One night stand with my daddy's best friend
26

Chapter 26 Liam

It'd been three days since that fateful dinner. Three days since we had received the full blast of Thomas's anger. Three days since I dropped Ava off at Linea's house.

Three days since my heart broke.

It's a funny thing, getting your heart broken. It's ironic because I thought I didn't have a heart. But I learned.

The pain in my chest wasn't from carrying furniture around my house, rearranging rooms that didn't need it. The ache in my head wasn't from working overtime, obsessing over things. The sleepless nights weren't from too much coffee. It ached everywhere, getting your heart broken. That's what I learned.

It also became all-consuming. Made a man distracted and useless at work. And I tried to push past it. I tried to be there for my patients.

But when one of them pointed out that maybe I was the one who needed fixing, I threw in the towel. I locked myself in my office and considered my options. One, do nothing but wallow and suffer.

Two, go behind Thomas's back and see Ava anyway. But then endure the guilt afterward.

Three, speak to Thomas. Lay everything out in the open and take whatever comes.

The last one was the most intimidating. But that's what I needed to do. It'd only been three days and it felt like a lifetime.

Ava had quickly become the center of my universe. I saw her everywhere. In everything. Just a few days without her smile and I was miserable.

Cooper, you've got it bad.

I needed to fix this, ASAP.

Ava didn't want to see me now that Thomas had forbidden it. Probably to respect her dad's wishes. Or prevent me from getting a broken nose if

Thomas saw us together.

But I couldn't live like this.

I'd give anything to see her, hold her. I missed the way she'd rest her head on my chest, and I'd inhale her sweet feminine scent and feel her lush curves against me.

I had to get my girl back.

I had ruined her relationship with her dad. And if we saw each other behind Thomas's back it would only make things worse when he found out. I needed to set things right with him before pursuing anything with her.

It felt like the end, the way we'd left things on Sunday. But it couldn't be over for us. Not only did I need her like I needed my next breath, but I also wanted to be in my child's life, too. Fuck, I wanted to be in both their lives. And Ava would never settle for only having only me or Thomas in her life. She'd want peace between us.

On my way out, I gave the nurse instructions to close up. Just in case I took a fist to the face and couldn't see my patients.

I clutched the wheel with shaky hands, tearing down the road toward Thomas's home. I glanced in the side mirror and caught my reflection. A confidence I didn't feel stared back at me. How are you always so calm?

Soft and sweet, her voice lingered in my head. I missed her. So much. I buried whatever hesitation I had and pushed down on the gas pedal. It's now or never.

The late evening sun shone on Thomas's home. I came to a stop in the driveway behind his car.

Before I could reconsider my decision, I stepped out of the car. I made my way up to the front door, drew in a deep breath, then knocked.

The door creaked open slowly and the lump in my throat grew. I fisted my hands and stood my ground.

Thomas stood in the doorway. The scowl that covered his face couldn't be mistaken. He wasn't happy to see me.

"What are you doing here?" He took a step forward and filled the doorway with his bulk.

He'd foregone his usual cardigan for a T-shirt that spread across his chest and clung to his biceps.

I wasn't intimidated. Not one bit.

"Didn't I tell you to get the hell out of my house? Why did you think you

could come back here?" "We need to talk."

"You have nothing" he stabbed a finger at my chest "-nothing at all I want to hear. And we sure as hell have nothing to talk about!"

"If you won't hear me out for the sake of our friendship, think of Ava!" His face became murderous. "Don't say her name."

"This is killing her." It's killing me. "You probably hate me right now. Hell, I'd hate me, too, if I was in your shoes. I fucked up. I know. But we need to fix this for her sake." Thomas shut his eyes, the tendon in his neck jumping. I waited.

"For Ava."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

He opened his eyes and threw me a scathing look. "You better have a damn good reason for why this happened."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! He turned and headed back inside, leaving the door ajar.

I glanced behind me before following him into the house. Here's to hoping I could convince him my reason was a good one.

Thomas stalked to the kitchen. He grabbed the refrigerator door and jerked it open.

