Page 98 of Exile and Embrace

I take a small sip of the beer, my nose wrinkling.

I shift the drink away from me. “This tastes like licking a pine tree.”

Dawson laughs and sips his own beer. “You’re right, but it’s not that bad.”

“I have better beer at home.”

“And nothing else to do there but mope.” Dawson’s smirk has me itching to leave the bar as fast as I can. “Why are you so bothered by her being away in the first place?”

“I make a lot of enemies. I can’t exactly protect her when she is away.” I take another sip of the beer, regretting it as soon as pine explodes on my tongue. “And she said that I could come with her. At the time, I thought it was just something she was saying but with everything she’s going through, it feels like I should be there with her.”

Dawson bops his head with the beat of the music. “You’re both adults. She asked you to go, and you didn’t. She seems like the kind of woman who would tell you if that was a problem for her.”

Even if there are real feelings at the center of our relationship—I can admit to myself I am head over heels for her—would she still want me around her family?

We haven’t talked about what happens when this is all over. I can’t ask her to stay if she wants to leave, and there is no way I can go back home with her.

I sigh and rake my fingers through my hair. “Maybe you’re right about that. Ava isn’t exactly one to dance around things.”

“Not in the time that I’ve known her at least. Just call her later, tell her that you miss her. And, if you really want the time off, I’m sure that Cillian would be more than willing to let you fly out to her for a couple days.”

“I know he would.” I drag my finger through the condensation in my glass, tracing frosty patterns. “But there’s a lot of work to do. I’ll call Ava and get through the paperwork and see where things stand then.”

Dawson rolls his eyes and downs the rest of his beer. “If you’re going to be nothing but miserable when she’s gone, I suggest traveling with her next time.”

I doubt there’s going to be a next time.

While I know that Ava has her problems at home, she has her problems here too.

After everything that’s happened since she started digging into her father, I wouldn’t blame her for staying away.

All I can do is hope that she chooses to come back to me.

26

AVA

Only my parents would want to make a massive affair out of a will reading.

The executor of the will, Carter, stands at the front of my father’s old desk while the sounds of a party flow through the house.

He clears his throat, the paper trembling in his grasp as he looks down at my mother.

She crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, the train of her dramatic black evening gown pooling at her feet.

Zoe reaches across the space between us and takes my hand. She squeezes it tight as Carter puts his glasses on.

My heart pounds in my chest as we sit in the dark office.

Stars dance in the sky outside, but everything about this night feels wrong.

I should be at home with Finn, dancing in the kitchen as we make dinner together. I should be talking to Becca and finding out more about why she let my dad take me.

She and I could be building a bond right now.

Although, the thought of another family letting me down is almost too much to bear.

Carter lifts the will higher, squinting against the dim light in the room. Yet another one of Dad’s requirements for his will reading.

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