The Trouble With Us: A Second Chance Love Triangle (The Forbidden Love 2)

“Are you really going to Hong Kong, or is it because Amelia is going?”

“Ava,” I warn her. “Business comes first.”

“Right…as it did four years ago.”

I bow my head, letting out a deep breath before murmuring, “You don’t know what happened.”

“Of course, I know what happened,” Ava professes, raising her tone in frustration. “I was there to witness the aftermath. I wasn’t off galivanting in some new city making millions of dollars.”

“Is that what you think I was doing in London?” I question with a strangled voice.

“Isn’t that what you did?” she begs to argue. “You went to London. You worked, you made money, correct?”

“You use the word gallivanting so loosely like I was bed-hopping,” I scold her, deeply offended by her assumptions. I was sick and tired of everyone assuming I just moved on and went back to my old ways. I fucking loved Amelia. Why does everyone have to question that? “I was just as heartbroken, okay? It was the worst time of my life. But that is no one else’s god damn business but my own.”

She raises her brows. “But you moved on?”

“It depends on whose opinion matters, Ava,” I snarl.

“Are you telling me you stayed celibate the whole time?”

My hands move to the back of my neck, where I find myself rubbing a particular spot to ease the frustration mounting from this conversation.

“I never said that. I said it is your opinion that I moved on. Just because I slept with other women, all of which were no more than one time, it doesn’t mean I moved on.”

“Do you still love Amelia?”

“What’s with the interrogation?” I rebuke, ignoring the tightness in my chest. “I thought you came here to discuss my dad’s party which I cannot attend. The meeting in Hong Kong was scheduled months ago, and it’s almost impossible to meet with this chairman.” I pause, then exhale a heavy sigh. “As for my feelings toward Amelia, I prefer to keep that private. Especially since you are her sister and notorious for opening your mouth.”

“I am not notorious for opening my mouth!” she denies while raising her tone. Ava stands up from the chair, pointing her finger at me with an angered expression. “And just so you know, the two of you are just as stubborn as each other. Maybe, if you were both honest with yourselves, the two of you wouldn’t be so damn miserable.”

“Amelia looked far from miserable when I saw her last,” I tell her with confidence, only to soften my expression when her words sink in. “Ava, what are you trying to say?”

Ava places her hands on her hips, watching me silently until she throws her hands up in the air, her face darting forward.

“I’m going to spell it out in Eng

lish,” she scoffs, pressing her hand to her forehead while closing her eyes momentarily. “You’re both in shock from seeing each other. No shit, it’s been almost five years. Emotions are running high. Things have been said. The reality is that both of you need to sort your shit out. It’s either you’re friends or nothing at all. And you’ve come too far to be nothing at all.”

“And you think it’s so easy just to be friends with someone you’re still in love with?” I beg the question.

Ava drops her glance toward the floor. Just when I think this conversation is over and she calls defeat, she raises her eyes to meet mine. The familiar emerald green makes it impossible to ignore. Something in the shade is hypnotizing, placing you under a spell.

“Will, I know Amelia better than anyone else, and that includes my parents. Your bond with her will always be family. And second, to that, is your friendship. Sometimes, Amelia gets caught up in things and forgets her roots. Prime example, your forbidden affair years ago.” She pauses, taking a deep breath to continue with, “Blood is thicker than water. And yes, you may not share the same blood, but both of you were raised to think no different.”

I remain quiet, listening to her for once.

“Amelia is stubborn but never underestimate her ability to forgive. She has the biggest heart, and even though she has a ring on her finger with the intention to marry Austin, she will always have room in her heart for you.”

My eyes break contact as I rise from my chair, pacing the area beside my desk. “I don’t share if that’s what you’re insinuating, Ava.”

“I’m informing you to allow Amelia to come around. She always does.”

“And I’m supposed to sit around and do nothing?”

Ava moves closer to me, raising her hand and placing it on my shoulder. With a deep sigh, she follows with a warm smile.

“You do you, boo.”