He rummaged around and grabbed a bottle of beer. His fingers grazed a second but he withdrew his hand and slammed the door close. He popped off the cap.

After a long swallow, he slammed the bottle down and folded his beefy arms across his chest. "Start talking."

Here goes nothing...

"I never planned this, Thomas."

"You mean me replaceing out you were sleeping with my daughter?"

I cringed. "I didn't know who she was. I was new in Hannibal, and I went to Busters. That's where we met."

He frowned. "That was before you came over for dinner." "Yes."

I clenched my teeth over my ignorance. I should have seen the resemblance. But Ava swept me away that first night.

And every day since.

I brought my head back to the present. "I should have known, but it'd been years since I was here. I had no idea who she was, Thomas."

He looked down at the island, his brows knotted. "I guess you couldn't have known" His gaze shot up. "But you knew who she was the night you came over for dinner?" I gritted my teeth. "I did."

"And you kept seeing her after that?!"

"No-not at first. It was supposed to be a one-time thing." "You wanted to use her and leave her?"

"Jesus, Thomas! She's a woman, not a child, and if she wants to be casual, that's her decision!"

If Thomas's eyes could shoot daggers, I'd be dead. But he didn't respond.

A few beats passed before I continued. "We stopped seeing each other. It worked for a while, until it didn't."

"And this whole time, you didn't see fit to tell me? You didn't think I'd want to know my daughter was pregnant?" His brows lifted. "Oh my God, I'm such an idiot."

He paced the kitchen, muttering, "The dizziness, the near-fainting... When did you replace out?"

It was no use trying to sugarcoat it. The longer this conversation went on, the more I realized how betrayed he likely felt.

"The night you brought her over."

"Oh God." He pressed both hands to his face. "My poor Peanut."

Guilt wound through my chest. He'd been worried that night, but I'd given him empty lies to distract him.

"You!" He suddenly looked up, rage burning in his gaze. "Tell me why the fuck I should let this go! You lied to me. Why should I believe you now?"

"I was respecting her wishes. I was looking out for her, Thomas!"

"By screwing her? You said you didn't plan any of it. Do you even want the baby? Do you even care about her?"

The accusation sent a knife through my heart. "Of course, I fucking do!" I was raising my voice. I never did that.

If Ava could see me now, she'd never call me calm again. I should back down, and work things out peacefully. But his assumptions angered me.

"It might have started casually. But we're not just hooking up. Hell, it's never been that."

Even that first night, I didn't want to leave her. I'd looked at her beautiful face, her lashes fanning her cheeks, and thought I was a fool to walk away.

"I care about Ava..." I swallowed. "Deeply."

"Don't sell me bullshit, Cooper."

"I fucking wish it was bullshit. Then maybe I could finally do something other than think of her all day."

His eyebrows pulled together.

I doubled back quickly. "What I'm trying to say, Thomas, is that even if given a choice, I wouldn't change the last few weeks. The only thing I would do differently is not keep it from you. But Ava? I cannot wish her away. She's an incredible woman with a huge heart. She has the best laugh I've ever heard. And she's brilliant."

A smile stole over my face. "We talk for hours and she makes me laugh. I've never had that. I've never had someone who accepts everything I am and sets me at ease in every way. Someone with whom I can be completely comfortable."

I swallowed past the thickness in my throat. "So... I know how this looks. I know how it may seem. But I treasure her. I'm dedicated to taking care of her. Making her feel safe and loved. And giving her and our baby everything they need to be happy and whole."

Thomas's gaze stayed on mine, his eyes doubtful.

"And I understand the way everything unfolded has hurt you, Thomas. Believe me, I do. And I'm sorry. I never meant for it to turn out this way. You're my best friend and I don't want to ruin our friendship. But I love Ava so damn much. I can't walk away."

Thomas's brow lifted and he croaked, "Love?"

I swallowed. I had no idea I'd said the words. He'd surely clobber me now.

But there was no way I could deny it.

I nodded. "Yes. I'm completely at her mercy."