Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2)

by Rebecca Barber

  Ava didn’t speak. There were no words. The colour drained from her face and she felt lightheaded. Amanda continued to snicker for a couple of moments, but as soon as she realised that Ava had turned a deathly white she bounced off her seat, grabbed Ava’s arms, and lowered her into the nearest seat. Amanda kept chanting for Ava to focus on her breathing while she dashed off to grab some water.

  “Forget about it, Ava! Just breathe,” Amanda cooed as she dropped to her knees in front of her. “Just breathe.”

  They sat like that for more than fifteen minutes before Ava felt stable enough to stand on her own.

  Ava settled in her desk and tried to force the image from her mind. It was the same feeling she’d been trying to shake for twenty-four hours without much luck, and seeing it there in front of her did absolutely nothing to help. As if it could get any worse, the image wasn’t just dancing in the privacy of her mind. No, it was there for the whole world to see. Ava knew better than most that once it was out there, it never went away. That was the problem with the internet and social media. You could never un-see something. It would never fade. After the drama in LA only a few months ago and all the speculation and innuendos that followed she knew that these new images would only fan the flames.

  “Why was I so fucking stupid?” she scolded herself as she wiped her hands across her eyes roughly.

  “You weren’t,” someone replied, startling Ava.

  Spinning around, Ava came face to face with Jake, probably the last person she wanted to see. But there he was, perching his butt on the corner of her desk, arms folded across his chest and a sad, twisted smile on his face.

  “What are you doing here, Jake?” Ava asked with a heavy sigh.

  “I’m here to pay my bill.” Jake shrugged nonchalantly.

  “Oh yeah. That.”

  “So, when’s the big date?” he asked overly cheerily.

  “Date?”

  “Yeah, date. The one I paid thirty grand for.” Jake grinned, still obviously impressed with his own sneakiness.

  Pulling herself together, Ava sat up straight and looked Jake directly in the eye. “Well, I think you were robbed.”

  “Bullshit!” Jake said, louder than he’d intended. A few nearby workers gave him dirty looks, which he shrugged off without a care.

  “No, Jake, you were. I’m not going,” Ava declared adamantly.

  “You’re going even if I have to drag you there kicking and screaming,” Jake promised.

  “What’s it to you, anyway?” Ava challenged.

  Huffing loudly, Jake couldn’t help but soften. Ava knew as much as he tried to play the tough guy, the truth was Jake was a marshmallow. “I know you want to go and I know Tyler wants you there. So I don’t see an issue.”

  “Of course you don’t.”

  “Then tell me…why won’t you go?”

  “Have you not seen the papers? Or Facebook? Or Twitter? It’s everywhere!” Ava gushed.

  “No, why?”

  “There are photos of me everywhere! I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want that!” Ava explained, completely exasperated. “I don’t want people talking about me or looking at me. I can’t.”

  Silently, Jake pulled his phone from his pocket, typed quickly before replacing it, and then turned his attention back to Ava. “Ava, listen to me. Do you trust me?”

  Ava didn’t answer. She didn’t know. Jake had never given her a reason to doubt him, but for some reason she couldn’t form the words he wanted to hear.

  “Ava! Do…you…trust…me?” Jake enunciated each word slowly.

  After a brief hesitation Ava nodded shallowly.

  “Then listen to me. Go to dinner with Tyler. I promise no one will know where you are and you won’t be embarrassed.”

  “You can’t make those sorts of promises, Jake.” Ava sighed heavily. As much as she wanted to believe him, a part of her just wouldn’t allow it.

  “Yes, I can. And I am. Go. It will be okay. Promise,” Jake reaffirmed as he jumped off her desk confidently.

  “I don’t know—”

  “Stop arguing and just do it, you Muppet!” Jake declared, dropping a chaste kiss on Ava’s cheek before winding his way through the maze of desks and disappearing out the door, leaving Ava wishing she had something to throw at his retreating form.

