Page 85 of Along Came Amor
This wasn’t the first time someone—like Hector—had given her shit about her planner, and Ava hugged it to her chest, as if to protect it.
“There’s nothing wrong with being prepared,” she said defensively. “Not all of us can make snap decisions without thinking them through.”
“I think things through, but I also trust myself. And my ability to trust my decisions has served me well.”
“You think I don’t trust myself?” She was verging on shrill, but the implication that she gave things a lot of thought because she didn’t trust herself rankled.
His gaze shot heavenward, as if he were praying for patience. “You need more time to be comfortable making a decision. I need less. That’s all. But if you need more, you have toaskfor it.”
“Except we’re supposed to be workingtogether,” she shot back. “You didn’t ask me what I thought. You just steamrolled over me like what I think doesn’t matter. LikeIdon’t matter.”
That, she realized, was the heart of it. This argument wasn’t just about Jasmine’s wedding. And it wasn’t about the ceremony or the table arrangements or even the catering menu.
It was about her and Roman.
His dismissive attitude hurt far more than it should have if they were just the maid of honor and best man helping the bride and groom, which meant she’d broken one of the original rules she’d set out for them that very first night.
No feelings.
She felt something for him, and that was why his disregard came as such a betrayal.
Not being asked for her thoughts made her feel like he didn’t value her input.
Which made her feel like he didn’t valueher.
And that was, unfortunately, something she was all too familiar with.
Memories of planning her own wedding came to mind, and she couldn’t shut them out. Hector’s voice echoed through her throbbing head.
Just make a decision, Ava.We don’t have all day.Stop making it more complicated than it needs to be.
She’d made extensive mood boards for her dream wedding, spent hours researching vendors and budgeting every cent—since Olympia would never let her forget that Miguel was footing the bill—only for Hector to come in at the eleventh hour and scrap everything.
It should’ve been a sign. But she’d been so focused on their future, she hadn’t seen the red flags waving right in front of her face.
Now here she was, once again trying to plan a wedding while a man walked all over her.
Old Ava would have hidden the messy feelings behind her Resting Pleasant Face. But she was hangry. And headache-y. And so unbelievably tired of being made to feel like she didn’t matter.
So New Ava said exactly what was on her mind.
“You know who treated me like that?” Her voice shook a little, but remained strong. “My ex. He talked over me, never listened, and said I took too long to do... well,everything. Itmade me feel worthless. And I will be damned if I let a man make me feel that way ever again.”
As her words sank in, Roman’s expression turned stricken. “God, Ava. I’m sorry. I was trying to help, and I didn’t realize—”
“I don’t care whether you realized it or not,” she snapped. “You’ve seen all the big personalities in my family. I’m tired of fighting to be heard. I want someone to care enough to give me the space to think and speak without my having to beg for it.”
If she’d had a mic, she would have dropped it. She turned to go.
He caught her wrist. “Please, Ava. Let’s—”
“Space, Roman.” She tugged her arm away. Her head felt like it was going to crack open, and she wasn’t in the mood for his apologies. “I’m walking back. Don’t follow me.”
Clutching her beloved planner to her chest, she strode out of the room.
Chapter 25
Roman watched Ava go and wrestled down the urge to run after her. He’d been an absolute ass. She’d been right to call him out on steamrolling her. And what was worse, he hadn’t even noticed he was doing it.
