Page 47 of Beautiful Lies
“Fucking douchebag. How could I forget Jake Masters?” He took an angry drag on his cigarette, his eyes narrowed into slits.
For some reason, out of thousands of students, he’d targeted me. “In the beginning, he used to flirt with me. Like I should feel honored he chose me. But I told him I wasn’t interested, to stop bothering me. It started with just words…” Connor knew all this, but I felt the need to remind him. “He called me ice princess. He asked me why I acted like I was better than him.”
“Because you were better than him. And you didn’t let him take something you weren’t willing to give.”
“Jake came into the bar about a year and a half ago.” He hadn’t changed much since high school. He still had a permanent smirk on his face and tousled brown hair he probably spent a lot of time styling. As proof that life wasn’t fair, he’d landed a trading job on Wall Street and had bought a waterfront apartment in one of the glass and steel monstrosities in Williamsburg, something he’d been quick to brag about. “I was in the front talking to Killian when he came in.”
Connor ground out his cigarette under his boot and waited for me to go on. His jaw was clenched, the little muscle in his cheek jumping.
“It had been so long, but as soon as I saw him, I was fourteen again. He made me feel… helpless, like he still had all the power.” Memories washed over me, but there was still one that I always blocked out. “I got that sick feeling in my stomach, you know?”
“Yeah, I know,” he said, his voice soft, his eyes filled with concern. “What happened?”
“Killian wanted to kick him out, but I told him I needed to confront Jake. So, I did. And after I went off on him, he said, ‘Why are all the hot chicks so fucked up?’”
“Fucking asshole,” Connor ground out and then in a softer voice he said, “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad I confronted him. But afterward, all I wanted to do was call you and talk about it. Because you used to be my best friend. And you’re the only one who would have understood how it made me feel.”
He lowered his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “But I was in Miami.”
“Yeah. But I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad. I’m telling you this because you were my white knight, Connor.”
“Killian was your white knight. He beat up Jake, not me.”
That still bothered Connor, but he hadn’t even been there when it had happened. By chance, Killian had come outside and caught the tail end of it. “I know and that was great. I appreciated what Killian did. But you were the one who picked me up and helped me put the pieces back together. You made me believe it wasn’t my fault. You were always there for me. You made me feel beautiful and special and cherished. I felt like Jake broke something inside of me—”
“He didn’t,” he said, sounding angry that I would even suggest that. “You were too strong to break.”
It was nice that he believed that but, at the time, I did feel broken. And ashamed. Scared. Angry. Victimized. And so alone. Until Connor had befriended me. “Because it only lasted a few months. But you… what you lived through… I never would have been strong enough to live through that. It would have broken me. It didn’t break you, Connor. You’re so much stronger than you know. And I always used to be on your side because you were always on mine. Remember when we were on the same team?”
Connor squinted into the distance. “I remember.”
“When I lost you, I not only lost a boyfriend, I lost my best friend.”
He closed his eyes. “Ava…”
“I’ve missed you,” I said, being more honest than I’d been in a long time. “So much.”
“Missed you too. I’ve been gone a while, but I’m back now.”
“I want to believe in you again.” It wasn’t the same as saying that I did believe in him, but it was a start.
“What were you thinking, Ava?Two months?”
“It was the only date available for a year. But you can do it. I know you can.”
He exhaled sharply. Claudia poked her head out the back door. “Connor. Your next client is here.”
“Be right in.”
I looked over my shoulder as the door closed behind Claudia.
“I didn’t sleep with her.”
“I didn’t sleep with Orlando.” He smiled, happy that I’d admitted it. Orlando was just a friend, and he was a good instructor. Not to mention that he was more likely to go for Connor than me. “So…” I clapped my hands together and rocked back on my heels. “You’ll accept my help, right?”
He gave me a wicked grin I didn’t trust. “Since you’re offering… there’s something I need.”
