by Sandi Lynn
“So you decided to ditch the gym this morning for those?”
I laughed. “Yes. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Happy birthday, Avery.”
“Thank you.” I gave a tender smile. “Claudia and Lisa always make me Belgian waffles on my birthday. It’s kind of a tradition. It’s my first year waking up alone on my birthday, so I thought I would treat myself.”
The corners of his mouth curved upwards. “You didn’t have to wake up alone. If you recall, I wanted you to spend the night at my place last night. I would have made you Belgian waffles.”
I gulped and crossed my legs. The waitress walked over and poured Liam a cup of coffee.
“May I take your order?”
“Yeah. I’ll have what she’s having.”
His killer smile was too much this early in the morning. Damn him for being so hot and nice.
“Didn’t you just work out?” I asked.
“Yep, but it’s your birthday and I don’t want you to eat Belgian waffles alone.”
“You could have had some of mine.”
He chuckled. “You won’t share a bed with me, but you’ll share your waffles?”
“Yep. Sharing a plate of waffles isn’t dangerous.”
He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “Why is sharing a bed dangerous?”
“You’re a guy and wouldn’t understand. So let’s move onto another subject, please,” I spoke as I took a bite.
Liam reached across the table and ran his finger down the corner of my mouth. My heart started racing and my thighs were starting to kill from being closed so tight.
“You had whipped cream there.” He smiled.
“Thank you.” I looked down as I wiped my mouth with my napkin. “Did Cam ever sell your apartment?”
“Yes. Funny you should mention that. I’m meeting with him to sign the papers this afternoon.”
“Good. That must be a relief.”
“It is. Now that’s one less thing I have to worry about.”
I finished my waffles, and as Liam was finishing his, my phone beeped with a text message from Joel.
“You need to meet me at the jailhouse in fifteen minutes. One of our clients was just arrested.”
I sighed. “On my way.”
“Everything okay?” Liam asked.
“I have to go. One of my clients was just arrested.” I pulled out my wallet.
Liam placed his hand on mine and I wanted to explode. “Your birthday breakfast is on me and I don’t want to hear a single word about it.”
My eyes locked with his. “Not a word,” he said.
“How about a thank you?”
“I’ll take those two words.” His smile widened.
“Thank you.” My lips gave way to a smile as I got up from my seat. “I’ll talk to you soon, Liam.”
****
As I walked down the hall to my office, Ella jumped up out of her seat.
“Happy birthday!” she exclaimed as she followed me inside.
“Thank you. What’s all this?” I smiled as I looked around my decorated office.
“Just a few balloons for your birthday. We’re having cake in the kitchen in an hour.”
I noticed a large floral arrangement that was made up of light pink roses, white lilies, and sprays of greenery sitting on the edge of my desk. I opened the small white envelope and removed the card.
“Happy birthday, Avery.
Love, John”
My stomach tightened as I crushed the card in my hand.
“So, is that from Liam?” Ella asked in excitement.
“No. They’re from a client.”
“Damn. I’ll come get you when we’re ready to do cake.” She walked out of my office and I sat down, feeling sick to my stomach.
He hadn’t acknowledged my birthday in thirteen years. Why now? As I was pondering and being angry, I looked up to see Claudia and Lisa standing in the doorway.
“Happy birthday, baby!” Claudia exclaimed.
I jumped up from my chair and ran over to her and Lisa, giving them both tight hugs.
“Happy birthday,” Lisa spoke as she kissed my cheek.
“I’m so happy to see both of you.” I smiled with tears in my eyes.
“You look thinner. Have you been taking care of yourself?” Claudia asked.
“Yes, Mom, and I’m not thinner.”
Lisa walked around my office, checking things out from the floor to the ceiling. “This is a nice office. Better than the one you had at the other firm. Oh, who are these beautiful flowers from?” she asked as she sniffed them.
“From a client,” I lied. I just couldn’t tell them at that moment they were from John.
I looked at my watch. I grabbed my purse and pulled the key to my apartment from it, and handed it over to Claudia.
“Here’s my key and you already have the address. I have a meeting to get to now, but I’ll try to be home early.”
“Sounds good, sweetheart,” Claudia spoke as she kissed my cheek. “Enjoy your day and we’ll see you soon. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Okay. See you both soon.”
As they walked out, Ella walked in. “Who were they?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I should have introduced you. Those two ladies are my moms.”
“Both of them?” she asked with confusion.
“They’re lesbians.” I winked.
“Oh. Cool. Anyway, it’s time for your birthday cake.”
The office staff gathered as well as the partners and I blew out my twenty-four candles that lit up a beautifully decorated sheet cake. After thanking everyone and devouring a piece, Joel and I headed over to the courthouse.
****
“Why are we going to Willow’s?” I asked as the three of us climbed in the cab.
“Because she and Cameron are going to dinner with us. Surprise!” Lisa smiled.
“What? Really?”
“Yes, and we want to see this lovely apartment of hers first.”
