Normal | Rhekker

Chapter 64- Say Don't Go

Connor knocked on the door before he entered Mr. Harris's office.
"Mr. Rhodes, good to see you, not every often people ask to meet with me"
"Normally the other way around" he chuckled.
Connor sat down in front of him, "You wanted some more PR for the hospital right?"
"Yes"he nodded, shuffling his papers.
"If I give you a name, How much PR would it take to make sure a paramedic never steps foot in this hospital again?" He touched his chin.
Mr. Harris adjusted his seating, "that can be arranged"

*

Connor cleaned himself up after work in the bathroom, he wanted to make sure he looked presentable for her. He ran some gel through his hair and re sprayed his cologne. Checking his freshly shaped beard still looked right.
He met her outside her office, picking her up. Ava stepped out a gave him a weak smile, closing the door behind her. Connor drove them, Ava looking out the window of the passenger seat. This was Connor's idea, she just agreed to go along with it.

Ava sat on the far side of the sofa, a pillow in front of her.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Andre Holmes, it's good to meet you two" he shook there hands.
"How are you both feeling today, Mr. Rhodes and Mrs. Bekker"
"Ava's fine" she said.
"So, Ava. How do you feel about being here"
"I don't get why I have to be here"
"This is couples counselling, you are a couple"
"Are we?" Ava pressed out her lips.
Connor looked down. "That is an avenue we can explore" Andre said.
"So let's talk about why we are here" he leaned back.
Connor looked to her before looking back. "I hurt Ava, by lying to her about what happened in Minneapolis"
He nodded, "that's a good start"

He wrote something down, "what exactly happened in Minneapolis?"
Ava stared blankly at him.
"I ran into my ex girlfriend and her daughter, and I was deceived into believing that it was my child" he exhaled.

"Why don't we talk about you for a minute Ava"
She raised a brow, "about what?"
"Why did you feel the need to run away when you found out the news?"
She stared blankly at him, "are you joking me"
He didn't response.
"Am I supposed to apologise or something?" She sat up.
"I think it's important to understand the actions taken to escalate or descalet the events"
Ava didn't respond.
"Could your actions and feelings have been intensified by the fact that you can't carry children of your own?"

Ava took her bag, storming out of the office, she leaned back against the building front, her arms crossed tightly and the wind moving her hair. The door opened to the side of her. Connor stepped out, "you left your jacket" he cleared his throat.
Ava stood up and he placed it over her shoulders.
"I'll wait in a coffee shop if you want to finish that" she brushed the hair from her face, looking down at her shoes.
"That was completely unprofessional of him" he touched her shoulder.
"We'll go home. It's meant to be done together"
Connor walked away and Ava watched him, flowing a few steps behind. He opened the car door for her.

Connor stopped at their apartment, letting them in Ava set her things down. Brushing her hair through her fingers she tied it up. Connor watched her, making her way to the liquor cabinet.
"Let's do this our way" Ava handed him a whiskey, downing about half of hers before refilling the glass.
"I think Robyn's a head case and if I never saw her again it would be too soon"
Connor nodded, "direct"
"You wanted clear communication" She sipped her drink, making her way to the sofa.
"I lied, I don't like you seeing other people" he sat across from her.
"Kind of guess that one"

"Em, I don't like that your were in the wrong yet my name got dragged" she smiled.
"I intend to release another statement condemning their actions once I know where we stand"
"Where we stand?" She parroted.
"So what will it me more or less sincere if we stay together"
He ignored her comment, she was goading him.
"I'd prefer if you didn't go to the papers again"
"Why not? You had your fun with them"
"Robyn called them. She wanted us to be photographed together"
Ava felt a knife slice through her heart, taking a long sip of her drink.
It had been purposeful, that catalyst that lead to every article and paper written on her.

"Did you want to sleep with Robyn?" She didn't want to hear her name again.
"Do you still love me?" He countered, rising to her.
Ava stood her ground.
"No" he sighed.
"Why not?"
"Its not like you haven't before"
"Because she's not you" he snapped.

His words hung stickily in the air, "of course I still love you" she set her drink down.
"Ava I don't want to run into you five years from now, and need to look for a ring to know what's going on in your life"
"I want us to work, Ava, I want to stay together" he touched her ankle.
Ava met his eye, holding his gaze before standing, taking her glass and finishing its content.
She set it in the sink, wiping her eye.
"Here" Connor stood next to her. Cupping her cheek she looked to the ceiling as he delicately brushed the eyelash from her eye.
He stood back, holding her cheek.
"I love you"
"I'd never hurt you Ava, not intentionally"
She turned her head stepping back.

Connor took a deep breath.
"I have to go back to Minneapolis, for the business tomorrow"
"If you tell me not to go I won't-" he started
"I don't want you to go" she said shortly, walking to the bedroom.