“Ava,” I started to approach her.
“No!” she screamed, stepping away from me, “Don’t you dare touch me!”
I stopped not sure what to do. She was still in so much pain and wasn’t going to allow me to comfort her.
“Ava, don’t go. Stay.”
If she would just stay, I could take care of her. I could help us get through this. She didn’t respond other than to shake her head and close her eyes. I needed her to open them. If she wasn’t going to let me touch her she needed to open her eyes to see how I felt about her.
“Why… Why should I stay?” she pleaded, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. “Why?” she screamed at me. “Give me a reason, damn it! Give me a reason to stay!”
I stood there, needing her to look at me, to touch me, and she would understand why. I knew what she wanted to hear. But I wasn’t saying it. Not when she wouldn’t let me hold her and not when she wasn’t looking at me. She needed to feel and see that I was telling her the truth. She opened them momentarily, so I started to move towards her again to comfort her.
“No,” she screamed, pushing me away, stepping back, again. “Don’t touch me. You don’t get to touch me. You weren’t here!” she screamed. “You weren’t here when I needed you!”
She was in so much pain. I didn’t know what to do other than hold her and tell her I was sorry. She wasn’t going to let me do that, though. She was driving me crazy. She was begging for me to make her understand and asking me to be there for her, but she wouldn’t let me.
“Ava, I’m sorry,” I begged for her to understand. “I am so sorry, babe.”
“Just get out!” she screamed as I heard him walk in the door.
My anger immediately started to surface. I should have fucking taken the little bastard out at the hospital. I let his words and my fear of hurting Ava further keep me from her that night. And seeing how much this was all torturing her, I wanted to take him out right now…but just like it would have killed her that night, she was still bearing too much grief for me to do anything now.
“Get out!” she screamed, again.
I turned back to her, staring at her, the pain and sorrow crippling my body. I couldn’t stand to see her like this and as much as I wanted to go to her, she wasn’t going to let me near her. Not today. I reluctantly turned to leave. It wasn’t because I was giving up. I wouldn’t give up on her. I would never give up on us.
THANK YOU FOR READING!
I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, I would greatly appreciate a short review on Amazon, Goodreads or your favorite book website. Reviews are crucial for any author, and even just a line or two can make a huge difference. Thanks again!
AVA AND RHETT’S STORY CONTINUES IN
The Only One
Maybe that was the problem with David and me. He obviously didn’t know me well. Didn’t know that I looked forward to my thirties. That being married was the last thing on my mind. In fact, I didn’t ever want to be married. I wasn’t the kind of woman that dreamed of her wedding day or wanted a house full of kids. Nope. Not me. Ever.
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Website:
www.melissaellenwrites.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to thank my sister, Christy, for all the encouragement in writing this book. Without your continued support, I am not sure I would have been able to write this book. Thank you for believing in me and helping me to believe in myself.
Also, thank you to my friend, Ryan. The continued enthusiasm you had when you read as I wrote helped make it fun and exciting. And thank you for your collaboration on the book cover illustration. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
About the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Thank You
Coming Soon
Acknowledgments
A Reason to Stay Page 26
