Page 41 of Aussie
Sleep came eventually, but it was restless, and even in her dreams, echoes of betrayal and regret lingered, blurring with the images of a life she’d once dared to hope for.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Aussie leaned back in the creaky armchair in the team’s rec room, the familiar hum of the heating system doing little to ease his restless mind. He rubbed a hand over his face, his exhaustion more emotional than physical. Sleep had been elusive after last night’s disaster, and the pit in his stomach hadn’t eased since Ava had walked away, hurt and angry, thinking he’d betrayed her.
He had tried to text her the moment he got home, typing and retyping a message that he hoped would get her to hear him out.
As of a few minutes ago, the text remained unread. A tiny “delivered” icon mocked him every time he checked his phone. He’d debated calling her, but something about the way she had turned her back on him made him hesitate. Ava didn’t walk away unless she was deeply hurt, and he hated that he was the one who caused it.
He had met with Derek earlier that morning to go over the details from the night before. Aussie and Agent Price had managed to strike up conversations with several of the individuals on the Bureau’s radar. The men had been polite, careful, and annoyingly vague, offering nothing that set off alarm bells.
Still, something about the night didn’t sit right. While none of the conversations screamed “criminal activity” to Aussie, hearing Ava’s name on more than one occasion had irked him.
“She’s something special,”one of the men had said, his tone laced with admiration.“Smart, gorgeous. A real catch.”
Another man, clearly a bit too drunk, had smirked and leaned toward Jarod, adding,“And you let her go? Dumb move, buddy. I’d never make that mistake.”
Aussie had to stifle a laugh at the way Jarod’s face had tightened in barely concealed irritation. It felt good knowing Ava had told these men she was seeing someone, even if it was up in the air, what she thought about thatnow.
But the casual mention of Ava’s name among these men left him unsettled. Was it harmless admiration, or was there something more behind it?
When he’d brought it up with Derek, he had been direct about everything, including the fallout with Ava. Derek had listened intently, his expression thoughtful.
“Give her some time,”Derek had said after a long pause.“Then find a moment to sit her down and explain everything. She’s smart, Aussie. She’ll see the truth once the dust settles.”
“I don’t know if she’ll want to hear it,”Aussie admitted, his voice low.
“She will,”Derek said with quiet confidence.“And if you need help setting it up, you know I’ve got your back.”
The offer had meant more to Aussie than he could say, but it still didn’t make the weight in his chest any lighter.
Now, as he sat there, the silence of the space pressed down on him. The TV was off, and the usual banter from the team was absent. He felt out of place in his own sanctuary.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and he looked up to see Bear, Joker, and Playboy stride in. They’d been planning a day at the range, and from the looks on their faces, they hadn’t been expecting to find him sitting there moping.
“Whoa, Aussie,” Bear said, eyebrows raised. “You look like hell. Everything okay?”
Aussie gave a weak smile, though he knew it didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t even know where to begin,” he admitted as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
Playboy leaned against a locker, crossing his arms. “We’ve got time. Spill it.”
Aussie took a deep breath and explained everything that happened, including the part where he was pretty sure Ava was going to ask him to attend the gala with her.
When he finished, Bear’s face softened with understanding. “Man, that’s rough. I can only imagine what she thought.”
Aussie nodded. “Oh, she thought exactly what you’re imagining.”
“I’m assuming that you’ve tried to reach out to her,” Joker added.
“Yeah, but she isn’t answering.”
The guys exchanged sympathetic looks, each of them clearly understanding the complications of a job that sometimes required secrecy, even with the people closest to them.
Joker shook his head. “That’s a tough break, Aussie. You were just doing your job, but sometimes it can feel like you’re on the wrong side of things, especially with the people you care about. And we all know how you feel about Ava.”
Aussie felt a pang in his chest and nodded. “Yeah. The hardest part was seeing how she looked at me. It was like I’d betrayed her.”
Playboy stepped forward, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Look, if there’s one thing I know about Ava, it’s that she’s smart and very understanding. She’ll understand once you explain. Just keep reaching out to her. She’ll see the truth if you keep at it.”
