Be careful what you wish for

15. The Man

Swaying with Avery made my heart beat fast, but with Ethan, it was different. My heartbeat still pounded hard in my chest, but that was because I hardly knew the guy, and having his hand around my waist made me uncomfortable.

"Hi," he said, grinning.

"Do you always smile?" I asked, exasperated.

"If I have enough reason," he shrugged then kept his smile on. I sighed, then the look on my face softened.

"Why did you bid for me?" I asked adamantly.

"Well, that's what the charity's for, right?" He said and I rolled my eyes. He surely knew how to navigate his way through a conversation.

"But you didn't have to compete with Avery, you know," I informed, and his grin faltered into a smile.

"You're right, but I can't help it," he said. I looked quizzically at him. I felt he was flirting, so I pulled back my hand from his shoulder then began to step away.

"I have to go look for Avery," I said then walked off. A few steps away from Ethan, and I heard him call out my name. I grabbed a handful of my dress so I could fasten my pace when I felt a grip on my right hand, and I was tugged back.

I held my breath when I felt Ethan's hand on my waist, moving softly to the right of my waist, and then I felt my dress being zipped back up. My mouth fell open. He was rescuing me from a mishap.

"There," he said, then let go of my hand gently. I turned around and watched him take a few steps back with his grin on, his hands inside his pockets before turning on his heels, and eventually disappearing into the crowd, leaving me overwhelmed.

I looked hesitantly around to see if anyone saw what just happened then began leaving the hall. I arrived in the foyer and failed to see Avery until my sight fell on the window to my west. He was outside the building, so I went after him.

"... no, you were never there, Avery. All you ever cared about was about your job, and how to keep up with your stupid stature, so do not tell me that it was all my fault." I heard Aria hissing under her breath. I decided to stay behind the bushes and listen for a while.

"So, what happened to the promise you made before all of this even started, huh? You know, people marry because they promise to stick with each other no matter what, but you, the moment I had all of this, you began planning to take it away from me," Avery retorted. There weren't people around to hear them fight or else, I would've felt obligated to stand between them, not because Aria knew I was his wife, but as I said at the platform, I was his friend.

"I did what I assumed you were doing, too," Aria informed, her voice getting a pitch higher.

Avery scoffed, "By loving me back? Because as far as I was concerned, I did nothing but love you and keep loving you no matter how absorbed I was with my work. So, tell me, Aria, is that how you love back? By leaving them?"

"Oh, yeah? If you really love me, how come you're already married?" She snapped. I heard Avery sniggered.

"So, my marriage to Jolene is the fault now? I married her after you decided I wasn't an important part of your life anymore," he said and I realized Aria had nothing to say anymore, so I decided to show up and pretend that I had heard nothing.

I felt the piercing pain in my chest tighten when I saw what I wasn't expecting to see at all.

Aria held Avery's face tight in her hands, while he had his on her waist. They were kissing, and I thought I could go blind by the pain.