I didn’t know what Avery was up to, but if it meant finding a way to get this job done, and the chance to see her again, then I was game. Tonight had only reminded me of just how much I missed her. This might be my only chance to redeem myself—though how exactly I was going to manage that, I didn’t have a clue.
“What are you thinking, Avery?” I didn’t know how she could possibly help, but she was one of the smartest people I’d ever met, and if anyone could help me figure this out, it’d be her.
“I don’t know just yet. Give me some time to mull this over and figure it out.” She looked distracted—a look I knew all too well on her. It meant she was running through one scenario after another, trying to look at all the angles of a problem to try to find a solution, thinking through the issue, not just at its core, but how it would all unravel and unfold once all the pieces were in motion. “I’ll be in touch.”
I didn’t have to ask her if she had my number, since even if it had changed—which it hadn’t—she’d have her ways of finding me. Not that she had bothered to reach out to me since our split—and I’d stayed away, knowing that she hated me. “Let me see you to your door.”
“No. I’d rather you didn’t.” Her response was immediate, making me wonder if there was something going on—or rather, someone she’d rather not have to explain my presence to, after she’d spent the evening with me. “Like I said. I’ll be in touch.”
Yet I couldn’t just let her go.
I hadn’t expected to run into her at GTC, and being caught off guard like that meant that I hadn’t had the chance to figure this all out logically. I was running on pure emotions—and it was like a fucking rollercoaster ride.
I grabbed her arm, before she could get to the door. “Avery...I’ve fucking missed you.”
“What the hell am I supposed to say to that, Dane? You fucking broke my heart. Do you know what it was like to walk in and find you fucking someone else? And it didn’t even slow you down.” She shook her head, her tears slipping down her cheeks. “You didn’t even fucking stop. Just glanced over your shoulder at me.”
It felt like the weight of my guilt might crush me. “I know...”
She glared at me, her anger pouring off her in waves. “You know what? Just fuck off. Forget all of this. And if I find out you’re anywhere near GTC, I’m having your ass thrown in jail.”
She got out of my car, slamming the door behind her—but I was right on her tail. I couldn’t let her walk away—for so many damn reasons. I caught up with her before she got to the steps of her porch, grabbing her hand and pulling her into my arms. “I know you hate me—and I don’t blame you. I won’t ask for your help—but I am going to have to ask you to look the other way. I have no choice, Avery.”
“Let go of me, Dane.” She struggled against my grip, but I couldn’t let her go. Not when I had her in my arms once more...not when she could ruin everything and put my family in danger. “You do not get to walk back into my life and tell me what to do—and you sure as shit don’t get to drag me into your mess. I went straight years ago, and have worked damn hard to keep my life on track. I don’t need you derailing it.”
I didn’t know what the hell to do about this mess—so I did the only thing I could think of...the thing that I’d played over and over in my head these last four years. I caught her mouth in a kiss that had my body, my soul, my heart, coming alive, my tongue clashing with hers until she stopped fighting what was between us, kissing me back as the years between us slipped away.
By the time we broke away from our kiss, my breathing was ragged and it was all I could do to tamp down my need for her, which only served to remind me that I’d lost the most precious thing I’d ever had. “I still love you, Avery.”
She shook her head no, and started to pull away when the front door to her home was pulled open and some guy stepped out onto the porch. “Avery...you okay? What’s going on?”
Fuck. My jealousy flared inside my chest, even though I knew I had no claim on her. Except that in my heart, she’d always be mine.
Without a word, she pulled away and ran up the steps to her porch, pausing to say something to the guy, their heads bent together, for a moment. She then slipped past him, disappearing into her home as the guy glared at me, making his point, before following her inside and slamming the door shut behind him.
I growled out my anger and jealousy into the night sky, fucking hating my life at the moment. It felt like I had no control over anything anymore—from Stubbs blackmailing me into this asinine job, to the way Avery made me feel. The last thing I wanted was to have to deal with my past fuck-ups and my broken heart. And I sure as hell didn’t need to be reminded of all that I’d lost.
Not that I wasn’t happy to see Avery again, even if she still hated me.
I climbed in behind the wheel and headed home, needing a stiff drink before I attempted to figure out what the hell I was going to do next. The moment I opened the front door to my home, I was besieged by paws, fur, and wagging tails.
As frustrated and angry as I was, I had to push it all aside, not wanting the pups to pick up on my emotions. They were all rescues from the shelter my mom volunteered at, and most of them had lived troubling lives. The last thing I wanted to do was stress them out in any way, even if they knew they were now safe.
I crouched down and took my time petting them, before letting them out into the backyard and then getting them fed. And though they were a good distraction, there was no avoiding the mess I was in—and there was little chance I’d be forgetting about Avery any time soon.
Seeing her again had definitely left me rattled, dredging up all my past mistakes, and tearing open wounds that had never really healed. Not that I could blame her for hating me. I still thought of that night...thought of the look on her face...thought of what a fucking asshole I’d been.
I didn’t deserve her—though I’d bet that the jerk she was living with didn’t deserve her either.
Fuck... I hated that she’d moved on, when I knew damn well that I’d never get over her.
Served me right after what I did to her.
And yet, when I’d kissed her...she’d kissed me back, her soft curves yielding to my body and our time apart evaporating in the heat of our kiss.
I went to grab myself a whiskey, but before I’d even poured myself a glass, I found myself turning around, my mind made up as I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.