When We're Alone

Chapter forty

AVA

Ismilewarmlyup at Carrie as she puts my dinner down in front of me. I’m so glad to have her back here, and the food looks delicious. Not to mention, I’ve definitely worked up an appetite today. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whisper to her, grabbing her hand as she goes to walk away.

“Me too,” she replies softly. “The house was lonely without you.” I give her a fond smile, and she smiles back before wandering back to the kitchen.

“Should we talk about the elephant in the room or not?” Stone asks, not having as much patience as the rest of us.

“First of all,” Foster starts, levelling Stone with a look, “I’m so sorry we didn’t think to question it more, Ava.” I’m so surprised he’s apologising to me that I blink at him for a second, not sure how to react. “I thought I was respecting your wishes, but that’s not good enough.”

“It’s fine, Foster. It’s not your fault.”

“What are you thinking?” Mum asks me gently, and I square my shoulders to say what I’ve thought all day.

“I won’t be marrying Lewis. The situation I’m in is so unfair it makes me want to explode. I could do so much with that company, and I’m good at business, even if that was never my priority. But I won’t be stuck with Lewis—a man who thought he could trick me into marriage—for the privilege of proving that. It’s not worth it.”

“Completely understandable, and I admire your integrity,” Foster says as Stone squeezes my hand. Neither of our parents have questioned the change in seating, but both of their gazes look at our entwined fingers resting on top of the table. “Your trust fund is more than enough to sustain you—it will only be your rights to the company that are transferred to Lewis.”

“What about Mum? Surely she has some right to it?”

“I do,” she confirms. “A small amount, but it’s something.”

“So I’m not ruining your life by not going through with it?” This is another part I worry about. Am I taking everything from my mum by not sacrificing myself?

“Absolutely not, and I wouldn’t want you to worry about me either way. It’s your turn to make the choices that are best for you.”

“We’re all agreed that this is bullshit, right?” Stone asks, oh so eloquently. “Surely there’s some other loophole to this? Can’t we have Lewis rescind the agreement?”

“We are all agreed, but unfortunately, Lewis has been MIA since last Friday.” Stone scoffs as if that was to be expected. “I will of course have my lawyers look into it. I hadn’t before because I thought it was all consensual.”

“That would be great. Thank you, Foster.” We move onto less intense subjects for the rest of the meal, and they both leave once we’re finished. I turn to Stone, who is checking his phone. “I’m going to go track Millie down,” I say. He narrows his eyes as if he’s about to argue, but I put my hand over his mouth. “I wasn’t asking your permission; I was giving you the courtesy of letting you know.” His eyes darken further. “I’ll be back later,” I finish, dropping my hand.

“Mason and Reid are asking about you. I think they want to come and check you’re okay.”

“Do you think I was too harsh on them?”

“Absolutely not, and they’d agree. We all deserve everything you gave us.”

“Okay. Tell them I’ll be back later?”

“Fine, but I want you naked and underneath me by midnight.”

“Deal,” I chuckle, kissing him goodbye.

As I pull up to Millie’s I see her climbing out of her car.

“Hey, stranger!” I call, climbing out of my own and going to join her by the side gate.

“Hey,” she says timidly. Millie is not timid. Quiet and observant, maybe, but never timid. Especially not with me.

“What’s going on? Are you mad at me? I’ve been texting you.”

Her eyes widen. “Me? Mad at you? No way. I thought it was the other way around.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Dane was all my fault,” she says, a pained look on her face. “I forced you to go out, and then I didn’t warn you he was there because I didn’t want you to worry and not have a good time. I left you a sitting duck! And then when you sent me away…”

“Millie, don’t be ridiculous! No one is to blame except Dane. That guy is a predator.”

“So you don’t hate me?”

“Of course not. Are you crazy? I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you too!” She sniffs as I pull her in for a hug.

“I’ve got so much to tell you,” I say, taking her arm in mine, and we head through the gate to her pool house.

I’m grinning from ear to ear when I get back home. I really had missed her. Nothing beats girl time. All three guys are in the kitchen and shout hellos at me when I get back. Stone holds his arm out and I gladly go to him, stepping between his knees as he kisses the bend in my neck. It should feel weird to be this intimate so quickly after everything that’s happened, but honestly, it feels so right. His hold is comforting, the only place I want to be right now.

“Finally! I thought he might’ve been lying,” Mason snickers.

“Good to have you back, Aves,” Reid says, as I spin in Stone’s arms so I can see them. “And for what it’s worth, we’re really sorry.”

