Austin: Oh, yeah, maybe that’s where I heard it from. It’s been years since I saw him last, but some things stick.

Me: That’s Eric. Anyways, I’m flying back tomorrow.

Austin: Take it easy and keep our baby safe.

My head falls back against the pillow with Austin’s words echoing around me. How can something so simple, and possibly innocent, evoke so much emotion from me. It’s easy to blame the pregnancy hormones because everything I do or think is the opposite of what I usually feel in certain situations.

As I continue to sit here, contemplating a text to acknowledge what he said, it becomes clear that my desire to go back home is not just about work.

And then, Millie’s voice plays on repeat.

I’m second best, picking up her so-called scraps, as she so bluntly implied.

What hurts the most is she couldn’t be further from the truth. I was there for her entire relationship with Austin, and what they had was different. Of course, it’s nothing like what she has with Will, but I guess none of it matters if she can’t forgive me.

And what Austin and I have is very different.

We are going to have a bond for the rest of our life.

Inside my office, Eric is sitting across from me. It’s the first time we’ve been able to catch up since Eric was held up in Chicago for meetings the last week.

Being back in Manhattan is a relief, a part of me feeling somewhat normal again. The cold I’d caught back in LA was a twenty-four hour thing, and by the next day, I was perfectly fine to travel back home.

“And then what happened?”

“She flat out called me a whore, or close to it.”

Eric cringes, throwing his hand to his neck. “If I could pitch your family to the E network, I’d be a millionaire.”

“You are a millionaire, Eric,” I point out, with a faint e

ye roll. “Didn’t your grandmother leave her estate to you?”

“Perhaps.” Eric shrugs, then focuses his attention back onto me. “My point is, this drama is next-level crazy. I literally have no words.”

“Good, because I’m done talking about it.”

“I’m not done,” Eric counters.

“What else is there to say?” I ask with exasperation. “It’s been a week. She has nothing to say to me. In fact, she even blocked me on social media.”

Eric’s eyes widen in visible shock. “A block on social media is a powerful statement.”

“Yeah, the statement being she hates me.”

“She doesn’t hate you, darling Ava. No one can hate you.”

I let out a long-winded sigh, so over worrying about this. I can apologize a thousand times, but nothing will change the outcome. Unless, of course, I attempt through Will.

“Can we get back to work? I only have four months before I’m supposed to slow down before the baby comes. That’s not a long time, not when we have to finalize the new lines, and look at a space to buy to manufacture. And who will feature in photos for our social media content when I’m too big?”

Eric leans over and places his hand on mine. “Breathe, Ava, just breathe. That’s why I’m here.”

“You’re my publicist,” I remind him with a soft smile. “Your job is to make me look good, not source real estate for me.”

“I know, but I’m a man of many talents. Once, I picked up an orange with my butt cheeks and held it for a solid minute.”

I shake my head, then burst out in laughter. “I want to ask, but at the same time, I think some things are best left as a mystery.”

Tags: Kat T. Masen The Forbidden Love Romance
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