Contractually Ever After

Chapter 7 - Damage Control

I hear a brief knock on the bathroom door, and then it opens enough for Wade to put his head through.

"Oh, Avs, Princess. None of this is because of you. I swear, Ava. Please give me a chance."

Wade fully enters the bathroom, getting a towel, then turning the shower off.

"I did give you a chance, Wade. I turned up to that crazy wedding. We exchanged vows that made me, yours and you,mine. But I wasn't enough, I wasn't her."

The tears flow again. Little did Wade know my childhood was spent daydreaming, wishing we could have run off into the sunset together, with him loving me. Maybe I had clinged onto that fantasy a bit too tightly as I grew up. There was never anyone else who shined so bright in my eyes or my heart as he did when we were younger. Clearly, that boy is now lost in the man Wade has become.

I stand and take the towel off him, but I can't help noticing the way he looks at my naked body, eyes filling with lust as his gaze burns over every inch of my skin. I turn to wrap the towel around me. Wade speaks as he stands.

"Don't, please. Don't hide from me, your perfect Ava, I was so incredibly stupid last night, but I promise it was no more than a kiss."

"I've known you a lot longer, Wade, and she earned more in a few hours than I have in years."

The hurt was evident in my voice.

I turn and sit on the side of the bed, my eyes down trying to rack my brain of answers. Wade kneels down in front of me, trying to look into my eyes. He holds my hands in his, and I can't help but notice the sheer size difference.

"I'm sorry, princess, I don't know what else to say. My behaviour towards you yesterday was disgusting. You didn't deserve it, any of it. Please, Ava, tell me how to make this right."

"You need to let Reaper inside."

Is all I can come up with, realising Reaper is still outside. Wade chuckles and cups my cheek.

"With all this pain you're feeling and you're still thinking of someone else."

"Please, Wade, just leave me. Go find someone else who makes you happy. It isn't me, and it never will be me."

I finally get out, hoping he'll agree

"Ava !"

Wade warns

"I didn't mind the getting married part. Obviously, it was less than ideal. But you know how my father can be. He gets an idea in his head, and that's it. I just didn't want..."

"Me, you can say it, I'm not stupid Wade. You just didn't want me."

I stand and try to step around him, but he's quicker and much bigger than me.

"Ava, you're my best friend's, kid sister."

He states, and then his eyes are back to roaming my nakedness. I wrap my arms around myself, not sure what I'm protecting my modesty or my heart.

" I WANTED YOU, WADE!"

I gasp, my hands covering my mouth, stupid brain ! I scan around the room for where to go, I need space, I'm not thinking clearly. But Wade moves to block the bedroom door.

"Not this time, we're doing this, no running away, Ava."

His arms crossed over his chest.

"And what did you mean by 'you did you wait for me'? "

he asks, curious about the slip up from last night.

"You were drunk."

"My ears worked just fine. There was bound to have been boyfriends."

I just shake my head. embarrassed by my naivity of it.

"A first kiss ?"

"Yesterday, Wade. At our wedding are you happy now ?"

Wade sits on the end of the bed, with the weight of a thousand truths hitting him at once. Stuck with a lack of clothes, I wrap the towel around me once again.

"s**t !"

Wade exclaims as he punches down on the mattress and walks off downstairs. I just climb back into bed, hoping that's it done with for now.

He's back 10 minutes later, with Reaper leading the way, and he hands me my medications and a cup of coffee.

"Thank you."

I say, staring down at my cup.

"Milk, no sugar. Um, Nate told me."

"How's your jaw ?"

Wade chuckles again, God. I love it when he laughs. Stop Ava !

"It's fine, one of many between us. I'll live."

Reaper jumps up curling around my body as if to protect my space. I take my tablets, getting the feeling I'll be needing them.

"What's going on with them, Avs?"

He asks regarding my medication.

"Nothing to worry about."

I try to appease him.

"If anything was to go by, I'd say it is a cause to worry."

"Honestly, I hadn't taken them in days before the wedding. They slipped my mind. I'm fine."

Not wanted to discuss how I'm 21 with high blood pressure.

"I wanted to talk to you about something."

My eyes dart to him. This is it. He's going to set us both free.

"I need to fly back to America, I'm not sure for how long, come with me ?"

I get out of bed realsing we're not done and decide to look for any clothes.

"Oh, in here, sorry."

Wade opens a white panelled door that matches the bedroom walls to display a walk-in wardrobe on the left side filled with items for me.

"Um, thanks."

"Wasn't me, thank Penny."

he states. oh god, save me now. There's no knowing what that shedevil has brought.

I dress as he watches my every move.

"I don't think so, Wade, I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

He snaps out of staring at me, the bulge from his manhood becoming evident.

"America. I don't think I'll come with you. I think it'll be wise to let the dust settle from last night. I already feel like an i***t. I don't need the news in agreement."

I turn from him, not wanting to look at him. He's upon me fast, spins me around, lifts my head up with my chin, and kisses me. Out of the blue. The softest of kisses as his hands caress me. Then I freeze, and all I can think about is his actions of last night.