"Yeah," Ava drags her fingers through her hair, "and made me breakfast."
"You?" She turns on me, "You stayed to cook for her?"
I hold up my hands. "I was simply making sure that she was okay, before I left."
"Hmph." She purses her lips together. "That’s all you did?"
"Honest." I turn my gaze back to Ava. "I was simply worried about her. And if you don’t mind, I want to speak with her."
Isla folds her arms across her chest.
"Alone."
Ava tips up her chin and holds my gaze.
"Please?" I add. "Can I speak to you, Ava?"
Ava swallows, then nods, "Okay."
"You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Ava," Isla warns her. "If this guy is bothering you—"
"He’s not," she replies.
"You sure?" Isla turns and grips her shoulder. "I can ask him to leave, if he is."
Ava meets her gaze, the two seem to have a silent conversation, then Isla blows out a breath. "Fine, I’ll go then."
She turns back to me. "I have my eyes on you." She glowers. "If you hurt her in any way, you’ll have me to contend with, and I warn you, it won’t be good for you."
I lower my chin. "I promise, I won’t harm her or cause her any kind of pain."Not unless she asks.
"Hmm." She purses her lips, "We’ll see." She turns to Ava, kissing her on her cheek. "You take care, doll, and call me if you need anything."
Then, she brushes past me and leaves.
Ava glances at me, before moving to the side of the room. She grabs her handbag and hooks it over her shoulder. "I was just leaving."
She tries to brush past me, and I plant my body in her path.
She sighs, "Really? You are going to do this now?"
"Why were you crying?"
"I wasn’t crying." Her lower lip trembles.
"Yes, you were."
"No, I wasn’t." Her chin wobbles; her features contort.
"Shit, shit, shit." I haul her to me and she buries her head in the stretch of shirt between the lapels of my jacket.
I wrap my arms around her, hold her close as she sobs. My chest hurts, the blood pounds at my temples, and anger slices through my head.
Damn you, Edward, for breaking her heart.
And then, you had to hand her over to me, knowing I'd be attracted to her. Knowing that I'd want to protect her. You knew what it would do to me to find her so helpless, didn’t you? You knew I’d give anything to be there for her in any way that she needs. You knew I’d be loyal to you. That I wouldn’t betray you. That I’d be attracted to her and yet hold back, because she belongs to you. How dare you put me in this situation, you asshole? How could you ask me to look out for her, knowing every second of every minute that I spend with her, I’ll want to make her mine? Fuck you, Edward! I hope you find no peace, wherever you are. I hope you spend each second missing her, knowing that I am here for her when you should be here taking care of her.
I tuck her head under my chin, rub soothing circles across her back. When she only cries harder, I scoop her up, walk over to the chair in the corner and lower my bulk into it. The chair creaks, but holds. I rock her in my arms, hum the first tune that comes into my head.
