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There’s a knock on the door. It opens, and Edward glances over my head. The color fades from his cheeks. "Ava?"
38
Edward
She walks in, and I wait for my heart to jump into my throat. Wait for my pulse to speed up, for that familiar hollowness to squeeze my stomach… But I experience none of that. Of course, I’m surprised, but that’s due to the unexpectedness of her visit. Seeing her does not hurt me the way I thought it would to see someone I once loved. I know then, I’m over her.
I glance down and see the shocked look on my wife’s face before she composes herself.
"Ava, how lovely to meet you." She walks forward and holds out her hand.
Ava shakes it. "You must be Mira."
"I’m Edward’s—"
"Wife." A smile curves her lips. "I was so happy when I heard he’d married."
"Right." There’s a note of caution in Mira’s tone. And something else…something like fear. It’s what propels me to draw abreast with them. I look from my future to my past.
"What can I do for you, Ava?" I manage to keep my voice steady.
Her presence isn’t affecting me the way it used to; doesn’t mean I'm not reeling with images from my past. Images I’ve kept locked away in a place I haven’t visited in a long time. I hadn't looked at another woman since her, not until Belle. Now, here she is, in my office, and it doesn’t hurt the way it did when I last saw her with Baron. Still, I haven’t forgotten the fact that she chose my friend over me. And the fact that I made love to my wife last night; the fact I allowed myself to break my vow of abstinence, my promise to never be involved with another woman—I curl my fingers into fists. Belle crumbled my defenses. And now, my past is here to confront me.
“I tried to reach you.” She wrings her fingers. “I know you don’t want to talk to me, but”—she looks from me to Mira then back at me—“but we need to speak.”
“I’m not sure there’s anything left to say.”
“It’s about Baron.”
When I hesitate, she holds up her hand, "Please. Five minutes; that's all I ask."
"I… I’ll leave you two to catch up." Mira begins to leave, but I grip her shoulder. "Mira, this isn’t what you think it is."
She looks from me to Ava, then back at me. "If it were, you’d better believe I wouldn’t stand for it." She nods at Ava. "I hope we can get to know one another. Maybe we could get a coffee?"
"I’d love that," Ava replies with another smile.
Mira walks out the door. I watch her leave, and when I turn to Ava, she has a knowing look in her eyes.
"What?"
"You love her."
"She’s my wife."
"You. Love. Her." Her eyes gleam.
"Of course, I do."
"I’m so happy for you, Edward." She begins to reach for me, then hesitates. "I came to tell you, you need to move on, but I’m happy to see this was a wasted trip."
"It was." The words come out shorter than I intended. Enough for her to peer into my features. "You’re still angry with me and Baron."
"What gave you that impression?"
"The fact that you never attend any of the gatherings with your friends? That you avoid us all?"
"I’ve been busy." I raise a shoulder.
