Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 224334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1122(@200wpm)___ 897(@250wpm)___ 748(@300wpm)
I toss the empty pack of batteries on the table. “Accept me?” I laugh. “Accept me for being a letdown, Sarah? A total fuck-up? I don’t want her to accept me for the piece of shit who lost everything. Who ruined his life. I want her to accept me for being an amazing husband. A wonderful father.” I feel my jaw tense, my words becoming hissed, and Sarah steps back, wary. “The man she needs me to be and who I want to be.” I jab a finger toward the bar. “For Ava. For Rosie. For Jake.”
“You’re delusional.”
“You know what, fuck this shit.” I flick a hand out and knock over a wineglass. “I don’t know why I’m standing here talking about the most pointless fucking thing in the world when I could be out there with my world.” I stalk off, glaring at John when I find him behind me, warning him not to bother. “Do the fucking batteries yourself.”
I stop in the hallway before the bar entrance, taking a moment to calm myself down. Then I slap on a smile and enter, standing tall, confident, when I feel anything but, Sarah’s poison making me doubt myself even more. Sarah might think that my relationship with Ava is toxic, but it’s got nothing on the one between us, because Sarah knows of all my sins. And she manipulates that knowledge any chance she can get. Yet I have no idea how to stop her.
I see Ava at the bar and relax a little when I note Sam, Drew, and Kate are with her. I also spot Natasha getting up from a nearby table and moving in. “Jesse,” she purrs, and I quickly step to the left before she gets too close, making sure I set the tone for the evening.
I smile. “Evening, Natasha.”
“Did I see you have company?” she asks over the rim of her glass, looking in Ava’s direction.
“No, Natasha, you didn’t see I have company, and I’ll tell you why.”
“Please do,” she says, smiling, sultry, as she sips her fizz.
“Well, firstly, this is the first time you’ve set eyes on me since you arrived.”
“But not the first time ever, right?”
Unfortunately, yes. In fact, it feels like every other female who has ever laid a hand or eye on me, with the exception of my daughter, of course, has ruined a small piece of me each time. “Right,” I say slowly, observing the wolves circling, ready to chase off their competitor. Fucking hell. I take a quick peek at Ava to make sure she’s not watching. She’s feeling quite possessive today. It’s most pleasing, but I don’t need a bloodbath in the bar. “Second,” I go on, returning my attention to the brazen female who fits in around here perfectly. “I don’t have company, Natasha.”
Her eyes light up. “No?”
“No.” I shake my head, pulling in my suit jacket, backing away. “I have my girlfriend.” I flash her a smile that would always usually floor a woman. “Have a good evening.”
She grins through a scowl, and that look alone tells me my message hasn’t sunken in. I’ve never truly realized the thickness of the skin around here. It’s unreal. I feel like I’ve just made the challenge more interesting.
I get my arse to the bar before I’m intercepted again, seeing Ava with a full glass in her hand. I look at Mario over her head. He holds up three fingers. I shake my head. “No more,” I mouth, and he nods, going on to serve at the other end. My itching palms slide onto the lace at her hips, my chin on her shoulder. “I’ve neglected you,” I say quietly, while also noting that I have very much neglected myself too. No more neglecting. Not tonight. It’ll keep the vultures away.
Ava looks back, not looking at all pissed off or uncomfortable. “Yes, you have. Where have you been?”
Yeah, not telling her that. “I couldn’t get two yards without someone making a play for me.” And I expect that’ll be a trend tonight if I stray far from Ava’s side, so I’ll make a point to remain stuck to her. “I’m all yours now, I promise.” Leaning into her, I extend my hand and shake with both the boys, then dip so Kate, who looks really fucking incredible in a green gown, can say hello with a kiss. I glance at Sam when her lips land on my cheek, watching him watch Ava’s firecracker of a mate. I’m worried for him. “Is everyone good?”
“We will be when dinner is out of the way.” Sam hits his bottle to Drew’s, and I look at them both in question. What the fuck’s going on? I don’t know, but I know I don’t like it, and I definitely don’t like Ava’s tensing body in my hold. She’s worried too.