Page 30 of Chasing his Ex

“Not princesses,” I ask with wide eyes.

“No, I want to save animals and be a vet when I’m bigger, not a princess.”

“I’ll remember that,” I say, picking up a book. “Would teddy like this book?”

“Yes, I’ll sit on your knee and teddy can sit on mine,” she says. “Because teddy might not be happy sitting on your knee until he knows you better.”

“You’re already good with animals,” I say.

“I am, but teddy isn’t an animal, silly. Teddy is ... teddy.”

From then I read a book to Emmy and teddy.

After we sit and eat a dinner of chicken and vegetables together, I really want to pick Emmy up and give her a cuddle. My itchy hands are desperate to do that, but I also don’t want to outstay my welcome and by the look on Stella’s face, I have a feeling she’s thinking the same.

“I need to go now,” I tell Emmy.

Stella gives me a smile. I expect she’s desperate to call her sister and let her know she can come home.

“Not yet, Finn,” Emmy whines. “We haven’t watched the movie yet.”

“Maybe in a couple of days, I’ll come back if your mom is okay with that.”

Chapter 14

Ava

Dressed in a smart gray suit and crisp white blouse for an important meeting I have today. A meeting that could propel me to the next level in the company. I’ve meticulously applied my makeup. Every strand of my golden blonde hair is combed into a high, slick ponytail, and on the outside, I look formidable and professional. As long as nobody cracks open the outer layer, nobody will be any wiser. Nobody will see what lies beneath.

A quick ride on the Tube brings me to my stop. I turn off the tablet that holds the details of the company I’m meeting today.

It isn’t only to stop thinking about Finn that I do this; I want to provide a wonderful life for Emmy. Because soon, when Stella wants to do her own thing, everything is going to change.

I could ask Finn for help when that day comes.

Finn’s been in Emmy’s life for a few days now and for those days I’ve chosen different times of the day to leave work, not taking the chance of bumping into him. But as much as I try, I can’t stop thinking about him.

Finn has visited Emmy more times than I expected him to. Stella says she explained he was a friend of ours. Emmy never asks for anything else. But I don’t know if my heart hurts because Emmy loves Finn so much and I can’t give her more of him, or if it hurts because he can’t give me more.

He won’t ever forgive you. Not when he finds out the truth.

I try to push thoughts of him out of my mind, but I can’t stop thinking of his face and the hurt I have caused him.

My desk phone rings out. I look at the clock.

“Are you free for five minutes?”

“Yeah, is everything okay?” I ask. But the phone has already disconnected.

I rise from my seat and walk to Charlie’s desk, narrowing my eyes the moment I see her.

She tilts her head to one side, and I turn back to my office.

Charlie follows me to my office with two cups of steaming coffee as she gives me the rundown on her recent date and what went down over the weekend.

“I like him, but I’m a bit scared of being alone with him,” she whispers as she covers the highlights of their date. I close my eyes and imagine her description of a man like Chris Hemsworth with tattoos.

“Then he isn’t the right man for you. Don’t push something that shouldn’t be pushed. It’ll feel right one day, and then you’ll be able to let yourself go,” I say.

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