Page 33 of Yes, Love

“Fake Ava. Thought I saw the real you for a moment there. I liked her.” He walked toward me and placed a gentle hand on my cheek.

I scoffed and turned away, slightly disappointed that he let me.

I almost opened my mouth to tell him that I was afraid to like the real Ava but was interrupted by his phone ringing. He pulled it from his back pocket and frowned. “It’s my mate, Noah. He never calls unless something’s serious. Sorry, Ava, do you mind if I take this?”

“Not at all! I have to finish doing my hair!” I flashed him a smile and headed back to the bathroom with my outfit for the evening — a hot pink mini dress. It was the opposite reflection of my feelings, but that was just another coping mechanism. The darker I felt inside, the brighter the colors I painted on the outside.

“It was nothing. He was drunk and wondering if he should ask his girl to marry him.” Dom stood in the bathroom doorway and rolled his eyes. He shoved his hands in his pockets and studied me as I wrapped a strand of hair around my curling wand. “Ava, we don’t need to go out tonight. Let’s watch a movie and have a cuddle.”

I laughed — the fake one— and curled another strand. “That’s too much like something a real boyfriend would do, Dom.” Although, not any boyfriend I’d had recently.

“Ava.” Dominic gently removed the curling wand from my hand and set it on the bathroom counter. “Come on. I’ll order you a veggie pizza, and we can watch whatever you’d like.”

I wanted to argue. I almost did, but then I slumped against him and nodded. “Okay. This dress is really uncomfortable, and the shoes that go with it are even worse.” I unplugged my curling wand and pulled my hair into a low ponytail.

“No dress needed tonight.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “Get comfortable, Ava. I’ll order the food.”

Holy shit. Dominic Ellis was so damn sweet. I thought I might have fallen for him during sex, but now I was almost sure of it.

Seventeen

Dominic

The real Ava was like water. She slipped through my fingertips no matter how hard I tried to hold on to her. It was maddening.

But then why was I trying so hard to hold on to her anyway? We were only playing roles. This was ending soon.

So why couldn’t I keep my eyes off Ava? Why was I watching her bikini-clad body swaying to the music in the Miami sun? Why was her fake smile making me so angry? Why did I ache for a glimpse of her real one?

I watched my darling little fairy as she danced on the beach, surrounded only by stupid, horny men. I was keenly aware of the way they stared at her tits like she was an object to fuck. It made me want to give them all black eyes, friends or not. It was just as obvious that all of the girls, especially those from my season, were purposefully cold to Ava. That angered me as well.

I wanted to pull Ava away from them all and keep her safe and happy in our quiet hotel suite.

“Baby!” She called over to me. “Come dance with me!”

I forced a smile and joined her, sliding a protective arm around her waist. I’d dance, laugh, and kiss while the sun was up. I’d play my light-hearted role brilliantly for the cameras and wait for those moments when I had Ava all to myself.

“Dominic, sweetie! Come and have a chat with us!” Shannon, one of Lucy’s mates, called over to me. I didn’t miss the icy look she cast in Ava’s direction or the way Ava’s body stiffened beside me.

I tightened my hold on Ava’s waist to reassure her. “I’m busy over here, Shan. You’re welcome to join us, though.” I smiled and waved at the group of girls watching us.

Shannon rolled her eyes and turned away. Always full of drama, that one.

Ava bit her lip and cast her eyes downward before forcing one of her brightest smiles back into place.

“Ava, love,” I said. “Don’t worry about Shan. She’s being childish.”

Ava laughed — the fake one— and headed for the bar. “I’m not worried!”

Her mask was wearing thin.

***

When the parties were over and we were back in our suite, the act melted away. At night, when she scrubbed off her mask and donned nothing more than an oversized t-shirt, Ava felt real again.

I climbed into bed beside her. “Come here.” I pulled her into my arms and gazed at her clean, makeup-free face in the pale moonlight.

“Why?” Ava gazed back at me.

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