Page 80 of Beautiful Lies
He’d been scared. I thought about the night we’d ordered Chinese food. When I’d tried to buzz the delivery guy up, Connor had stopped me and said he’d go down and pick it up. “My phone was dead. I couldn’t call or text.”
“Let me grab a quick shower, okay?”
I nodded. “Sure.”
It wasn’t the welcome I’d hoped for. I collapsed on his sofa to wait. My head felt heavy, but inside, I felt hollowed-out and empty. I’d walked out on my family. And Lana had been having sex with Jake Masters. Jealousy, of all things, had prevented her from taking my side. I’d chosen Connor over my family, but I didn’t even know if he wanted me here.
I grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste from my overnight bag and brushed my teeth in the kitchen sink. Three times. Connor walked in as I spit a stream of water and toothpaste into the sink. I lifted my head and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Classy, Ava.
He ran a hand over his damp hair and my gaze traveled down his bare torso, the Japanese dragon tattooed on his chest, the tail disappearing over his shoulder. And lower to the sweatpants hanging low on his narrow waist. He grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge and handed me one. “Sorry about that. Let’s have a do-over.”
“A do-over?”
“Hey babe, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you and I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
“Happy Thanksgiving.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. “What happened? Why are you brushing your teeth in my kitchen sink? And why are you here tonight?”
“Because I missed you. And I’d rather spend Thanksgiving with you than with my family.” I told him what happened, and he listened to the whole story, his arm around me tensing. But he didn’t interrupt me. When I finished talking, I took a deep breath and exhaled, releasing all the tension I’d felt earlier.
He cradled my face in his hands, his eyes locking on mine. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I caused you trouble with your family. I’m sorry Lana’s such a bitch.”
“Stop apologizing for things that aren’t your fault. I got the feeling you didn’t want me here.”
“I do.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “I’m an asshole.”
“You are,” I said. “You really are.”
“I know. But you love me anyway,” he teased.
“My tragic flaw.”
He pulled back to look at my face, his hands moving to the sides of my neck, his eyes locking on mine. “You love me, Ava?”
Connor had always needed to hear the words, had needed the reassurance that I would always love him, that I would always stand by his side and fight his corner. “I’ve never stopped loving you.”
His face lit up with a brilliant smile that made me feel like everything would be okay, after all, and I knew I’d made the right choice. Because Connor…he needed to know that he was loved. Despite everything we’d gone through over the years, through all the pain and heartache, I had never stopped loving him and I knew I never would.
* * *
“I can’t believeyou made me watch this again.”
“Secretly, you love it,” I said.
“The first time. Maybe even the second time. But we’ve watched it dozens of times.”
That was an exaggeration but not by much. “Stop complaining,” I said, jamming a handful of popcorn into his mouth, my eyes still trained onThe Princess Bride.
“As you wish,” he said, his hand sliding up my leg. “I love you in my shirt.”
I loved me in his shirt too. It was soft and faded from too many washings. A blue plaid button-down a lot like the one he had in high school. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same one. I smirked as his hand ventured farther up my thigh. If he kept going, he’d be in for a surprise.
“Jesus Christ,” he said, sliding his hand between my thighs. Next thing I knew, the popcorn bowl was relegated to the coffee table and I was straddling Connor’s lap.
“It’s hard to see the movie with my back to it.”
“Fuck the movie.”
