“Yup. Never got rid of it. I did all my surgeries and rehab at the UVA hospital.”
Unease settles over me. I take a few bites of the berries and then push my plate away. “I should get going before the traffic gets really bad.”
It’s a flimsy excuse. But I need some time alone to figure out exactly how my life with Lucas is going to be in the States.
Thankfully, he doesn’t object. He calls the butler, asking her to bring my clothes back. He dismisses her once she’s completed the task, and helps me get dressed. We walk down to the lobby together, our hands linked. The physical connection helps settle my nerves.
He puts me into a waiting taxi and hands the driver a five-thousand yen bill.
“That’s too much,” I say. “I can take care of the fare.”
He shakes his head. “You’re mine. Let me provide for you.”
“But—”
“Don’t fight me, Ava. I’ll send someone to help you pack and we’ll go out to dinner tonight.”
He leans down and gives me a quick kiss on the mouth. When he pulls back, the taxi driver, mildly scandalized, closes the door. I turn and watch through the window as the cab carries me away from the only man I’ve ever loved.
* * *
Ava
Less than an hour after I get back to the apartment, Bennie barges in. His black-socked feet stomp on the floor like a raging rhino’s. I stare, surprised that he’s already home. Normally he has after-school club activities that require his supervision.
“Tell me where the son of a bitch is. I’m going to kill him!” Bennie yells, fists clenched and ready to throw.
I think I have a pretty good idea of who the son of a bitch he’s referring to is, but I don’t want to talk about that right now, especially when he’s in this kind of mood. “What are you doing back so early?”
“Melissa the Aussie, who has a friend at your school, said that you were called into the principal’s office and left with your things. And the rumor is apparently going around that you’re a slut who went to a hotel room with a guy late on Sunday while cohabiting with another guy.”
I cringe. God. It hasn’t even been a full day. On the other hand, I’m certain Kouchou-sensei and Mishima-sensei wasted no time tarring and feathering me, most likely using elegantly passive-aggressive Japanese.
Bennie continues, “There’s only one asshole who’d try to ruin your life this way.”
“Do they know that you’re the guy I’m living with?” Melissa works alongside Bennie, is totally fluent in Japanese and integrated into society here. I don’t want his job to be affected by what’s going on in my personal life.
“Not at the moment. But I wouldn’t be su
rprised if that fucker reveals the information just because. He’s out to win the Asshole of the Century award.”
I sigh, my shoulders sagging. “You’re safe. Lucas isn’t going to tell anyone.”
Bennie’s face flushes. “You think I care about that? I’m upset for you. Now he’s forcing you into taking that Thailand job.”
Probably not the best time to mention the offer’s gone, and thanks to Lucas. “I thought you wanted me to.”
“I did, but only because I thought it’d be good for you to work for someone who values your professional capabilities, not like your Kouchou, who’s a xenophobic bitch. But I wouldn’t have pushed you to take it if it wasn’t what you really wanted. Lucas isn’t doing this for you.”
“I know. He wants another chance.” I give Bennie a quick summary of what happened between me and Lucas in the last few hours.
Bennie listens, his jaw slack. When I’m finished, he shakes his head.
“You slept with him?” He makes it sound like I’ve doused myself with gasoline and then juggled lit matches.
“Well…yeah.”
“After what he’s done to you?”