Chapter 12
AVA
Ava’s achy muscles started to relax as she pressed closer to Alex. She’d always felt security with him, an unwavering safety and acceptance. After the accident and the argument with Chris, she needed Alex.
And she wasn’t the only one who needed the closeness right now. Alex had been on edge since he’d arrived at the hospital. At first, she’d suspected it was only the upsetting phone call from the hospital. But even after seeing that she was okay, his tension hadn’t dissipated.
And he’d finally spilled the reason why. Chris had taunted him, throwing in his face that he didn’t know the real Ava.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. If anyone didn’t know the real Ava, it was Chris. She’d usually kept parts of herself hidden because he wouldn’t like them or accept them. Like her “ridiculous” topknot that wasn’t cute at her age.
The comment still bugged her. While she didn’t think her casual updo was anything spectacular, being called out on it wasn’t a nice feeling.
She wondered how he’d take her aging and how hard she would have to work to remain attractive to him.
Fortunately, Alex could always set her at ease and make her laugh. Things were so easy between them. Maybe because they were just friends.
But his offer to read her favorite book in the last year warmed her heart. Whether he did it or not, at least he’d offered.
Chris had spotted it on her reader and rolled his eyes, his feelings on it clear.
Just as her spirits had started to lift, Alex’s phone rang. He dug it from his pocket. “It’s Barry.”
She leaned away from him as he sat up, taking the call. The color drained from his face as whatever Barry told him hit hard.
Ava rubbed his back again, waiting to hear the news.
“Y-yeah, thanks, Barry,” Alex said, his voice shaky.
He swallowed hard as he ended the call, his hands trembling again.
“Hey, what happened?”
He twisted to face her, his features pinching. “Avs…”
“What is it?”
His breathing turned ragged. “It’s Simon…he’s dead.”
A cold heat washed over her, her jaw falling open at the words. “What?”
Alex leapt from his seat, running a trembling hand through his hair. “I can’t believe this.”
Ava rose, wincing as her ribs pulled.
Alex raced to her side, easing her back onto the couch. “Easy, Avs. You need to rest.”
“And so do you, but you’re obviously stressed.
First Chris, then the accident, and now this.
” Ava shook her head as emotions fought within her.
She tried to shove the chaos away, focusing on the logical aspects of the case.
“He said someone was after him. He said he’d received a threatening note, but that someone had taken it. ”
Alex perched on the edge of the couch. “How could they get to him in jail? Who are these people?”
“We’re going to find out,” Ava promised.
“Avs, no,” he answered, twisting to face her. “No. You could have been killed. There is no way I want you risking your life for this.”
“And I’m not leaving you alone to deal with it.”
He grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “I don’t want you to leave me alone, either, but…Ava…this is getting dangerous.”
She bobbed her head. “Yes, it is. And now we know how dangerous. We’re going to need to step up our game with safety. And with investigating. We have been way too soft on these people. We need to start digging.”
“Ava, I’m worried. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’m concerned digging aggressively paints a huge target on our backs.”
“Then we’ll be careful. But we’re too deep into this now. Running and hiding is not an option.”
He stared at her for a moment before he pulled her into a hug, gently enough to not hurt her ribs.
“We’re in this together,” she said as they slid apart.
Alex’s features pinched as he grabbed her hands in his. “I’m glad you said that because…Ava…”
Alex’s voice broke, and he hesitated, licking his lips.
“What is it, Alex? Is it something Chris said?”
“No, it’s…Ava, there’s something we need to talk about.”
Ava’s stomach twisted into a knot at the words. He’d been acting odd all night, tense, nervous, agitated. Her mind conjured the image of Alex with Miranda, her nose wrinkling at it. Was he about to drop the bombshell that they were involved?
And if so, why did it bother her so much? The very idea ripped her heart out.
Her features scrunched. “Are you…”
Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to finish the statement. “Are you seeing Miranda?”
His features registered shock. “No. No, no, no,” he rambled, his words gushing out. “Ava, no. I…I told you. I went to see if she could give me any information. That’s it. I swear to you, Ava. I don’t have any interest in her at all.”
Ava pressed her lips together, the words soothing her, though she felt guilty that she’d even had the thought. Despite the ring around her finger, she had no right to dictate his life.
“Hey, Avs, now you’re the one who seems stressed.”
She flicked her gaze to him, conflicting thoughts fighting for real estate in her mind. “I just…I don’t know.”
She let her gaze fall to her lap as tears stung her eyes.
“Hey, what is it?”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean that to sound so accusatory. I know it’s not my right–”
“It’s totally your right,” he interrupted.
