The Probability Of Not Loving You

Chapter 7: After

I don't know where you're going
But hey, never stray too far
'Cause I'll tell you now
I'll tell you now
I like you just the way you are
It's the same old constellation

- Constellations, Tom Odell

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After ~ 26 years old and have yet to receive the formula to life and love

Ava and Alex had always wanted to study the same things. Alex wanted to follow his grandfather's footsteps and follow into the world of property. His father, Beau, was an architect, so building things was in his DNA. Seeing him all suited up and professional melted her insides.

Ava had a JD but she never had desire or drive to be anything, even her degree had come about as something to spite Alex with. Her brother, Lucas, was a big time lawyer and was often in one homicide trial and the next. It was expected that he would take over the law firm someday, he was already a partner. Roman had an MBA and worked in advertising with their father. It wasn't that she wasn't given opportunity to be something but she had never wanted to be anything. Well, she did. She wanted to be Alex's wife. That had been her dream throughout high-school until he shuttered that into a million pieces.

The only person whom she didn't feel incompetent around was her sister-in-law, Athena. Athena made being a socialite attractive. She was smart, gorgeous and knew exactly what to say and when to say it. It helped that most of her time was spent on charitable endeavours and brought Ava along with her whenever she could. Ava didn't have a foundation of her own yet but she would one day soon. Making money didn't appeal to her but helping others did.

"Ava," Athena uttered in a pair of PJs as she opened the door.

It surprised most people how accustomed to the "normal" life Athena was. Next to her brother, Ava often forgotten that she was indeed a Princess. Most people were Star-struck but when you attend St.Michael's Preparatory school for the wealthy, knowing royalty was common place. There had been a Japanese Prince in her school year, maybe she should have fallen in love with him instead. Now Alex would have been jealous about that.

Ava loved her sister-in-law. She was the sweetest person in the world and it helped having a sister after only having only brothers growing up. However, her sister-in-law was another Alex no go zone. Chryseis was married to Athena's brother. When everyone goes to the same school, they end up marrying each other. A clean break from Alex was something Ava hoped for but it was never truly possible. In a way, Ava liked that fact. She always knew that he was out there somewhere and alive.

"Did you say Ava?" Her brother came from behind his wife, shirtless. "What are you doing here?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "Can you put a shirt on?"

Lucas ran a hand through his mop of hair. "I am a newly wed, you know. You can't just show up to my house."

"You have been married for months. Also, you are my brother, there is no time out from that."

"Come in,"Athena said dragging her inside the house. Everything about Athena was gentle and kind. "We were just about to make breakfast."