“Both of us,” Mason agrees.

“Thanks guys.” I feel a little more weight lift from my chest, knowing that everything’s okay with these two. Having to distance myself from them was hard too.

“What? That’s it? I had to do way more grovelling than that,” Stone complains from behind me.

“Well, none of you have done nearly enough, so feel free to carry on.” I’m only half joking; they’re lucky they’re all so damn lovable.

“Always,” Stone says, squeezing me.

“Let’s go!” Reid picks up his drink and two giant bowls of popcorn and points to the back of the house. “UFC waits for no one.” I groan.

“It’s not even Monday.”

“I know, amazing!” he says back, either not realising or ignoring my tone. We’re on our way when Foster calls over the landing.

“Ava, I heard back from my lawyer and thought you might want to hear.”

“That was quick.” He and my mum join us in the hallway just outside the movie room.

“Anything can be quick for the right price. To get straight to the point, the legality of the agreement is that the Hunter family has to merge with the Wills family to keep any rights to the Hunter business.” My shoulders slump at the final confirmation of it all going down the drain, but Lewis can have it. There’s more important things in life.

“Can we talk?” Stone asks, but I shake my head.

“I don’t want it, then. I’m done giving men what they demand in exchange for what I already deserve. My trust fund is more than enough.”

“Ava—”

“Hang on,” Foster says over Stone. “I haven’t finished, although that’s very admirable, Ava.”

My mum steps forward and shoves her hand out, a grin splitting her face. A huge rock sits on that finger. “We’re getting married!”

“What?!”

“Oh my god, congratulations!” I cry, along with the guys. Foster rolls his eyes good-naturedly with a matching grin.

“I was getting to that part. You don’t need to lose anything, Ava. You and Lewis are not the only Hunter and the only Wills.”

“How has this happened so fast?” I ask.

“I already had the ring. I didn’t think I’d use it so soon, but I was always planning on proposing to your mother. I love her.”

“You still owe me that story,” I remind Mum with a grin.

“I can’t wait to tell you. As soon as we’re married and you’ve completed your studies, an executive position at the company will be waiting for you, along with majority shares.” Mum grips my hands in hers. “We all know you deserve it, and I’m so excited to see where you take it. I’m so proud of you, Ava. How you turned out so amazing I’ll never know, but I thank my lucky stars every day that you are my daughter.” My eyes are brimming with unshed tears by now, and I don’t know what to say. Mum can tell I’m seriously overwhelmed as she gives my hands a final squeeze and lets go, stepping back into Foster’s arm. “Anyway, we’ll leave you to your evening.”

“Wait, we should celebrate!” I say a bit belatedly, when they’re already walking away. She grins at my enthusiasm.

“We will. Tomorrow?” I nod, and they both leave.

“Wow,” I say, turning back to face the guys.

“Wow indeed,” Reid says. They look at Stone before heading back into the movie room. I settle into Stone’s lap and his arms are solid around me all evening, even if he is quiet. Just before midnight, as promised, we go up to my room. This has been the longest day ever.

“You okay?” I ask him, walking over to stand in front of him. He runs his hands up the backs of my thighs and pulls me forward so I’m straddling him like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and I love it.

“Yeah, fine.” I raise an eyebrow at him and give him a minute, running my nails through the shorter hair on the back of his head. He did say he’d tell me anything.

“I would’ve married you,” he finally murmurs.

“What?” His hands tighten on my hips as if he thinks I’m going to bolt.

“To stop you losing it all, I would’ve happily and eagerly got down on one knee and asked you to be my wife.” I search his eyes for any hint of a joke, but all that stares back at me is resolute sincerity. “I know it seems really fast, because it is, but it also felt right, like it was meant to be.”

“But it wasn’t,” I remind him gently.

“No, maybe not. But at least I know now.”

“Know what?” I ask.

“That it’ll happen. One day, maybe one day soon, I’ll propose, and you’ll say yes.”

“Oh, I will, will I?” I joke. I’m nowhere near as freaked out about that as I should be, and that in itself threatens to freak me out. Feelings are complicated, okay?

“Mhmm,” he murmurs as he strokes his nose up my throat. “But maybe I’ll take you on a date first.”

I breathe a soft laugh at that. “That might be a good start.”

“And maybe I won’t do it in the hallway surrounded by our parents and those two degenerates.”

“No?”

“No. It’ll be just for me and you. My favourite time is when we’re alone.” I beam down at him. Mine too, Stone. Mine too.

THE END