Chapter 14
Avery
I didn’t want to be alone, so after I went home long enough to shower, cry a little, and pack a new bag, I went straight to my parents’ house.
Without any details, they could tell something was off with me.
I didn’t give them the full story of what happened, but I did let them know I’d gotten distracted, rearranged my priorities, and had to deal with the consequences of it.
As much as I didn’t want to hear Jessica’s mouth, I texted her and told her she was right.
What I had with Ali wasn’t real, and just as fast as it started, it was over.
I snuggled up with the teddy bear my daddy had gotten me to boost my spirits when there was a light tap on the door.
I told whoever it was to come in thinking it was one of my parents, but it was Jessica.
She came in with puppy dog eyes and a to-go bag from my favorite restaurant, but I didn’t have an appetite.
“I’m sorry, pooh,” were the first words out of her mouth.
“You want to rub being right in my face?” I asked, sitting up in bed.
“Not at all. I didn’t want to be right, and I don’t think I am right. What happened?”
I told her everything that happened. By the time I was done, her expression was even sadder as she held my hand. Though I didn’t shed any more tears, I couldn’t deny how disappointed I was over how things played out.
“And what makes it worse is Laya suspended me. She says I was handling personal affairs on the company’s expense account.
I feel like the only reason she didn’t fire me was because I offered to pay the hotel, food, and gas bills.
Plus, the article wasn’t written and published, so that saved me too. ”
My head shook as I realized just how much I’d risked to be with Ali, and he didn’t even give me the decency of the benefit of the doubt.
“I hate this,” Jessica said, rubbing my hand with her thumb. “It seemed like he really liked you and he just . . . snapped. Understandably so. It wasn’t fair of him to accuse you of that and not hear you out though.”
“Yeah. I feel like we could’ve resolved the issue if he would’ve just taken the time to hear me out. I understand what he’s gone through, so I was more than willing to give him grace. I wish he would have done the same.”
“Have you heard from him?”
My head shook as I absently looked down at my phone. “No. I blocked him.” Picking up my phone, I was surprised to see I had an email from him. “Oh shit. He emailed me.”
“What does it say?”
I read the email aloud then tossed my phone back onto the bed, unsure how to feel. A piece of me was happy that he’d acknowledged he was wrong and reached out, but another part of me didn’t want to start a cycle of paying for his exes’ mistakes.
“Are you going to reply?” Jessica asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll let him apologize and have a conversation with him, but I don’t think it’ll go anywhere beyond that.”
Jessica chuckled. “Yeah, right. As much as you like that man, I’m pretty sure you’re going to give him a second chance.”
I smiled and decided not to respond either way. Stranger things had happened. For now, my heart was still bruised and too tender to consider giving Ali access to it again, but who knew if that would be the case in the future.
One Month Later
I should have known Jessica was up to no good when she randomly decided she wanted to take a road trip.
Since I hadn’t started working again, I had nothing but free time.
My suspension still wasn’t up, but I decided not to return to The Force.
I felt like Laya just didn’t want to fire me, but it was going to happen eventually.
During my time with Ali in Jasper Lane, I shared with him my goal of having my own multimedia company.
Being a journalist was supposed to be a steppingstone. I wanted my own magazine and eventually my own publishing company and streaming network. I thought back to how Ali and I talked about him writing a book under my company and how we’d shake the publishing world up as a power couple.
What a dream that was.
Jessica told me we were going to Rose Valley Hills, yet as we rode past the Welcome to Jasper Lane sign, I realized she was driving in the opposite direction. I looked over at her, and there was a smile on her face.
“Jessie?” I called, sitting up in my seat.
“Hmm?”
“Where are we going?”
“I fibbed a little. We’re not going to Rose Valley Hills. Well, I am. You’re not.”
“What?” I shrieked. “How does that even make sense? Where are you taking me?”
“Relax! I promise you’re going to love me for this.”
Growling, I folded my arms over my chest. “This better not be a set up. I haven’t talked to Ali in a month, and I don’t want to be bombarded.”
“Well, get ready, because I’m taking you to your man.”
“Jessica!” I yelled, pinching her thigh.
“Ow, girl! That shit hurt!” Her laugh made me chuckle as I groaned.
“I can’t believe you. I don’t want to see him.”
“Lie again. You know you miss that man.”
I couldn’t deny that, so I remained silent as I rolled my eyes.
If he’d reached out to her to get to me, that must have meant he was done with his book.
I hadn’t unblocked his number, but I didn’t block his email address.
He’d sent me a friend request on Facebook before I left Jasper Lane, and since me and Jessica talked on there all the time and tagged each other, it wouldn’t have been hard for him to connect with her.
As much as I hated to admit it, a part of me was happy to know he hadn’t forgotten about me. And another part of me was excited about seeing him again. I didn’t know how things would end between us, but I was looking forward to seeing his handsome face and those lazy eyes.
When we pulled into an office building parking lot, confusion and curiosity swirled within me. For some reason, I assumed our first stop would be Ali’s home.
“Where are we?” I asked skeptically, looking over at her as she parked.
“I won’t leave until you give me permission to, but I’m going to sit in the car. Have an open mind and an open heart, pooh.”
More than anything, it was curiosity that had me getting out of the car and walking to the front door.
