Page 15 of Flirting with Sunshine

“I know.”

I shifted on the couch, uncomfortable in every way. “I gotta ask you something, Ava.”

“Okay.”

“How in the world did you end up with a guy like that?” I didn’t mean to be offensive or cruel, but the second I asked the question, I wanted to take it back.

Thankfully, Ava didn’t look upset. It was almost as though she’d expected me to ask.

“He wasn’t always like that,” she explained. “That guy back there? I don’t even recognize him anymore.”

It was the only thing that made sense. Because I couldn’t picture her with someone so deceptive and unkind.

“He used to be nice?” I asked, my tone showing I was unwilling to believe it.

The Liam I knew was cutthroat and willing to step on anyone in order to get ahead. It wasn’t atypical in our industry, especially for someone his age, but he seemed more intent than most who had come before him. He always acted like he had nothing to lose.

Ava nodded her head slowly. “I thought so. We started dating back in high school. He was such a different guy then. Quieter, you know?” She looked like she was remembering a simpler time, a time I couldn’t even imagine, much less picture. “He was still determined and wanted to be successful, but not at any cost, the way he is now.”

A cough escaped from somewhere deep in my throat, and Ava shot me a look.

“Sorry,” I said, putting up a hand. “It’s just that the man I knew was willing to do anything to succeed.”

“I learned that eventually. But up until that point, I was pretty naive. I trusted him. And I stupidly believed that love could conquer all.”

“It’s not stupid to think that,” I said without a second thought, and I could tell that I surprised her. “You were just with the wrong person.”

A small laugh escaped from her delicate lips. “You think so?” she asked.

“I know so.”

“I guess love doesn’t stop you from cheating.” The words were followed by a long exhale, and I wondered if she knew the details of his infidelity or not.

“You knew about his affair?”

“I found out,” she said, swallowing hard before her beautiful eyes narrowed in my direction. “Wait. You knew about it?”

I hated admitting this part to her. It felt too personal. Too none of my business, but I couldn’t lie. Wouldn’t lie. “I knew. Everyone in the office knew,” I said, clearly adding insult to injury.

“That’s so embarrassing.” She avoided eye contact, and I completely understood why she felt that way even though I hated that she did.

“It is, but not for you,” I tried to reassure her. “When I tell you that he was the one who looked like a dick, I mean it.”

Aside from a few guys who had high-fived his exploits, the rest had known it would blow up in his face eventually. But guys like Liam had to learn the hard way.

“Still,” she said, “his assistant. It’s so cliché.”

“It is,” I agreed.

“I hate that he showed up here, dredging up all these feelings,” she said out loud, and I wasn’t sure if she was talking to herself or me. “I had him neatly tucked away in a box. And now, it feels like I’m back at square one, if that makes any sense.”

It made too much sense. Seeing Liam here, a part of the life I’d left behind, dredged things up for me too.

“I get it completely. He’s done some damage here too.” I tapped the side of my head with my finger.

Her eyes softened, and I knew what was coming. “Can I ask about your wife?”

This was the part I’d been dreading the most. There was no way to avoid it. Not after what Liam shouted for everyone to hear and interpret how they saw fit. But I hadn’t been ready for it.

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