Chapter 7 : Girl Talk

Ava

I’m off today, and the luxury of a free day stretches ahead of me like an inviting haven. After a leisurely morning of warm sunlight filtering through my curtains and the gentle rustle of leaves outside, I decide to take advantage of this rare moment to catch up with Emma.

She's busy packing for her upcoming trip, and honestly, I’m going to miss her while she’s gone. It's not like I won't be checking up on her while she’s gone, but it's times like now I wish I had more friends. She's jetting off to Colorado with her boyfriend for a week-long skiing escapade.

I find myself envying her freedom to take these trips whenever she wants. It’s not as if I’d grown up dirt poor, but we definitely didn’t make enough money to take off on a trip to Colorado. One year, when I was a kid, we’d made a trip to Virginia to see some family, but that was the only major vacation I can recall having taken.

“Hey, Ava!” Emma’s voice chimes as she drags her suitcase out of her bedroom and eyes it skeptically. I’m sure she’s already going over her mental checklist again, wondering if she’s managed to get everything she’s going to need.

It's probably really rude to point out that she can just buy whatever she forgets, right?

“Hey, Em! How’s the packing going?”

She lets out a dramatic sigh. “Ugh, you know how much I hate this part. But the thought of fresh mountain air is keeping me motivated.”

I chuckle, watching her shuffle around the living room, gathering her belongings for the trip.

As she folds clothes with practiced precision, tucking away essentials into her suitcase, we chat about her plans for the trip. The rhythmic sway of fabric accompanies our conversation, lending a comforting ambiance to our words.

"I can't wait to hit the slopes," Emma exclaims with a spark of excitement in her eyes. "There's something magical about skiing down those pristine mountain slopes, the rush of cold air against your cheeks."

I nod, feigning enthusiasm for her adventures. "It sounds exhilarating. And that crisp alpine air must be a welcome change from the city smog."

She chuckles, folding a sweater neatly. Either she doesn't care that I’m being sarcastic, or she’s unaware, but either way, it makes me laugh.

"Oh, absolutely. It's like a breath of fresh life. Plus, the scenery is breathtaking. I'm really looking forward to the break."

As she continues arranging her belongings, she lets out a sigh of mixed emotions. "You know, I feel guilty leaving you here, especially with everything that's been happening with your dad."

“Whoa, hey,” I sit up, and Emma looks at me wide-eyed.

I smile reassuringly, understanding the concern behind her words. "Don't worry about me, Em. I've got everything under control. And honestly, having some time to myself is a blessing. It's a chance to unwind—all of this has been super stressful, you know? Some quiet time is called for."

She studies me momentarily, her expression a blend of appreciation and worry. "You're strong, Ava. I know you can handle whatever comes your way."

Her words warm my heart, a reminder of the bond we share. "Thank you, Em. Your support means a lot. Now, go enjoy your trip to the fullest. Take in all the beauty and make unforgettable memories—then come back and tell me all about it."

It’s my turn to give her a pointed look, and she rolls her eyes.

Emma smiles, folding a pair of jeans. "I will, I will! You’re gonna have to take me up on the offer to just come with me sometime. It's not like you couldn’t find yourself a fling while you were there to avoid being a third wheel or whatever.”

I scoff, but she continues.

“Anyway, when I come back, we'll have a ton to catch up on. I want to hear all about your adventures while I'm away." She smoothly redirects the conversation to what she really wants to know—if I’ve managed to find my sugar daddy.

I chuckle, a little uncomfortable at being put on the spot. "Adventures? Oh, you know me, just a regular hermit enjoying the peace and quiet."

My attempt at deflection works about as well as I thought it would.

She gives me a skeptical look as she finishes stuffing the last of her things into the suitcase, zipping it with a flourish. “You ended up finding someone at the party, right?”

I grimace when she meanders her way to the front door, completely unaware of my internal debate, as she pulls on her shoes and grabs her purse off the rack.

Honestly, I’m miserable at the thought of telling her the truth. It wouldn’t be so bad if I’d accepted her original offer for help, but now that I’ve more or less fallen into this … thing with her dad, it felt weird. Like I’m trying to seduce him, or fool her, or something.

But I don’t want to lie if I don’t have to.

I force a grin, shrugging. “Yep, I did. And you were right—it was just business. He hasn’t even asked for anything yet.”