When I walked inside, the front area was completely empty, but there was a trail of rose petals that led me down the hall toward the elevators.
I stepped inside, and there was a sticky note telling me to go to level five, which was the top floor.
On level five, there were more rose petals on the marble floor, leading me to a large office with long, glass windows and a glass door.
Stepping inside, I covered my mouth as it hung open at the sight before me.
Not only did Ali look good as hell standing there in all white, hands cupped in the center of him, but the room was decorated beautifully with roses, candles, and balloons.
In one corner, a man played a violin with a woman standing next to him.
In another corner, there were two chairs.
Slowly, I made my way over to Ali as the woman began to sing “Lovesong” by Adele.
Ali’s hand extended, and I connected our fingers, allowing him to pull me close.
“What’s this?” I asked sweetly, eyes watering.
“If this was a book or movie, it would be a grand gesture, but in our reality, it’s my apology.
My amends. It wasn’t fair for me to punish you for anyone else’s actions, and for that, I am truly sorry.
” When he kneeled, I gritted my teeth to keep from shedding tears.
“I should have trusted you enough to hear you out.
“You didn’t deserve me lashing out at you, and if you give me another chance, I promise it won’t ever happen again.” After kissing my hands, Ali stood. “I want to prove that I trust you, because I feel like that’s the only way you’ll feel safe coming back to me.”
“H-how do you plan on doing that?” I asked weakly.
“Well . . . first, by letting you interview me.” My mouth dropped before I smiled widely, and he mirrored it. “If you still want to.” He motioned toward the chairs, and I noticed one had a legal pad on top. “I figured that’s the best way for me to show you that I trust you.”
“But I quit. Well, technically I was suspended and I just never went back.”
I chuckled and hung my head briefly until his hand used my chin to lift it.
“I was thinking you could publish the article in your own magazine. What better debut than a feature on me, my ten year anniversary, and my first book-to-film deal?” His hand motioned around the office.
“This is yours. The whole building, not just this office.”
My knees buckled as the weight of what he’d done settled within me.
When I told him I wanted my own magazine and publishing company when we talked about our future goals, I never thought he’d do something like this to help me make that happen.
“I wanted to show you that I support you, that I believe you in, just like you supported and believed in me. So I bought this building for you. One level can be for your magazine, the other for your publishing company, and whatever else you wanted to do in here.” His eyes returned to mine.
“I know this doesn’t completely erase how things ended between us, but I just wanted you to know if you came back to me, life and love would be waiting here for you, and so is the opportunity for you to start your own company. ”
Cupping my cheeks, I looked around again before melting into a fit of giggles.
I really didn’t have any expectations when I came in, but I certainly wasn’t expecting him to gift me with a building for my own company and agree to do an interview.
My first magazine issue was going to be bomb; I could see it already.
I wouldn’t just highlight him but other creatives from Memphis as well.
Making my way into his arms, I finally allowed my tears to fall.
“I don’t have the adequate words to express how happy and grateful I am, baby,” I confessed, resting my forehead on his.
“All I need to hear is that you’ll take me back. That you’ll stay with me.”
“Of course I will. I’m so happy. I missed you so much. Thank you, Ali. I’m really in shock.”
Chuckling, he picked me up and buried his face in my neck before kissing it. “I missed you too. Thank you for coming back to me.”
I held him tighter as I cried harder. This man had really set me up to live my dream.
Not only that, but he apologized and took accountability for his actions.
I missed him far too much to go without him any longer.
I couldn’t wait to get back to us and being able to do so while starting my own magazine was still too crazy for me to believe.
This really was my happily ever after.
Tonight, I saw why Ali didn’t like going out in public.
To continue to celebrate my return, he made us dinner reservations at the hottest steakhouse in town.
Thankfully, he’d hired security. We were approached by readers, social media influencers, women who acted like I didn’t exist, and people who thought he could help put them on in the entertainment industry.
I was overwhelmed by the time we left the restaurant, and I could only imagine how he felt.
Regardless of how socially drained he was, Ali soldiered on to ensure I had a great time.
We went downtown to listen to live music and dance the night away, and by the time we made it home, I was tired and sore in the best way.
“I get it now,” I said as we climbed into bed. “Why you went ghost,” I continued. “I can only imagine how many people approached you in Memphis if they came at you like this in a small town. Add to that rumors and paparazzi and accusations . . . whew. I don’t know if I could handle it.”
Ali’s arm wrapped around me as we got comfortable in the center of the bed.
“Yeah, tonight wasn’t nearly as bad as it used to be thankfully. I’d deal with it for you though. If I’m going to give you the world, I can at least start with a night out on the town.”
Smiling, I looked up at him. “I don’t need the world, baby. Just you.”
“I believe you mean that, and that makes me want to give you more. I love you, Avery.”
It didn’t matter how much I tried to blink them away, my tears still fell. “I love you too, Ali.”
Ali took the time to kiss away my tears, and that only made me release more.
Our lips connected, and not long after, our centers.
Slow sideways strokes, deep, hard back strokes, me swiftly riding him.
All night, our bodies reintroduced themselves to each other, as if an eternity had passed since they’d last become one.
Tonight, our lovemaking felt different.
Tonight, it felt like we were tying our souls.
Tonight, it felt like the beginning of our forever.