Her lower lip bobbed as she tried to form words to reply to a statement that didn’t make sense. “Ace…”
“Avs, I’m serious. You are the smartest woman I know. And if you don’t trust her, then I don’t either. I’m not seeing her. I’m not involved with her. I’m…not. I told you that. Do you not believe me?”
Ava’s brow furrowed as she stared up at him. “I…do. I’m so sorry that it seemed like I didn’t. I just thought…”
“What? That I completely ignored what you said?”
“No…I thought you didn’t want to tell me, but you were about to confess.”
His voice dropped to a whisper. “That’s not what I was about to say.”
“Okay?” She swallowed hard as she waited for him to speak again.
Alex sucked in a shaky breath, licking his lips again. “Uh, Ava, there’s something I really should have said a long time ago. And this isn’t the best time with everything going on, but…”
He raised his eyes to hers, searching her face. What was he looking for?
“It’s okay, Alex. Just say what you need to say. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.”
His gaze fell to his lap. “Gosh, I hope so.”
“Hey, I promise. We’ll get through it together.” She rubbed his arm.
He nodded, blowing out long exhale. “Okay. Ava…the thing is…I–”
The sliding glass door rolled open, stopping his statement.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything too heartfelt here, but we really need to wrap this up. Time to face reality, Ava.” Chris sighed as he slid the door closed.
She straightened, annoyed with the interruption. “You are.”
“Well, that’s too bad. I think you’ve had plenty of time. We really should get going.”
“I already told you, we’re not leaving,” Ava answered. “Not now. We’re too far into this, and we can’t leave Alex.”
“No, you can’t leave Alex,” Chris shot back.
She lifted her chin. “No, I won’t. If you want to go home, I understand.”
Chris stretched his neck, his jaw flexing. “So, this is a unilateral decision? I have no say in this?”
“You have every say, Chris. But you can’t tell me to leave.”
“As a couple, you’d think my opinion matters.” Chris spread his arms. ‘But I guess it doesn’t.”
“That’s not true,” Ava said with a shake of her head. “Alex, can you give us a minute?”
Alex flicked his gaze from Ava to Chris, then back to Ava before he swallowed hard. “Okay.”
He rose from his seat, eyeing her for another second before he shuffled from the room.
Ava forced herself to stand despite the pain still throbbing in her ribs.
“Look, Ava, I was very clear–” Chris started when she interrupted him.
“So was I. I told you that I had promised Alex I’d help him with this.”
“That was before you were nearly killed.”
“All the more reason for me to stay.”
Chris frowned, sliding his eyes sideways. “And I assume that he fed you some line about his little secret meeting with Miranda.”
“He told me she promised him information. He went to see if she could give us any leads.”
Chris threw his head back with laughter. “Oh, right. Yes, I’m sure. Gosh, he really buffaloes you, Ava.”
“He is not lying to me, Chris. I know–”
“Right, right, you know him. He’s your bestie.” Chris pumped his fist across his chest. “When are you going to wake up, Ava?”
“I’m awake, Chris! I’m not sure you are. We’re in the middle of a pretty complex situation.”
“It’s not–”
“Simon’s dead,” she shouted.
He froze, his eyes shifted to hers as his brow furrowed. “What?”
“Simon Blackburn is dead. He wasn’t lying about the threat he received, and now he’s gone.”
“All the more reason that we should get out of here.”
“And abandon Alex…no.”
Chris pressed his lips together, shaking his head.
“I know you don’t believe him, but what’s aggravating here is that you don’t believe me either.”
“That’s not true,” Chris answered, “but every time you defend him, you choose Alex over us. Can’t you see that?”
“It is true, whether you realize it or not. Every time you tell me he’s lying, every time you say I’m being snowed, it says you don’t believe me, or trust me, or believe in me.” She shrugged. “If that’s how you feel, what are you doing here anyway? Why is this ring on my finger?”
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?” her voice squeaked as she wrapped her arms around her midriff. “Because what I don’t think is fair is that you constantly tell me how little you think of me.”
“Ava–”
“No, don’t tell me that’s not true, because it is.” Tears stung her eyes as she flicked her gaze to her feet.
His voice softened as he stepped closer toward her. “It’s not true, Ava. It’s not. I…I’m sorry if you think I don’t trust you, I do. I just…I wish you could see how this looks from my view.”
“I wish you could see Alex from mine. I think…I think you two got off on the wrong foot. And, by the way, what you did to him earlier tonight wasn’t cool.”