  Chapter 41

  Tyler

  Tyler was desperate. He wanted to know how Ava was doing. If she was okay. Not just because of the photos, but he genuinely cared. Somehow, Ava’s hot-headed temperament and smart mouth had gotten under his skin and he couldn’t shake it. He’d seen firsthand her quick sarcastic and scathing comebacks when she’d been confronted by press in America, but here in her own home he hadn’t heard a peep. There was nothing on social media, nothing in the papers, and nothing on the television. Either Ava was lying low or she was biting her tongue. Tyler couldn’t help but pray she was okay. That realisation alone terrified him.

  Earlier, Katie’s text had come and shocked him out of his own head.

  Katie: U ok?

  Quickly Tyler shot off a reply before Katie had a chance to worry.

  Tyler: Fine. Y?

  Katie: Saw the paper.

  Tyler: Just bullshit.

  Katie: Liar. :-)

  Tyler: Get stuffed.

  Katie: How’s lover girl???

  Tyler: Bite me.

  Every instinct he had told him he should let Katie suffer. Let her think that her offhanded comments had upset him and he wasn’t talking. But Katie wouldn’t take it lying down. She never did. Instead, she’d start calling. And if he continued to avoid her, by tomorrow morning she would be on his doorstep. She’d done it before and Tyler was under no illusion that she wouldn’t do it again.

  Katie: Seriously tho? Everything ok?

  Tyler: Not sure.

  Katie: ?

  Tyler: Haven’t heard.

  The knot in Tyler’s stomach tightened.

  Tyler stared at his phone for a full minute, waiting for the text from Katie to come, but it never did. Instead moments later his phone lit up. She was ringing. That was never a good sign.

  “Tyler Andrews, you idiot!” Katie’s high-pitched voice squawked.

  “Oh, hi, Katie,” Tyler retorted casually.

  “Don’t hi Katie me! Are you seriously telling me that those pictures have been circulating for hours and you haven’t even bothered to call the girl?” Katie admonished.

  Tyler swallowed deeply. He didn’t want to admit it. As soon as he said the words out loud, they would be real, and real was the last thing Tyler wanted. Surviving in the land of denial was working for him. He wasn’t convinced that reality would be better.

  “Tyler!” Katie tried again when he didn’t answer.

  “No, Katie. I haven’t spoken to Ava since the other night. Happy now?” he snapped harshly.

  “No, I’m not happy. Are you?” Katie softened.

  “Ummm…not really.”

  “Tyler, I’ve gotta ask, why haven’t you called? You’ve had to deal with shit like this over and over and over again. She hasn’t. You need to be the one taking the first step here. Don’t expect her to know how to cope.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Then what are you doing about it?”

  “I don’t know,” Tyler admitted, feeling helpless.

  “Well then, I guess you’ve got a lot to think about. Call me if you need me,” Katie added before hanging up.

  After pacing about his apartment for twenty minutes, his ideas were no less muddled than when he began. Figuring he was getting nowhere fast, Tyler slipped into his workout gear and headed to the gym. Maybe he could sweat the frustration out of his system.

  Two hours and three bottles of icy water later, Tyler was no closer to a solution. He knew he needed to check on Ava but had no idea what to do or say, but he knew someone who would. Tyler bit the inside of his cheek and scrolled slowly through his contacts. He didn’t want to ask for help but he didn’t see any othe
r option. Jake was his only chance.

  Still not sure how to broach the subject, Tyler sent him a meaningless text.

  Tyler: Hey.

  Half an hour later his phone chirped a reply.

  Jake: Hey.

  Not wanting to look overly keen or desperate, Tyler forced himself to wait a full five minutes before sending his vague reply.

  Tyler: What’s happening?

  Jake: Working. U?

  As Tyler read the message he had the overwhelming sensation to throw his phone against the wall. Jake was giving him nothing. As much as Tyler wanted to imagine that Jake wasn’t aware of what his tormenting was doing, a small part in the back of Tyler’s mind could picture Jake sitting in his high-backed leather chair, feet on the desk and a wide sadistic smirk on his face.

