Page 25 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

Even as she says the words, I know she doesn’t believe them. We both know how determined Nathan can be when he’s fixated on something. And he is fixated on Ava.

“I’m gonna head back to David’s. Dinner is most likely ready, and Scarlett will yell at me if I’m late.”

She forces a smile that I know she’s hoping will have me believing she’s okay, but I know she isn’t. The color drained from her face, and her eyes were filled with panic.

Watching her walk out the front door, I groan.

“Ava!” I call after her, but she doesn’t answer.

I know exactly what I said about pretending to be Ava’s boyfriend, but after what I just witnessed, there is no way I can let her go through this alone.

Chapter Twelve

Ava

Headingfromthekitchento the door feels like the longest walk of my entire life. The front door shuts behind me, and I scurry down the stairs, all but running to my car. My heart is pounding so hard it’s like a drum banging in my ear.

“I told Caroline this was a horrible idea. Why did I even listen to her?” I mumble, focused on getting into my car and driving away as quickly as possible.

The back of my eyes burn, and my throat is tight. Duncan saying no is exactly what I expected. But this feeling? This feeling of disappointment that is clenching my chest has come out of nowhere.

Reaching the sidewalk, a black car whips in front of me, nearly hopping the curb. My heart rams against my ribcage. Terror grips me at the realization that I could’ve been killed. My eyes widen as I watch the man get out of the car, slam the door, and move in my direction. My body goes cold.

“Nathan!” My voice squeaks. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes are hard as he angrily strides toward me.

“If you would’ve just answered your phone, I wouldn’t have had to come.” His voice is deceptively quiet, but I know that tone. Backing away from him, I stumble my way toward Duncan’s house. “I just wanted to talk to you.”

“No, Nathan,” I say firmly, my mouth dry. I square my shoulders, trying to move faster. “You wanted me to change my mind.”

“Ava, you need to be there for next week’s premiere.”

Is he serious?I study the look in his eyes.He’s serious!

My brows shoot up, and my mouth drops open.Does he not understand that everyone knows our engagement is off? It’s been everywhere! Not to mention that I’ve been connected to two different men since it happened.

Everyone, except him, understands we’re over.

“Baking, big guy?” Nathan’s eyes shift to something behind me, and a condescending smirk covers his lips just as I slam into something hard. “Really?! Pink? It’s not your color.”

Big hands gently wrap around my upper arms, steadying me.

“You’ll have to tell my niece that. She seems to think pink looks good,” Duncan’s voice is deceivingly calm, but there’s an edge to it. I feel him shrug. “I, on the other hand, think gray suits me better.”

“Are you okay?” He whispers softly in my ear, never taking his eyes off Nathan.

I blow out a shaky breath and stiffly nod. Rather than let me go, he pulls me closer to him. Securing my back against his chest. My heart skips at what he’s silently conveying. The warmth radiating from him grounds me and alleviates the coldness swimming through my veins with Nathan’s arrival.

“So it’s true,” Nathan grinds out, sneering at Duncan and glaring at me. “You are dating him.”

A chill runs through me at the rage shining in his eyes. Duncan, feeling it, moves me to his side and places his body between Nathan and me. Putting his arm around my shoulder, he tucks me into his side. Before I can deny it, Duncan responds.

“Yes. We’re dating.” Nathan’s nostrils flare, and Duncan places his lips gently but firmly on my temple before pinning me with a stare, warning me not to contradict him.

If this were under different circumstances, I might tease him about how fickle he is. But right now, I’m grateful to have him agree to be my boyfriend.

A flicker of emotion runs through his eyes that I don’t have time to read before he glances back at Nathan. “Is there any last thing you’d like to say to Ava before you leave her alone…for good?”

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