The shirt falls onto the bench, her arms cross her chest, and she heads down the hallway toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
“You should get dressed and go,” she calls out with a tremor in her voice. “I think it’s best.”
I grab my shirt and make my way to the door. Resting my head against it, with tears streaming down my face, I whisper two words that will end this forever, “Goodbye, Ava.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Ava
“You’re going back to London in two days?” Declan drops the French fry in his hand. “Why, Ava? I thought you were having the time of your life here.”
“So did I,” Sean says.
The three of us are at Crispy Biscuit. It’s a sunny Saturday, our parents left to fly back to Florida this morning, and Callie is hanging out with her sister and her kids.
It was Declan who suggested that we grab lunch at my favorite diner. I tried to decline since I haven’t had much of an appetite since Harry walked out of my life two weeks ago.
I’ve spent most of that time with my folks and my brothers. I tried to work on the lullaby for Baby Wells, but I haven’t been able to get past the point I was the night Harry left.
Being in Manhattan and knowing he’s here is too hard for me. I have to flee.
“It’s time for me to go back,” I explain. “I have friends there, and school starts in a couple of weeks.”
“I heard you telling mom that you only have a semester left.” Declan rubs his jaw. “You’re graduating early.”
I took courses during the summers while I worked at the music shop. It was always my goal to earn my degree as quickly as possible, so I could jump into the rest of my life.
A few weeks ago, I thought that might include Harry, but now I know it never will.
I nod. “I’ll be done in a few months.”
“Then you’ll move back to Manhattan,” Declan assumes. “We’ll be able to hang out like this all the time.”
“You’re damn right we will.” Sean raises his water glass in the air. “You’ll stand next to Decky by my side when I marry Calliope.”
“What?” My head snaps in his direction.
“We’re still working on a date.” He tosses Declan a look. “I ran this past Decky already, but I want the two best people I know by my side when I marry Champ.”
Declan chuckles. “I know what you’re thinking, Ava. What about Harry?”
What about him? We were lovers, and when I wanted more, he made it clear that he didn’t want the same thing.
Sean laughs too. “Harry understands. He knows he’s family. He’ll be at the wedding and all of our family dinners. When our baby is born, he’ll be at the hospital too. He will be one of my kids’ uncles, after all.”
That hits me like a freight train. The only way I’ll avoid him is by staying away from Manhattan, but I can’t do that forever.
“While you’re wrapping things up in London, I’ll find a guy for you,” Sean offers. “Since Richard isn’t your type, I’ll line up a few others, so they’re waiting in line for a date when you move back here.”
I can’t imagine dating, touching, or loving another man.
The weight of it all makes me crumble inside. I let out a sob. My hand jumps to cover my mouth to try and silence it, but I’m too late.
I hear silverware fall to plates, along with my brothers’ panicked voices asking what’s wrong.
I can’t answer, so I shake my head.
“Ava.” Declan’s hand snakes across the table, trying to reach for me. “Please, tell us what it is.”
I suck in a deep breath. “I’m fine.”
“Like hell you are,” Sean says from his seat next to me. “Ava, we’re here for you. We love you. Let us help.”
“You haven’t been yourself lately.” Declan shifts his chair, so he’s closer to me too. “Ever since the night at the theater. You’ve seemed sad, a little lost. We want to help you.”
I won’t get out of here without explaining what I’m feeling, but I need to do that in my way without sharing it all.
I scrub a hand over my cheeks to chase away my tears. I smooth my fingers along the buttons on the front of my blouse and take a deep breath.
I look up to see both of my brothers with their brows knit in confusion. They’re concerned, and as much as I don’t want them to worry about me, I’m grateful to be here with them.
“I fell in love,” I whisper. “With the most amazing man I’ve ever met, and now it’s over.”
Sean leans back in his chair while Declan shoves a hand through his hair.
“A guy from school,” Sean assumes. “He broke it off while you were here, didn’t he?”
Declan tries to silence our brother with a look and a wave of his finger in the air. “Did you meet him here, Ava? In New York?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“And it ended recently?” he asks. “He ended it?”
“He did. He broke up with me two weeks ago.” I hold back another sob. “He was looking for something casual and fun while I’m here, but…”
“But you fell head over heels for this guy,” Sean finishes my thought.
I exhale audibly. “I knew going in that was all he was looking for, so I should have known that his feelings wouldn’t change like mine did.”
Declan reaches for my hand to cup it in his. “That’s rough, Ava. That’s damn hard to deal with.”
“He’s a fucking idiot.” Sean tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You’re an incredible woman. He has no idea what he’s missing out on.”
I manage a smile.
“Look, Ava.” Declan kisses my wrist the way he did when I was a kid looking for courage or reassurance. “I get that you want to head back to London to escape what you’re feeling, and if you need to do that, we’ll understand. I want to go with you, though. You can show me your flat and the sights. I’ll crash with you for a few days as long as you make a good cup of coffee.”
I laugh. “You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do it too,” Sean pipes up. “But I have to hold down the fort while Decky is away. Calliope and I will come for the holidays. We wouldn’t miss it, Ava.”
I reach for his hand and hold it too. “I have the best brothers in the world.”
“If you give me the guy’s name, I’ll have a word and two fists with him.” Sean raises his free hand in the air in a fist.
I shake my head. “I’ll be okay. First loves are supposed to hurt like this, right?”
Declan shrugs. “So they say.”
Sean squeezes my hand. “If it didn’t hurt, it wasn’t worth it, right? Don’t rush through your feelings, Ava. Move forward when you’re ready. Until then you’ve got Calliope and us. We’re all here for you.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Harrison
I slam my phone on my desk, rage coursing through me. It’s been one issue after another with one of our suppliers this month.