Page 50 of Audra: The Prequel

“Yes, but I’m not sure I believe him.” She told her mother about their phone conversation.

Since then, Damon had reached out a couple of times, but she ignored his texts. She had meant it when she said she wanted time to think without him influencing her decision-making.

“I know he swears the situation with Nami was nothing more than a publicity stunt, but how many times did Kerry tell me some groupie was his friend or that I was misreading a photo of him in an intimate embrace with a ‘fan’? I don’t want to deal with those feelings anymore. He turned me into someone I didn’t like—angry, bitter,hurt. This situation with Damon has me headedin the same direction.” She swallowed and shook her head. “I-I really liked him, Mom.”

Rose’s eyes were sympathetic. “You more than liked him, didn’t you?”

Biting her bottom lip, Audra nodded.

Rose stroked her hair. “I know. I could tell.”

“I can’t avoid him forever, but he won’t be back for a couple more days. That gives me time to figure out what I want to do.”

“What happens when he comes back?” Rose asked.

“I don’t know,” Audra said, head bent as she picked at her thumbnail. “I have to talk to him at some point. I’ll… wait until I absolutely have to, I guess. Or maybe he’ll give up.”

Rose covered Audra’s hands and gazed into her eyes. “Say the word, and your father will make sure he doesn’t come anywhere near you if that’s not what you want.”

Benicio would probably hire a bodyguard or take some other drastic measure to keep him away.

“I know. I’ll let him know if I need help,” Audra whispered, grateful that she had support if she needed it. “How could I have been so wrong again?” She didn’t really expect an answer but hoped her mother would have advice to help her feel better.

Rose squeezed her hand. “Love is always a risk, no matter who you fall for. Taking a chance on love takes courage, and you’re not wrong to open your heart to someone.”

A tear rolled down Audra’s cheek, and she angrily swept it away. “But my relationships keep ending in heartbreak. Maybe I’m not meant to be with someone else.” Her shoulders slumped.

Looking deeply into her eyes, Rose squeezed her hands again. “Don’t youdarebelieve that. There’s much more in store for you than this moment of pain. Sometimes the wrong person has to come along to make you aware of what you truly deserve, and then you find the right one, and poof! Everything makes sense.” She smiled gently. “It’s okay to grieve and cry and get itall out, but don’t lose faith in yourself or in love. When the right man comes along, he’ll show you through his actions, not just his words—how important you are to him and how much he loves you and wants to be with you.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Later, lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling, Audra made a decision. It was time to move on from Damon, but the two of them needed to talk.

When they did, she would let him know how much he had disappointed her, and then she’d walk away.

To be free for the right man to come into her life.

Chapter Twenty

The following week, Audra walked out of the building with her co-workers. To keep her mind off Damon, who she hadn’t heard from in several days, she agreed to go out for drinks with Claudia and Kyrie, one of the guys from the mailroom.

However, Claudia received a call from Kent. He had popped in for a couple of days to surprise her. Her friend didn’t have to say a word. Both Kyrie and Audra waved her off to go be with her man, laughing as she practically ran across the street to collect her car and go home.

“He better marry her,” Kyrie said.

“Agreed. Because boy, does she love that man.”

“Did you still want to go grab drinks? You can cancel if you want,” Kyrie said.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Audra asked, narrowing her eyes with playful suspicion.

“No way. I’ve been looking forward to this all afternoon.”

“Same. A couple of hours tossing back drinks and eating fatty food that’s no good for me is exactly what I need.”

“Same. Today was rough, wasn’t it?”

“It sure was.”

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