Chapter 13 #2
Alex tilted his head. “This is the second time in a matter of days he’s ’needed time.’”
Ava lowered her gaze to the floor. “I can’t blame him.”
“I can. He says he loves you. He wants to marry you. But anytime things don’t go his way, he needs time. He walks out. Ava–”
“That’s not fair,” she interrupted. “This situation is…way beyond the regular scope of normal couples’ problems. I mean…how often do you live with your fiancé’s husband?”
Alex shifted his weight. This conversation wasn’t going the way he hoped. Ava was making more excuses for Chris than he’d hoped. He chewed his lower lip. Should he bring up the kiss? Build on that?
“What about how he doesn’t know the real you? Is that okay? Are you going to go through the rest of your life hiding yourself from him? Because, Ava, that’s not okay.”
Her lips tugged into a frown as tears filled her eyes again. He hadn’t expected the words to hit her so hard. Regret coursed through him as he wished he could take them back.
“He just…he…”
Her features twisted as another sob escaped her. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. My life is falling apart. I don’t know which way is up.”
His breath caught as his heart began to thud again. This was his chance. He could use her wavering to present a new possibility for her. Him.
His chest tightened as he thought about saying the words. He stepped forward, his trembling hands reaching for her. “Ava…”
“No, Ace, you don’t need to…say anything…or save me from myself. You can just leave me here to cry.”
“I’m not going to do that, that’s for sure. There is no way I’m leaving you here to cry. If you want to cry, fine. You can do it while I rub your back.”
Her features squashed at the words, and she slid her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her, second guessing his decision to tell her the truth. Did she need an alternative now or just quiet care?
Was that another excuse?
He should just tell her.
“You are way too good to me, Alex.”
He wanted to be better to her. He wanted to be everything to her. “Ava, there’s something I want to tell you. I…started to tell you earlier, but then Chris interrupted us.”
She tilted her head to glance up at him. “Oh, yeah. With everything going on, I completely forgot we were in the middle of a discussion.” She shook her head. “I’m a terrible friend.”
“No,” he said, shifting a lock of her hair over her shoulder. “No, you’re definitely not that.”
His pulse quickened, his palms sweating as he prepared to bridge the chasm of silence between them. His throat tightened, words struggling against the rapid drumming of his heart. “Ava, I…”
Her forehead wrinkled as she waited for his words to come.
He swallowed hard, sweat beading on his brow as he tried to decide if he just told her he loved her or asked her if she’d consider an alternative to Chris. “The thing is, Ava…”
The slamming of the door drew his attention, interrupting his train of thoughts. Moments later, footsteps pounded up the stairs. “Ava?”
Alex’s heart stopped as he recognized Chris’s voice. What was with this guy?
Ava gasped, glancing around him at her still-open door, her muscles tightening. “Oh, no. I don’t want to talk to him right now. I’m a wreck.”
Alex’s protective instincts surged. “I’ll handle it, Avs.”
She glanced up at him, her eyes wide. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not,” he answered as he backed to the door and slipped through it, pulling it shut behind him.
With his fingers lingering on the knob, he twisted to find Chris storming toward him. “Step aside, Geek Squad, I need to talk to Ava.”
“I don’t think so,” Alex said with a shake of his head.
Chris scoffed at the words. “Seriously? Get out of the way.”
Alex barred the door with his arm. “Leave. Now.”
Chris cursed under his breath before he raised his voice. “Ava!”
“I said no,” Alex repeated.
Chris huffed out a laugh. “Wow, look at you. If you actually think this is the break you need to wheedle your way in with Ava, it’s not. I’m pretty certain she wouldn’t appreciate this.”
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
“She tell you that?” Chris asked.
Alex bobbed his head. “She did. And now I’m telling you to leave because you aren’t welcome here.”
“I want to hear it from Ava,” he said, taking another step toward the door.
“I said no. This is my house, and I’m telling you to get out. You aren’t welcome here unless Ava decides otherwise. Leave before this escalates any further.”
Chris glared at him, his jaw flexing before he backed away a few steps, poking a finger at Alex. “Fine. But this isn’t over. You’re not going to win.”
He disappeared down the stairs, his exit marked by the slamming of the door.
Alex blew out a shaky breath, sliding his eyes closed as he ran a shaky hand through his hair. In defense of Ava, he’d stood his ground, surprised by his own fierceness. But he was determined to stop Chris from hurting her anymore.
With a hard swallow, he steadied himself and opened her door.
“Okay, Avs, mission accom–”
His words cut off as he spotted her limp on the bed. He raced to her side, pulling her listless form into his arms. “Ava…Ava!”
His voice turned frantic as he patted her cheeks, failing to get any response from her.
He whipped his phone from his pocket, barely dialing the three digits he needed to call emergency services as he cradled her. “Hold on, Ava, please.”
His eyes filled with tears, the fear of losing her mingling with the frustration over all of the unspoken words. Would he never get the chance to tell her?