  Tyler didn’t want to give in. He didn’t want to ask. He regretted even contacting Jake at all but he had no other option. Sucking in a deep breath and swallowing his pride, Tyler typed quickly before he lost his nerve.

  Tyler: How is she?

  The reply was almost instant.

  Jake: Who?

  Tyler’s frustration got the better of him. “You’re an asshole, you know that!” he growled as soon as Jake answered.

  “Well, hello to you too.” Jake chuckled.

  “Enjoying this?”

  “More than you know, Tyler. More than you know,” Jake taunted.

  “Well?” Tyler pushed, growing impatient.

  “Well what?”

  “Jake!” Tyler huffed, all the anger mysteriously evaporating from him only to be replaced with an all-consuming fear. “Come on, man. How is she?” For some reason he couldn’t bring himself to say her name. It was an all-consuming fear that if he said her name then it was all too real.

  “Chill, Tyler. She’s okay. That one’s tough,” Jake reassured him, all laughter fading from his voice.

  “Thank fuck!” Tyler exhaled.

  “Ava’s not as fragile as you seem to think, Tyler. But she’s not bulletproof, either,” Jake explained. It sounded more like a warning to Tyler.

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, she won’t put herself in a situation that’s going to hurt her. She knows her limits. God knows she tested them. But if Ava has even the slightest doubt in the corner of her mind that something isn’t good, she won’t even consider it,” Jake continued, sounding more like an overprotective father than a work colleague and friend. “I’m not telling you this to scare you off, Tyler. I like you and I think you could help her, but what I am saying is you have your work cut out for you.”

  “Yeah, I figured as much.” Tyler shrugged as he dropped back into the lounge and laid his head back, closing his eyes.

  “She’s been through hell. She has no family left since the accident and that’s made her afraid. She doesn’t let people in. Not because she doesn’t want to, but for self-preservation. Everyone she’d ever loved is gone. And that’s not something she’s going to get over in a hurry.”

  “Shit! I had no idea.”

  “Why would you? She doesn’t tell anyone. She just keeps going. All the anger and hurt and everything else she deals with on her own. She flatly refuses to rely on anyone. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Tyler, but you’re the biggest threat,” Jake clarified.

  “How the fuck am I a threat?” Tyler snapped suddenly. “I wouldn’t hurt her.”

  “Because as much as that girl doesn’t want to admit it, you’ve scaled those walls she’s spent years building to protect herself. But more than that, you’re Tyler Andrews. Worldwide hero. For God’s sakes, Tyler, up until a couple of months ago you were Ava’s dream. And she’s not dumb. She’s seen the photos of your life. You could walk away from boring, bumbling Ava any day of the week and not bat an eyelash. But for her, the girl who has no one, it would devastate her,” Jake told him pointedly.

  Tyler gulped. Nothing like a little pressure on a new relationship. But it wasn’t a relationship. Well, not yet, anyway. “I get it,” Tyler forced himself to admit.

  “Well then, what are you going to do about it?” Jake enquired casually, as if the past five-minute conversation never happened.

  “I don’t know,” Tyler replied pointedly. He had no reason to lie. He had absolutely no idea how to fix this. He wasn’t even sure how badly broken it really was.

  “Better think of something.”

  “Yep.”

  Jake let Tyler sweat for a full minute before putting him out of his misery. “Need a hand?”

  “Desperately,” Tyler admitted, not in the least bit ashamed.

  “The date I paid for…”

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  “Nope. But you’re getting off the topic. Where you planning on taking her?”

  “I was thinking that new Italian place in the city,” Tyler confessed.

  “Nope! Dumb idea.”

  “Well, gee, thanks for your support!”

  “Right now Ava’s terrified about being seen with you again. Once she can deal with, twice not so much. But she will guarantee there won’t be a third. And I promised her. So you’re going to have to go low key and private,” Jake told him.

  “Oh…okay.”

  “Tyler, you can do this. We both know you can. I know she wants you to. But Ava’s stubborn. She wants you to prove that you want it as much as she does. Don’t give up on our girl.”