Emma lets out a playful sigh. “I told you! So, who is he? Is he, like, fuckbuddy material or—” She wiggles her eyebrows expectantly, and I hesitate, completely going blank at the direct question.

“He’s ... interesting. But I can’t tell you too much right now.” I don’t even know what to say or how to say it. What can I tell her that won’t blow this up in my face anyway? It’s shitty of me to pretend he’s someone else and give her all the dirty details—assuming we ever act on whatever this is between us, anyway.

I definitely need to find more friends if I want to have any kind of girl talk.

She huffs playfully. “Come on, Ava, don’t be such a tease! You have to give me something. Is he nice? Hot? Generous?”

I let out a strangled laugh. “Okay, okay. He's successful, charming, and I actually am really attracted to him, but things are really … weird. I’m not used to a dynamic like this, so we’re still feeling each other out.”

She giggles, and I can tell she’s romanticizing it to herself from the pitch of it. “Sounds like he’s a fox. You better spill more when I get back, okay?”

I’m sure if she realized I’m talking about her dad, she’d have chosen a better way to describe my mystery man.

I try not to laugh too hard at her choice of words. “Sure thing, Em. Have a great trip!”

As Emma leaves, I find myself in comfy clothes, feeling like a slouch as I settle onto the couch to watch something. I’m only half-paying attention to it, drifting between sleep and glancing at the screen, when there's a knock at the front door.

Confused, I get up and make my way to the door. When I open it, I’m taken aback to find Liam standing there, looking impossibly handsome in a three-piece suit. He looks … intense. Those dark eyes tear into me as I shuffle in the doorway, and unease starts to creep up my spine.

"Is everything okay?” I ask, then feel a little sick as I follow up, “Is Emma okay?"

He nods quickly, and I let out a relieved breath. "She’s fine. Can I come in? I … have something I need to talk to you about."

I’m self-conscious about standing in my comfy clothes next to him, but I let him in. He walks past me, and I can't help but glance at his backside as he goes. The suit is clearly tailored to him, showing off his body in a way that I, personally, think is unprofessional. Not that I will complain about the view, but … well, honestly, no man should be allowed to be this attractive.

As soon as the door closes, he turns to me, stalking forward with predatory eyes. I stumble a bit as I back away, letting out a squeak as he presses me gently against the front door. I barely realize he’s trapped me until I hear a click as his fingers slip behind me, locking the deadbolt while his other arm braces him against the wall.

I inhale sharply at the sudden proximity, eyebrows climbing as his chest brushes against mine.

“Liam, what are you—”

He kisses me.

He kisses me like a man dying of thirst, and I’m the last drink of water on Earth.

It’s fierce and passionate, and I’m lost to him completely, drowning in it as his thigh slips between my legs. My hips rock instinctively as my hands find their way to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. A soft whine leaves my lips when his teeth catch my lower lip, and I can feel his smirk against my mouth.

It’s not enough.

My fingers tangle in his messy hair, gripping the strands at the base, and he lets out a soft hiss. This isn’t enough—but I doubt it ever could be. I want more of him—no, I need more of him.

He pulls away, slightly breathless, and takes me in.

It's that pause that brings my brain back online enough to worry about how I must look—the man is wearing a suit, for God's sake. My stained-up tee and shorts suddenly feel very out of place, but when he flexes his thigh, still trapped between mine, I decide I’m not all that embarrassed about looking like a hot mess in front of him.

In fact, I rather like the thought of him making me even messier.

“I thought you had something to talk about,” I manage, trying and failing not to grind against his thigh. He helps me along with a shift of his leg, and the friction is maddening—for a second, I forget we’re supposed to actually be communicating.

He’s supposed to be talking to me, not riling me up! Not that I can really complain as I squirm against his leg, feeling his own excitement nestled against my hip. Maybe we can just get this out of our systems and never have to talk about it again—that sounds fair, right? Let the sexual tension that’s eating us alive run its course?

"Do you want to stop?" Liam asks instead, and I shake my head immediately. His hands drift to my waist, nails digging into the skin just beneath my shirt as I wriggle in his arms.

My heart is racing, but there's no hesitation in my answer. "Fuck no."

“Good girl,” his purr is hypnotic, and I let out a stuttering breath as my eyes flutter shut.

Liam chuckles, and the sound rattles around in my brain as he kisses me again.