I was beyond excited to celebrate my birthday with my moms and Willow and Cam. It was starting to feel like old times. When we reached their apartment, I knocked on the door and it slowly opened, but it was dark inside. Suddenly, the lights went on and people were everywhere, shouting, “Surprise!”
I placed my hands over my mouth and tears started to fill my eyes as Willow and Cam gave me a hug.
“You didn’t really think we wouldn’t celebrate your birthday on your birthday, did you?” Willow smiled as she clasped my shoulders.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe this. Thank you.”
I stared across the room at all the people who gathered to celebrate my birthday, but the only person I saw was Liam, smiling at me and holding up his glass.
Chapter 26
Liam
Seeing her so happy made my night. She deserved it, especially after seeing what her father had done to her. She smiled at me from across the room, and at that very moment, I knew for a fact I was falling in love with her. I grabbed a glass of champagne, walked over to where she was standing, and handed it to her.
“Happy birthday, Avery.”
“Thank you, Liam.”
“Well, hello there, you stunningly handsome young man,” the woman next to Avery spoke as she looked me up and down.
“Claudia, Lisa, this is Liam Wyatt, a client and friend of mine. Liam, these two lovely ladies are my moms.”
I leaned in and gave each of them a light kiss on the cheek. “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Liam.” Claudia smiled.
“I’d totally go straight for you.” Lisa smirked.
I chuckled. “Thank you. I think.”
“Mom! Stop it!” Avery squealed. “Liam, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I think they’re great.” I gave them a wink.
She placed her hand on my arm. “I’ll be right back. Willow is calling me over.”
I stood there as Claudia and Lisa st
ared me down and talked amongst themselves, not caring that I was standing right there in front of them.
“Boyfriend?” Claudia asked as she looked at Lisa.
“It’s possible. But I doubt it. Remember what Avery said after Harrison. Plus, wouldn’t she have told us?”
“I know, but this one’s different. He’s actually hot and no, she wouldn’t have told us.”
I cleared my throat. “I can hear you.”
“We know.” Claudia smiled. “So why don’t you fill us in on who you really are.”
“I’m Avery’s friend and client. Just like she said.”
“They’re sleeping together,” Lisa spoke to Claudia.
“Excuse me? How do you know that?” I asked.
Lisa narrowed her eyes and slowly nodded her head. “Body language, my dear. The two of you have the body language that indicates you’re sleeping together.”
“Well, I can assure you we’re not.” There was no way in hell I was admitting to her parents that we were having sex. That was wrong on so many levels.
“What are the three of you talking about?” Avery asked as she walked over.
Thank God.
“We were just asking Liam if the two of you were sleeping together. No big deal, sweetheart.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Why do you two always do this? Yes, we’ve slept together a few times and that’s it. Casual sex and two adults having a good time. Other than that, there’s nothing going on. I’ll be right back. Cam is waving me over.”
I suddenly became nervous as Claudia and Lisa stared at me. I couldn’t believe Avery just told them that. Who admits that to their parents? I wanted to run out of there and away from them as fast as I could, but they had me backed up against the wall.
“You seem like a really nice guy, Liam, and we don’t want you to get hurt by Avery’s actions,” Lisa spoke.
“What are you talking about?”
“Avery’s been hurt many times,” Claudia said.
“And she has daddy issues,” Lisa chimed in.
“I know all about her father. She told me and I know how hard it was seeing him again.”
Both of their eyes widened. “What? She saw John?” Claudia asked.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“She didn’t tell you? He was the opposing attorney on the case she was working on for us.”
“No she did not,” Claudia expressed with irritation.
“Please don’t tell her I told you. Let her be the one. Now, back to how I’d be hurt by her actions.” I wanted to know exactly what they meant.
Lisa sighed. “The reason I said that is because I can tell you really like her. I can see it in the way you look at her, but I get the feeling she isn’t reciprocating. Am I right?”
I pursed my lips together. “Yes. You’re right. I’m trying. I really am. And when we do spend time together, it’s amazing.”
“And the sex is great?” Claudia asked.
I just sat there and stared at her. I couldn’t believe I was having this awkward conversation with them.
“You don’t have to answer. I can tell by the expression on your face that it is.” She smiled.
“Listen,” Lisa said as she placed her hand on my arm. “We’ve always been very sexually open with our daughter and there’s no need to be embarrassed. If the two of you are having great sex, I say ‘wonderful.’ But if you want more from her and she’s not willing to give it, there’s a problem.”
Claudia chimed in, “After her breakup with that nasty, self-absorbed man, Harrison, Avery shut down. That was the final straw. She’s dated a lot of guys and every one of them led her on and then broke her heart. In her weird-ass mind, she somehow thought Harrison was different.”
“But we knew right off the bat he was a player and he was going to hurt her,” Lisa intervened.
“We never liked him and Avery knew it, but she didn’t care. But you, on the other hand, I think it’s safe to say we like you.” Claudia smiled.
I laughed. “You don’t even know me.”
