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Maybe next time…
Damon
Are you asking me out?
Ava
Goodnight, Damon. x
Fuck. I know Fran’s right, I do, but I can’t let Ava go. I just can’t.
“Damon.” Fran scoots her chair closer, resting her head on my shoulder. “You know it’s the right thing to do.”
“You’re right, Monroe should be hers, but it won’t be unless I stick to the plan.”
“What on earth is going on?” Mom levels us both with a glare. Of course, it’s all Fran needs to tell her everything, and as much as I love Fran, I need to walk away before I end up losing my shit.
“Where are you going?” Mom calls as I leave them, and I don’t bother replying. Instead, I go find Grayson. He and I have a lot to discuss.
Chapter 16
Damon
Ava’s got all the effortless charm down to perfection. I picked her up in another pair of dark blue jeans that make her long, slender legs look lithe with the nude heels she’s wearing. The oversized blue shirt is tucked into her pants, making her waist look smaller than it already is. She’s so laid-back as we talk to Warner that you would believe she’s the boss while she sits back in her seat and occasionally plays with the loose tendrils from the messy knot on her head.
“Those are some of the things we’ll do,” Ava tells Callum with a confident smile. “Once I’ve read your book and have a feel for it, we can put together a plan that’s personalized to you. The important thing is that you’re comfortable with the direction we’re going. At the end of the day, it’s your story and your life, and whatever approach we take, it has to reflect that.” She takes a sip of her wine spritzer and actually listens to him and all the things he wants to achieve.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting here thinking about last night and the conversations I had with Mom, Fran, and Grayson.
For the first time, I’m uncertain of what I’m doing. I don’t want to lose Ava, but it feels like it’s an eventuality. Regardless of what I do, it will happen because she’s not like me or the industry we’re in. She’s soft. So fucking soft and caring, and she would rather let someone take from her than cut their throat.
“Thanks for meeting up today, I’m sure you have other clients…” Warner stands, drinking the rest of his pressed juice. Turning to me, he offers me his hand, and when I shake it, he says, “You’re right, she’s the best.”
“Ava certainly is.”
“I’ll talk to you guys soon. I have a couple of meetings in the next few days, but playoffs are here and…”
“You should focus on your game.” Ava shakes his hand, and with the loose collar of her shirt shifting with the motion, I smile at the glimpse of her tattoo fading into her hairline. “We’re here whenever you’re ready.”
It feels like Warner doesn’t want to leave her presence because he keeps finding something to say or ask. To the point that I want to tell him to get on his way and leave us to the evening I have planned.
“Why are you scowling?” she laughs as he walks away.
“I thought he’d never fucking leave.”
“Well, you know, he wanted to stay with the best.” Falling onto my lap when I sit, she strokes my jaw with her nails. “I thought you said Warner asked for me.”
“He did.”
“Once you nudged him in my direction.”
“He wanted the best.”
“Damon.” She sits straighter, looking me in the eyes. “I don’t want special favors. Whatever we’re doing. Whatever we are…”
“Have I ever given you preferential treatment?”
“No.”
