“No,” I said quietly, my heart aching. “I just wanted to know if there was any part of you that doesn’t hate me.”
Her chin wobbled as she stared at me. I waited, held my breath, and ignored the people starting to watch us with curiosity.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said in a clipped tone, then stood up.
I stood up too. “Ava…”
But she was gone, already doing an Olympic-worthy walk to the exit. I debated running after her to tell her she had the story wrong. I neverusedher. She was the love of my life. I’d never felt for another woman the things I felt for her. But what was the point? The damage was already done. Even if I explained—and by some miracle she forgave me—I’d never gain her trust again.
Michael opened the door. Wearing his typical solemn expression, he gave me a proper assessment. The way I leaned on the wall, barely able to hold myself up, and my dishevelled appearance told him everything.
“Shit. You’re drunk.”
“Little bit,” I slurred, holding my index finger and thumb close together.
He shook his head and stepped aside without another word, and I stumbled into his apartment. When I threw myself ontothe sectional, he folded his arms and peered at me as a father would a child.
“I’m going to assume you didn't drive here because you're way too responsible for such reckless behavior… right?”
I snorted. He was such a dad… which made sense since he actually had a kid. Speaking of… “Of course, I didn’t drive. Where’s Poppy? I don’t want her to see me like this.”
“Asleep. She got bored without Mia here. Apparently, I'm not as much fun.”
I grinned. “You’re not. Where’s the wife?”
“Mia is hanging out with her brother tonight.”
“Good, good. Bring out the bourbon. I can afford to get a little more shitfaced.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Rough day?”
“You have no idea,” I sighed.
With his eyebrows hiked up a little higher, he said, “In that case, I guess I’m drinking with you.”
He disappeared and came back with the bottle of bourbon I requested and two glasses. He sat and filled them. Sliding me one, he said, “I’m cutting you off at two glasses. You’re already half drunk.”
“Well, I need to getblindingdrunk, Mike. Okay? That’s the only way I’ll escape my wretched thoughts. That’s why I came here rather than going home. If I’m alone, my guilt will eat me alive.”
“What the hell happened, Linc?”
I took a gulp and winced as the liquor burned its way down. I started the bourbon fest at the restaurant after Ava walked out. I had quite a few before I got an Uber.
“My ex-girlfriend happened.”
His features twisted into lines of confusion. “The only ex I know about is?—”
“It’s not Charlotte.” Charlotte was the only woman I dated seriously after Ava. She was now happily married to one of my best friends, Jamie. It sounded strange, but it was a romance worthy of making the Hallmark Channel. I was happy for those crazy kids.
“Lincoln, you’ve never dated seriously after Charlotte. Which ex has you drinking like this and stumbling around drunk?”
Flopping back, I tucked my chin into my chest. “The one I never uttered a word to you guys about because it was too painful.”
Michael’s eye widened a fraction. My tight-knit circle of five had very few secrets between us.
“She showed up in LA the other day. I never thought I’d see her again. I mean, it isn’t like I had any reason to visit Springfield since my parents moved. The reunion was… tense.”
Michael sat forward with his elbows on his knees, watching me as if trying to defuse a bomb. “Okay… and are we going to talk about it or just drink about it…?”