  Tyler’s stomach churned again. The mention of “our” girl made him lightheaded. He was suddenly blinded with jealousy. Even the idea that Jake had some claim on Ava made him squirm. Although he knew there was no logical reason to be jealous of Jake, he couldn’t help it. The green-eyed monster swallowed him whole.

  “Thanks, man. I’ll come up with something,” Tyler confirmed, still not one hundred percent convinced what he was going to do, but more determined than ever to succeed.

  “Good! I got thirty grand riding on it.” Jake laughed, the seriousness of their conversation forgotten.

  “Great! Thanks for the reminder. That’s exactly what I need right now. More pressure,” Tyler groaned, his voice laced with sarcasm.

  “Anytime. Let me know how you go! Or if I need to go and slap some sense into her!” Jake offered, and part of Tyler knew that he would if he needed to.

  Tyler hung up with renewed energy and confidence. Jake had given him an insight to the Ava she’d managed to keep hidden from everyone and Tyler swore to himself then and there that he would do nothing to compromise that. If Ava didn’t want to be seen, then that was more than okay with him.

  Chapter 42

  Ava

  If Ava thought Monday was bad, Tuesday was worse. She hadn’t slept. Thoughts kept buzzing around in her head, making rest unattainable. She’d chewed her fingernails down to the skin and swallowed enough painkillers to sooth a toothache in even the crankiest lion in an attempt to vanquish the migraine that had taken up residence behind her tired eyes. It was all Tyler Andrews’ fault. Every time she closed her eyes she could still feel her head resting on his strong, safe shoulder and the memory alone was enough to wake her. Every time she heard her name, it was attached to the latest batch of gossip.

  Even the two double shot cappuccinos she’d already finished weren’t helping. “Fuck it!” she swore as yet more emails bombarded her inbox. It was barely ten o’clock and already she’d turned into the moodiest bitch on the planet. Usually she could hold out till at least three.

  “Ava?” a timid voice squeaked, which to a normal person wouldn’t have bothered them, but with Ava’s migraine dictating her every move it sounded like fingernails scratching a chalk board.

  “What?” she snapped harshly, lifting her gaze to meet Amanda’s worried face.

  “These just arrived for you,” Amanda clarified, thrusting the biggest vase of white lilies that Ava had ever seen into her chest.

  As much as she wanted to remain cranky and pissed off, the sight of her favourite flowers brought a smile to her lips. �
��Thanks,” Ava said as she glanced up at Amanda, who just nodded before fading into the background and leaving Ava alone to open the card.

  Written on the front in possibly the messiest handwriting she’d ever seen was her name and address. Ava was unexpectedly overcome with nervousness. She never got flowers—not even for her birthday—let alone lilies. But there they were. Their intoxicating scent captured her and made her heart soar. Ava didn’t want to open the card for fear that it might just diminish the perfection of the moment…but that was childish. Reluctantly, Ava tore open the card.

  Ava,

  I’m sorry about the papers. I wish I could promise you that it won’t happen again but that’s not a promise I can keep. But what I can promise is that I’ll do my best to protect you from it. I’ll pick you up on Friday at 5.30 p.m. from your office.

  Tyler.

  Ava melted. Her face heated up as she felt herself blush from head to toe. Somehow he knew. He knew the perfect thing to say, and more surprisingly, he knew the perfect way to say it. Ava felt like he’d climbed into her head and read her thoughts and her fears. Ava thanked her lucky stars that Tyler hadn’t decided to deliver the flowers himself, otherwise she would have been a pile of goo at his feet.

  Carefully Ava slipped the card back in the envelope and tucked it in her wallet. She didn’t want to lose that. Ever. For the next ten minutes Ava floated on a cloud. She didn’t hear the snide comments when others noticed the florist’s masterpiece perched on her desk, and she didn’t pause to consider the curious glances being tossed in her direction. The truth was, in that moment, Ava didn’t care what anyone thought. Tyler had made her day and the only downside was that she couldn’t say thank you. But she would. On Friday.