Learning to Love You

6. An Unsettling Settlement

"Had you noticed that before?"

Stacy's question left Ava searching for words. Dinner was over, and Nathan had left, to Ava's relief. But before he left, Nathan made sure to remind her to drop by his office tomorrow. Ava had no choice but to oblige, otherwise, he would visit her apartment next. Which he had no trouble locating being a private investigator. So now, Ava sat, dressed in her pajamas, inside her apartment with Stacy and Jeremy. Jeremy whined as Ava tried to find a reasonable excuse for not knowing about Nathan's wedding band.

"How did I not notice it? I am the observant one!" Stacy scowled at Jeremy's words.

"Clearly, you are not."

Stacy turned towards Ava again. She was Ava's closest friend since high school. After graduation, the two chose different careers but their friendship was not affected in the slightest. Ava clicked her tongue and undid her hair as she spoke. Her head felt lighter as she did.

"I would have noticed if he had worn that before. I saw it for the first time today."

"Do you think he's married?"

"I have no clue."

An idea popped into her head as she devised the perfect reason to break up with her fake boyfriend. She smiled evilly and rubbed her hands. Maybe he was not the best private investigator after all. Had he been, he would have hidden his ring before meeting her friends and pretending to be her boyfriend.

"Maybe he is two-timing me."

Stacy ran a soothing hand on Ava's back as she half whispered the question.

"Did you guys sleep together?"

Ava sighed deeply and hugged Stacy to show that she was terribly saddened. But deep down her insides were tap dancing. Nathan Brooks was out of her life for good.

"I am so sorry, babe. I was so happy that you finally found someone nice."

Ava began to make sniffing sounds. Her mind raced with possible ways to rid herself of Nathan and the drama at her base. She will tell him that her friends saw his ring and he can not pretend to date her anymore. He should not show up near Stacy or Jeremy and wait for her to visit his office again, which she obviously would not. She will lie to him about the dinner party getting canceled. Or maybe she could take him with her because no one at the base knows her friends. It would be a win-win situation and he would be out of her personal life.

The moment Ava receives the news of her promotion, she will request to change her base and travel to a different location. She might have to start afresh but staying at her current base could be detrimental to her career if Marcus was found guilty. Ava will miss Stacy and Jeremy, but they can always meet her after a few weeks or so. This way Ava will not have to worry about Marcus Roberts being guilty or not. She knew that Marcus could pose a threat to her by the way he talked to her as she left his office the last time. But she could not let that ruin her career for good. Stacy's voice brought her back to reality.

"Do you want me to stay over tonight?"

Pulling back, Ava lightly brushed her cheeks to wipe the fake tears and responded in a low voice.

"No, I will be okay. I just need sleep." And a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

As Stacy and Jeremy left after comforting her, Ava closed the door behind them and boogied happily in her apartment. Ava smirked and thought out loud.

"It is true what they say, every cloud has a silver lining."

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The ding of the elevator signaled Ava's arrival at Nathan's office floor, a sense of apprehension knotting her stomach as she stepped out into the sleek, modern lobby. Nathan had insisted on meeting here, away from prying eyes and curious ears, but the thought of facing him alone still made her uneasy. The last time she came here was to find information about the case.