The Act

•28•

Wiping away a rouge tear, I trained my gaze outside the SUV window. Damien and I haven't spoken since our heated conversation at the villa. I muttered a small 'thank you' to him when he placed my luggage in the trunk of the SUV, but other than that, we haven't uttered a word.

Damien and I have also been getting some curious looks from his friends. Neither of us address the looks, but I can tell they want to ask what happened. By the solemn look taking over Tristian's face, he already knows.

Once we pulled onto the airstrip, all of us filtered out of the vehicle. Damien made sure to keep his distance as we boarded the plane. I could tell my words hurt him. They were meant too.

Once we landed in Seattle, I was last to disembark the jet. Damien went to assist the bag handlers as Payson, Carson and Tristian lingered behind to give me their condolences. I put on the best smile I could manage before we all went our separate ways. I made my way towards Damien's car. He held the passenger door open for me but didn't meet my gaze as he took my hand, helping me into the vehicle. Closing the door behind me, he crossed the front of the SUV before climbing into the front seat and starting the car.

Damien kept his eyes trained on the road; his face unreadable. One thing I knew for sure was that my words hurt him. They were supposed to.

Pulling up to my apartment complex, Damien was the first out of the car. He grabbed my luggage from the trunk as I opened my own door and climbed out. I looked up to my apartment door, wondering what I will be walking into.

Damien rolled my suitcase over to me. My hand ghosted over his as I took the handle. Damien shoved his hands in his pockets as I started for the concrete stairs.

"Avery," He said, the gentleness coating his tone nearly breaking the last of my resolve. Closed my eyes, reinforcing the stone wall around my heart.

"Please don't," I breathed, tears welling up in my eyes. Taking the handle of my suitcase, I continued for the concrete stairs. "Go home, Damien."

I trudged up the stairs and knocked on my front door. It swung open to reveal Amara, who took a breath and stepped aside. I walked into the house to see a teary-eyed Emery curled up on the couch. Sniffling, she lifted her head; her eyes meeting mine. She was instantly out of her ball and throwing her arm around me, sobbing into my shoulder. It took everything in me not to fall apart with her.

"Amara's waiting. You ready?" I heard Emery ask. Lifting my head, I met her gaze in my mirror. Emery had tied her curls back into a bun at the top of her head and decided on a black off the shoulder dress that hugged her curves. A sheer black shawl was draped across her shoulders.

I shook my head, dropping my gaze to my hands once again. "I don't think I'll ever be ready."

I ran my hands over the flowy vintage black dress I'd decided on and grabbed my shoes from the floor. Turning around I took Emery's hand in mine and we started for the front door.

I kept my eyes locked on my father casket the entire ceremony. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. We were supposed to be happy. My dad was supposed to be here to walk me and Emery down the aisle and threaten our future husbands to treat us right. He was supposed to be here to spoil his future grandchildren.

Instead, I got Jace, and he ruined everything–ruined me. I ground my teeth together as tears burned the back of my eyes as my father's casket was lowered into the ground.

Once the ceremony had concluded, I shook the hand of the funeral celebrant and thanked him before trailing behind Emery and Amara toward the parking lot. When I looked up, I spotted Emery standing in front of a familiar black SUV, enveloped in Tristian's arms. The front door opened to see Damien climbing out of the car, his eyes landing on me.

I folded my arms across my chest as he approached me. Dipped my head, I asked, "What are you doing here, Damien?"

"It's a tough day. I thought you'd could use the support." He answered, stuffing his hands in the pockets on his slacks.

With a roll of my eyes, I sidestepped him and hissed, "I don't need your support, Damien. Go home."

I wasn't even halfway to my car when Damien spoke again, louder this time. "You are allowed to have feelings, Avery. It doesn't make you weak if you share your feeling with someone."

"You just don't give up, do you?" I scoffed, turning around and now very aware of all the eyes on us. I shook my head and let out a bitter chuckle. "What do you want from me, Damien!"

"I want you to let me in," He states, stalking toward me. "You don't need to always handle things on your own!"

"That's just it, Damien, I like being on my own. I'm better off on my own," I shouted. "God! If I hadn't gone to Fiji—hadn't lost myself in you—this would be so much easier."

"So now you're blaming me for all of this?"

"No, I'm blaming myself," I admitted. Damien's eyes noticeably softened as I continued. "If I had stayed home, I wouldn't have slept with you and this wouldn't be so complicated."

A moment of silence passed before Damien said, "You're right."

"What?"

"You're right," Damien repeated. "If you would've stayed home, I wouldn't be finding it nearly impossible to get you out of my head."

I shook my head. "You don't mean that."

He took a step closer to me. "You once asked me what my favorite color was. I didn't have an answer for you at the time, but now I do."

"Stop,"

"Hazel green. Because that's what I see every time I look into your eyes."

"Damien–"

"As for my free time, Avery, I want to spend it with you. You're constantly doing something that intrigues me whether it's the way you gnaw on your cheek when you're thinking or the fact you'd cook an entire buffet because you weren't sure what everyone likes."

"I said stop!" I shouted. Tears were now streaming down my cheeks. "Why can't you pretend you never met me?"

Damien took another step toward me. "Because if I hadn't met you, Avery, I wouldn't be breaking the promise I made."

My eyes widened as anger roiled in my veins. I shoved him in the center of his chest as hard as I could, causing him to stumble back slightly. "You promised you wouldn't. You promised!"

"I know," He breathed.

"We're done," I said with a shake of my head. "This–whatever we are–is done."

Turning around, I started toward my car. I could hear Amara and Emery's shoes clacking against the asphalt as they caught up to me. Amara wrapped an arm around me shoulders, opening my car door for me.

"Avery—" Damien called out, taking a step toward me. Emery whirled around, holding a hand out in front of her.

"I think you've said enough." She snapped before turning on her heel and continuing toward the car.