Chapter 38

Ethan’s Pov

“Our relationship is for cameras and the public. That’s all it ever will be, there’s nothing real between us.”

Ava’s words strike a hole through my heart. I thought things were going well, I thought that maybe despite everything, she was starting to really see me for me and not Ethan the Alpha of Blue Moon group.

“Why?” The question slips out before I can control myself. It repeats itself over and over in my head, swirling around my thoughts until it is the only coherent thing I can ask.

Why?

“Ethan,” She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose and shutting her eyes tightly. “You have to know what this is about, you can’t keep pretending that you don’t.”

I blink a few times. What on earth was she talking about?

“I don’t know, please just explain it to me and I will do whatever you need me to to make it up to you.”

That was apparently the wrong thing to say, as Ava’s eyes shoot open and she looks at me with a hard, unwavering expression.

“You know what I saw that night, you know what I know. Please stop pretending that you don’t.” Her tone is hard and commanding. A little voice in the back of my head cries out how proud I am of her for standing up for herself, even if it’s against me.

Just a month ago she was a meak, quiet little thing. Now, she held her own and I loved it.

I love her! That little voice cried out and I tried to suffocate the thought. Love wasn’t an option right now. I liked her, but love? No, not yet.

I had to tell her what she wanted to hear to make this whole fight go away. I couldn’t stand another week of her avoiding me and hiding in her room.

“I know,” I lied through my teeth. “I know and I’m sorry. For everything.”

I had no clue what I was sorry for, but that must have been convincing enough for Ava. She took a deep inhale and the tension in her shoulders melted away.

“Alright.” She relented. “I understand it’s not your fault, feelings aren’t your fault.”

I cocked my head to the side, still not sure what she meant but going along with it anyways, “Right of course.”

“We just need to officially be friends only. Not friends who kiss sometimes or friends who get drunk and sleep in each others’ beds.” I raised my brow at her as she spoke.

“You’re the only one who did that,” I reminded her.

She waved me off and continued, “We are strictly friends behind the scenes and any cute lovey-dovey things we do are reserved for public events and interviews. We can’t blur the lines or things will just keep getting messy and confusing.”

I nodded my head, though I couldn’t say I actually agreed with what she was saying. Where was the harm in a little kissing or acting on your urges?

My heart leapt as I recalled the numerous times we’ve come close to taking our relationship a little too far, but never quite getting there. The stolen kisses in heated moments turned my stomach and I wanted nothing more to kiss her again right then and there.

I respected her and her feelings, though. I didn’t agree fully, but I wanted her to know I would agree to whatever made her happy.

“Ok,” I agreed. “Strictly friends who don’t kiss or anything beyond that.”

She gave me a crooked look, not sure if she believed me. I gave her an innocent shrug and she shook her head with a smile.

Affection swelled in my heart. She was so beautiful, even when she was a little mad at me.

“Do you want help with those?” I gestured to the bowls of cake batter she left on the kitchen counter. She looked down at them and started mixing the batter to get rid of the clumps.

“Do you even know how to bake?” She squints at me with a knowing smile. I grin back at her and shake my head.

“Nope!”

She giggled.

“But you can teach me… as a friend.” I took a few steps closer to her, our shoulders brushed as she continued stirring the mixture.

“Are you sure?” Her tone is light and teasing. I inhaled deeply, happy to be surrounded by her scent once again. The smell of her lilac shampoo, the cocoa butter lotion she liked to use. It was so her, I missed it.

She handed the bowl to me and I tried mixing the batter. It was thicker than I thought it would be, my hand kept slipping and flinging batter on the counter. Ava giggled and placed her hand over my own that was holding the spoon.

“Here, slow even movements,” She said softly, leaning into me. Her cheek brushed against my bicep as she helped me stir the cake mix. The spots of skin that she touched erupted in heat against my skin. I smiled down at her as she helped me, my heart hammered against my chest.

The rest of the night was spent in quiet company with each other. It was the most peaceful night we’d shared in almost two weeks. Despite the peace of the night, I kept resisting the urge to pull her close to me as we sat on the couch.

Being ‘only friends’ would be more difficult than I thought.

The next morning I had to get to work early once again. My working hours were getting longer and longer the closer chairman elections came.

That morning I had set aside an hour of my time to speak with Mars about what he found out at Andrew’s fiance’s birthday party - before he got drunk out of his mind.

Mars barged into my office at nine on the dot. He was eager, he never showed up for our meetings on time.

“Ethan.” Mars groaned and sat in the chair opposite me at my desk. “It’s bad.”

“What did you learn about him?” I prompted.

“He’s moved up their wedding date to before the chairman elections!” Mars shouted, though he wasn’t mad at me. He was just angry. “We’re running out of time and the more wedding plans he makes the more he gains support. Everyone loves a good love story.”

I nod along as he speaks. Olivia already told me about the expedited wedding date, but Mars obviously needed to get it off his chest.

“His wedding will give him more publicity and we’ll lose every chance we have at getting Olivia out of that engagement.” Mars rubbed his hand over his jawline, stress creased his brow. “I can’t lose her. She can’t marry him, he’s so awful to her.”

“I know,” I stepped away from my desk and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. I’d known Olivia since I was a child. She was there for me during my failed relationship with Sarah and I’d known her longer than I’d even known Mars. To me, she was the little sister I never had.

I wouldn’t let her marry such an evil man.

“I know he’s got wolves spying on his contestants, too. Found a couple that were supposed to follow Donatello and get some dirt on him. I’m sure there are some working in your company so Andrew can learn about your weaknesses.”

I nodded along as he spoke and tried to devise my own plan. A bulb lit up in my head. Mars was right in what he said earlier. Everyone likes a good love story.

“I’ll increase mine and Ava’s public appearances. I’ll double them.”

Mars looked at me incredulously, “That’s all you’ve got? That won’t be enough to make a difference!”

I held my hand up with a glare, effectively silencing him.

“Ava is the key to fixing everything. Trust me.”