
He waited for them as they pulled into the drive, opening Ava’s door once Chris eased the car to a stop.
He tore out of the vehicle, his features taut. “You really don’t learn, do you?”
“That’s enough, Chris.”
“Whatever. I’ll be upstairs packing.” He darted into the house in front of them, taking the stairs two by two.
Ava sighed, sliding her eyes closed as she shuffled inside.
“Avs?” Alex asked, his voice shaky and his posture stiff.
“Would you mind grabbing me some water and two aspirin?”
He bobbed his head, his chest tight with apprehension. “Sure. Yeah.”
She nodded at him before she meandered toward the living room. He raced up the stairs, hastening to his bathroom to retrieve the pain killers before he dashed back downstairs and grabbed a bottle of water.
“Here you go,” he said as he swept into the room, finding her on the couch. He eased onto the cushion next to her.
“Thanks,” she answered, accepting the pills from him before he cracked open the water and shifted it toward her.
The tremor in his hand caused water to spill from the bottle, dousing Ava with a cold bath.
His lower lip trembled as he shot up to stand again, desperately searching for something to dry her. “Oh! I’m sorry.”
She downed the pills before she brushed the water away. “Alex, hey, Alex…”
He glanced to her, terror in his eyes.