Page 97 of Honest With You

My gaze swings to him in irritation. “Stop reading my mind.”

He hides a smile behind the cup of what’s most likely a mocha, given his affinity for chocolate flavored coffee. “You’re my boss. It’s my job.” Then he shrugs off his shacket, placing it over my shoulder before guiding me to sit on the producer's chair, his chair, behind the monitors.

“This is your seat.”

“I prefer to stand during shoots or with the Director but–” He grabs a chair from the crew setting up and drags it beside mine, “--I’m happy to keep you company until we start shooting.”

I remain silent, hoping he takes the hint and just leaves me be, but of course he doesn’t.

“Are you okay?” Jesse whispers.

I nod stiffly, sipping on the hot chocolate and frown when I realize it’s filled with marshmallows. My head swings to find him already staring at me, his eyes meeting mine over the rim of his cup.

“When it comes to you, I remember everything, Ava,” he whispers.

Tearing my eyes away from his, I find a spot on the harbor, focusing on the boats idling.

“I remember everything too, Jesse.” Forcing myself to keep my voice as calm as possible, I meet his gaze, once again hoping he takes the hint and doesn’t make me spell it out for him.

He was the sun. I was the moon. Destined to be apart.

“I meant what I said back then, Ava. Every word.. I plan to win you back. I will earn your forgiveness and trust. Even if it takes a lifetime.”

I recognize the words. He said it to me once, in my old bedroom. The same place where we became one, before he broke me in half.

But that’s all they were.Words.

I’m not that fragile girl who broke anymore. I’m stronger. Smarter.

But I’m weak in his presence, and in this city we fell in love in, I feel like I’m at his mercy.

Still keeping my eyes locked on his, I down the rest of the hot chocolate and hand him the empty cup.

I want him to understand that the power has shifted. I’m not his ex.

I’m his boss, and he better remember that.

He takes it from me, his brows pulling together.

“It’s a damn good thing you’re so good with words then, Mr. Matthews. Because that’s exactly what I pay you to do.”

I get up and walk away. I’m afraid if I stay any longer, he’ll see my weakness reflected in my eyes. His eyes blaze a heated trail as they follow my every move for the rest of the day.

Iwatch as Ava paces frustratedly outside the hotel with her phone glued to her ear, whispering angrily at who I’m guessing is Uncle Luke on the other line.

We were just told by the poor front desk agent–who almost pissed himself after Ava practically tore his ear off–that they were overbooked and that we would have to share rooms, due to the convention in town. All our crew was local, including our director but the four of us were booked at a hotel in downtown San Diego. Correction, we were booked into three rooms, one of which was a suite that had a couch, but you would think they told her it was a closet with the way she reacted.

I’m almost positive this is part of Uncle Luke’s plan to force Ava and I together so we could have a conversation that didn’t even involve her walking away or ordering me around like I’m her secretary.

Truth be told, it hurt when she so callously disregarded what I said earlier, and reminded me in not so many words that I worked for her.

But I get it. I lied to her, ghosted her, and then abandoned her after promising never to leave her again. I wasn’t there for her at her lowest and it cost us. I’m going to regret that for the rest of my life, even when she finds it in her heart to forgive me.

Yes,when. Because stepping back is no longer an option for me, no matter what she throws my way.

Ava is, and always was, the only one for me. So she can fight it as long as she needs to, but she’s only fooling herself.

I still see it. Uncle Luke sees it, heck, everyone in the office sees it but her.

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