Chapter 12 #2
Me: Worse. He’s my new neighbor. And my father’s star player. And I slept with him again. And now it’s a mess. ??
There’s a pause, and then my phone rings.
It’s a FaceTime call.
I answer, and two boxes appear on screen, one with each of their faces inside. Lexie looks scandalized, but Kayla, true to form, looks delighted.
“Start at the beginning,” Lexie demands. “Don’t leave anything out.”
I tell them everything. The date. Our hookup. Dinner at Adam’s house, where I discovered Knox is basically his surrogate son. The driveway confrontation where I ended things.
It all just spills out of me, and it’s a relief to get it off my chest. By the time I tell them about the phone call from Adam, my impulsive lie almost sounds logical.
Which is how I know I’ve completely lost the plot.
“So let me get this straight,” Lexie says, her tone all business. “You’ve been holding out on us for over a week, you found the guy from Cancún, you had amazing sex, and then you dumped him because of your job and your dad?”
It sounds totally unhinged when she puts it like that.
“That’s the gist of it.”
“So now he’s bringing a date to your dad’s house, and you told your dad you’re bringing a date too, except you don’t actually have a date?”
“Correct.”
Kayla laughs, her eyes shining. “This is the most chaotic thing ever, and I am here for it.”
“Well, I’m not.” I groan. “I’m completely screwed. What am I going to do?”
“You’re not going to do anything,” Lexie says matter-of-factly. “We’re going to hire you an escort.”
I blink. “What?”
“An escort,” she repeats. “It’s perfectly normal in big cities like Atlanta. People hire them for events when they need a plus-one on short notice.”
“Lexie, I cannot take an escort to meet my father!”
“Why not?” Kayla shrugs. “It’s not like you have to marry him. You just need someone to show up, act charming, and make Knox jealous.”
“This isn’t about making Knox jealous,” I protest weakly.
Lexie raises an eyebrow. “Isn’t it, though?”
I open my mouth to argue, but the words don’t come.
She’s right. This is absolutely about making Knox jealous. Or at least not looking like a pathetic third wheel while he has a gorgeous dinner date.
“There is no way I’m letting Knox one-up you at your own father’s house,” Lexie says firmly.
“It’s not a competition.”
“What is life but one big competition?” Lexie shoots back.
Kayla laughs. “She’s got a point.”
I groan and drop my head into my hands. “This is insane.”
“Maybe,” Kayla says. “But it’s also kind of brilliant. Look, you need a date, and we can get you one. Problem solved.”
“Do you have any special requirements?” Lexie asks, pulling out her tablet and tapping the screen. “Height? Hair color? Personality type?”
“I don’t know!” I throw up my hands. “I’ve never hired an escort before.”
“Wait, tell me what website you’re on,” Kayla says, tapping on her screen. “I want to look too.”
Lexie rattles off the URL, and in less than a minute, they’re scrolling for escorts.
Kayla grins. “Ooh, Giuseppe is cute. He’s Italian, probably has a killer accent, and he likes to cook. We like guys who cook, right?”
“Kayla, it’s not a real date, and besides, my father will be doing all the cooking.”
“How about Sean?” Lexie wiggles her brows suggestively. “He’s a professional masseuse. Maybe you can get a happy ending.” She pauses, cocking her head thoughtfully. “Is that what it’s called when a woman gets it in on the massage table?”
“I am not paying someone for sexual favors!”
“Spoilsport,” Kayla chirps at the same time Lexie says, “Technically, we’re paying.”
I stare at them, my brain struggling to process what’s happening.
This is my life now. I’m bringing an escort to dinner at my father’s house so I don’t look pathetic in front of the man I’m in lo—
No. No, I am not in love with Knox. I can’t be. We were only…whatever we were…for a day. One freaking day. It’s not possible.
But even as I think it, I can feel the truth.
I’ve been a little in love with him since Cancún. Since the moment he made me laugh on that beach and showed me how good physical connection could be with the right person. With someone smart, funny, and patient. Someone who enjoys putting in the effort and gives as good as they get.
And now I’ve lost him. I’ll never know if what I feel for him could’ve grown into something real.
“Ava?” Kayla’s voice pulls me back to the present. “You still with us?”
“Yeah.” I sigh. “I’m here.”
“So?” Lexie prompts. “Are we doing this?”
I take a deep breath and nod. “Yeah. You can pick the guy and send me the details.”
“That’s my girl.” Lexie grins. “I’ll send you the link once it’s booked.”
“Thanks,” I say, my voice small.
“Hey.” Kayla’s normally enthusiastic tone is gentle. “It’s going to be okay. You’re going to show up to that dinner with a sexy man on your arm, and Knox is going to regret ever letting you go.”
I want to believe her—I do—but as we end the call, all I can think about is the look on Knox’s face when I told him it was over.
The hurt. The desperation. The way he was so certain fate brought us back together for a reason.
And still, I shut him down.
No matter how crappy I feel right now, I have no one to blame but myself. I’m the one who ended it. I’m the one who’s been avoiding him. I’m the one who’s too scared to fight for what I want because I’m terrified of losing everything.
Now I have to live with the consequences.
I set my phone down and look around my bathroom. The pink ring in the toilet bowl mocks me with its presence, and when I look in the mirror, my reflection is as wrecked as I feel.
Welcome to rock bottom, Ava.
I stand and grab my gloves, pulling them back on with a sigh.
If I’m going to survive this dinner, I need to pull myself together, even if that means hiring an escort and pretending everything is fine.
God knows I’ve done stupider things—like fall for my one-night stand.