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Lane bows her head, hiding her pained expression. “I don’t understand.”
“The woman who visited me yesterday—”
“Ava?” she interrupts, lifting her gaze simultaneously.
“Yes, Ava,” I repeat while rubbing the back of my neck. “Well, she, um, a few months back, we kind of had a one-night thing, and she’s kind of pregnant.”
Lane’s face falls blank, to the point her stare is fixed, and it doesn’t look like she is breathing. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“Neither did I.”
“Look, Austin. I get it. I really do.”
Lane stands up, throwing her purse strap over her shoulder. Unexpectedly, she drops her lips to plant a soft kiss on my cheek. I close my eyes in an attempt to stay strong and not allow the guilt to consume me.
None of this is fair, and Lane didn’t deserve this.
“For what it’s worth, Ava is really beautiful. When you saw her the other day, I could see how happy you were to see her.”
“Lane, it’s not like that between us. It was one night.”
“Maybe.” She shrugs half-heartedly with a glazed stare. “But that doesn’t mean the feelings aren’t valid.”
And with that said, she walks out of the café.
Breaking up with someone is never easy, but of all the breakups I’ve endured, this probably was the easiest. Lane is a no drama, uncomplicated woman, which is why I was attracted to her. In addition, we had medicine in common, and having a relationship at work was easy because we got to spend more time with one another.
That is until now.
Working with an ex isn’t quite ideal.
I pull out my phone and look at the time, noting Ava would be in the air.
Me: I told Lane. She took it well, considering.
I’m not sure why I felt compelled to tell Ava, but I tuck my phone back into my pocket to head home.
In only a matter of hours, the Edwards family will know the truth.
The persistent lead weight on my chest onsets a headache, so the minute I get home, I pop some Advil to alleviate the stress.
But nothing works because I can’t seem to get Ava out of my head, worried as she walks into the lion’s den and I’m standing here doing absolutely nothing.
It’s no good for me to stay here, waiting on edge, knowing I’ll get no sleep.
I knock on Jonah’s door. “Hey, buddy, you up for a drink tonight?”
Jonah opens the door, dressed in a pair of white jocks. It should shock me, but I’ve seen it too many times that I’ve stopped caring.
“Name the place, bro. I’m coming.”
Eleven
Ava
The foyer inside my parents’ home appears grander than I remember.
My penthouse apartment in the city isn’t even a quarter in size compared to this house. Although they also own a penthouse in the city, that too is double the size of mine.