“Well, let’s just say we have already spoken to Cameron and Willow and then we googled you, Mr. Wyatt. You seem like a good man with a good head on your shoulders and you know exactly what you want. If you want a relationship with our daughter, then you’re going to have to chip away at that stupid wall she’s put up. Has she mentioned the wall to you?”
“No.” I shook my head.
“She will.” Lisa rolled her eyes. “She’s a fighter. That’s what makes her a damn good lawyer and you’ll have to fight back twice as hard.”
I cleared my throat as I saw Avery walking towards us.
“What’s going on over here?” she asked as she took a seat in the chair across from us.
“Nothing, sweetheart. Liam was just telling us about his company,” Claudia spoke.
“I see.” She glared at the three of us.
The party continued and Willow brought out a birthday cake and we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Avery. I couldn’t help but to take a few pictures of her. She was so beautiful and so happy. When the last guest left, I asked Avery if she would come out on the balcony with me. She did and I handed her a beautifully wrapped box with a white bow.
“Happy birthday. I wanted to give you this in private.”
“Liam, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Yeah, Avery, I did. It’s your birthday and we’re friends. Plus, you’re my lawyer and I always buy my lawyers something for their birthdays.”
“No you don’t.” She laughed.
“Okay. I don’t. But this year, I did. Go ahead and open it.”
The smile on her face grew as she untied the white bow and removed the lid from the box.
“Liam. Oh my God. This is my favorite perfume. How did you know?”
“That night I was at your place, I saw the bottle on your dresser and noticed it was almost empty.”
She looked at me and then looked down. “Thank you, but you shouldn’t have.”
I placed my finger under her chin. “You’re welcome.” A tender smile crossed my lips.
“Wait, what’s this?” She pulled out the white card that was attached to the inside lid. She laughed. “Good for one night of sex. No sleepover required. Any time and any place.”
She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug. “I wish I could take you up on that offer now, but my parents are spending the night and I have to go home with them.”
“I know. The offer doesn’t have an expiration date, so you can use it at any time. I better get going so you can spend some time with your family.” I placed my lips on her forehead. “I hope you had a great birthday.”
“I did.” She smiled brightly at me.
I said goodbye to Lisa, Claudia, Willow, and Cameron and headed home. I kept thinking about the conversation we had about Avery’s so-called wall and I was determined to break through it, little by little and piece by piece.
Chapter 27
Avery
After thanking Willow and Cam for the best birthday party ever, my moms and I slid into the back of a cab and headed home.
“So are you going to tell us what is in the box Liam gave you?” Claudia asked.
“A bottle of Coco Chanel perfume and a card for a night of sex.”
“Damn. I like that man.” Lisa smiled.
“So exactly what is going on between the two of you? You say you’re only sleeping together, but I think there’s more,” Claudia spoke.
“There’s nothing going on between us except sex. That I promise you.”
The cab pulled up to my building and we climbed out and went up to my apartment.
“But he seems like a really great guy and I can tell he really likes you.”
“Yeah. He really does seem interested in you, Avery,” Lisa chimed.
“He is a great guy and that’s why I’m keeping him at a distance. The wall,” I moved my hand up and down in front of me, “is protecting me.”
“You and
that damn wall,” Claudia snapped. “You need to knock that down and start living life again, sweetie.”
I sighed. “I am living life, Mom. I’m happy with the way things are. Guys do it all the time, so why can’t I? Listen, I don’t want to discuss Liam Wyatt anymore tonight. There’s something else we need to talk about.”
Nervousness filled my insides, as I was about to spring on them that I saw John.
“I saw John. He was the opposing attorney for the client that was suing Wyatt Enterprises.”
“And? What did the little ball-less bastard have to say?” Claudia asked as she and Lisa took a seat on the couch.
“Not much. We did our business and he did a lot of staring. When the meeting was over, he whispered to me that he’d be in touch.”
“Have you heard from him since?” Lisa asked.
“The flowers you saw on my desk were from him with a card wishing me a happy birthday.”
Claudia got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, shaking her head. “So after all these years, the spineless piece of shit actually acknowledged your birthday.”
“What are you going to do?” Lisa asked in a calm tone.
“I’m doing nothing. He doesn’t have the right to want to be a part of my life. If we happen to run into each other in court, I’ll look the other way. He’s nothing to me but a stranger.”
“I knew this was going to happen if you took that job,” Claudia spoke as she leaned against the counter. “I knew you were going to run into him and you knew it too.” She pointed her finger at me.
“Maybe I did know it.”
“You want his approval, Avery,” Lisa spoke. “It’s natural. He’s your father, even if he doesn’t act like one, he still is. You want him to be proud of you.”
“I could care less what he thinks about me.” Tears started to sting my eyes.
Lisa got up from the couch and wrapped her arms around me, kissing the top of my head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re only human and it’s normal to want his acceptance and praise, even if he is the total asshole of the entire male species.”
****
Claudia and Lisa were up before me at five a.m. I rolled off the couch and dragged my tired ass to my bedroom to shower and get ready for work. They wanted to get an early start back because Claudia had some work to finish up in the lab, so we decided to have one last breakfast together before they left.
