Abandoned but Not Alone (25 page)

“
You don
’
t have my number because I didn
’
t give it to you and you didn
’
t give me yours.
”
Aviva
shouted back. Lord this man was infuriating, she was normally a calm person who
seldom raised her voice but being in his company, she felt as though she were
constantly shouting in order to be heard.

Her comment
must have registered with him because a sheepish look crossed his face,
accompanied by his dimples.  '
Oh yeah Mr Big Bad Somebody, go right ahead
and break out the dimples and see where that gets you'
. Reaching over Jason
slipped a long muscular arm around Aviva
’
s waist, pulling her towards him. Not yet ready to let him off
the hook, she resisted, to no avail.  Against his superior strength she was
always going to be the loser. Snug against his chest, Jason bent his legs and
tried to look into her eyes, she averted them, her gaze fixed on the parquet
floor design as though fascinated.

“
Sorry Angel, in my defense I was worried
about you, forgive me?
”
Jason
asked placing tender kisses along her hairline and face. Tired from having to
control that blasted car all day, Aviva really didn
’
t want to fight with him, plus those butterfly light kisses got
to her every time. She gave in and accepted his apology as he led her towards
the living room.

“
I thought you only had three viewings, so
how come you
’
re so late?
”

Reluctant
to give an answer Aviva sat down and pinched the bridge of her nose, knowing he
awaited a response and he wasn
’
t going to
like her answer. Maybe the omission of Carlos' name was the way to go, yes that
’
s it, she thought, don
’
t mention Carlos
’
name.
“
I met a
friend for coffee.
”

“
What friend?
”
Jason asked suspiciously, taking a seat beside her.

“
Just a friend Jason, what does it matter?
”

“
Well if it doesn
’
t matter you can tell me this friend
’
s name, can
’
t you.
”
Jason insisted, not liking the way she
was evading answering, what to his thinking was a simple question.
“
Who did you meet, Aviva?
”

“
It was Carlos, alright! There you go; it
was Carlos, seeing as you always have to be up in my business.
”

Jason was
slightly shocked at her words.
“
Up in your
business
…
Lady have you lost
your mind? I
’
ve been
sitting here worried about you and you were out gallivanting with Carlos!
”

“
No, I have not
man
, as a matter of
fact, I would say I
’
m the only
sane person currently in this room!
”
There, he
could take that and stick it up his nose Aviva thought childishly. Jumping to
her feet, determined to make a hasty exit. Jason headed off, catching her by
the arm, spinning her around to face him.

“
What is going on with you and that pretty
boy, and I want the truth, because I
’
m telling
you now, I have no intention of sharing you
–
with anyone!
”

Aviva
couldn
’
t believe his
audacity, where did this guy get off thinking he owned her, could dictate to
her. Fed up with his alpha male crap and having just dealt with Carlos
’
nonsense, she was at the end of her
patience, so she came at him hard and low.
“
Let
’
s get this
straight right here and right now. You-do-not-own-me, and for your information,
and as I understand it, slavery was abolished in 1865.
”
As soon as the words passed her lips she wanted to take them
back. Ashamed, she threw her hands over her mouth to hold back the sound of her
distress, she had hurt him, his eyes told her that.

Taken aback
by her response, Jason recoiled as though he had been slapped, blood rushing
into his face. Without comment, he turned and walked away, continuing out the front
door, slamming it shut. The sound of a powerful engine roaring to life pulled
Aviva from her stupor, he hadn
’
t deserved
her angry words and she desperately wanted to take them back. Ashamed and
wanting to apologize she returned to her seat to await Jason
’
s return.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jason was
angry, he accepted he may have come over a little too possessive where Aviva
was concerned, but he couldn
’
t seem to
help it and if the truth were told, he didn
’
t want to change that aspect of how he felt. The sooner she accepted
that was how it was going to be the better. She could fight him as much as she
thought necessary, she may be unwilling to admit what was already between them
but, he wasn
’
t and he
would take every opportunity to ensure she knew where he stood.

It was the
comment about slavery that had so angered him, she knew better than that, and
Jason was resolved not to even think about its absurdity. Oh he would
definitely be calling her on the comment and getting an assurance that it
wouldn
’
t happen again. He also
didn
’
t like that she had
been so evasive about meeting Carlos. He intended to get an answer as to what
was going on between them, and if he didn
’
t like her answer, he would take matters into his own hands.

Feeling
pissed off and out of sorts he drove with no real destination in mind, his
thoughts moving from Aviva, to Steve who was still missing and then jumping to
his long lost family and the meeting he had promised Aviva he would have with
them. Unable to resolve any of the thoughts churning around in his mind Jason
headed home.

Aviva didn
’
t know when she had fallen asleep; she
was still on the couch where she had begun her vigil when she heard the front
door close. Jumping to her feet she ran into the hall to see Jason looking back
at her, clearly surprised to see her still awake. Unsure of his mood Aviva took
a hesitant step towards him, nibbling on her lower lip in an attempt to arrange
her thoughts as to how to begin her apology.

Jason had
no intention of making it easy for her, they both knew she had overstepped the
mark, so he waited while she bit her lip and wrung her hands in an attempt to
formulate her words. If he were honest he wanted to take her in his arms and
offer her comfort. But he knew that to do so would be to set a precedent that could
have a destructive effect on their relationship. He knew his temper sometimes
led to his being unreasonable, and was resolved to try and keep it in check but
he would never speak words that would deliberately hurt her feelings. So he
waited, he wanted Aviva to acknowledge that she had gone too far.

Drawing in
a deep breath she looked at Jason and spoke in a soft voice.
“
I
’
m sorry, please accept my apology, I didn
’
t mean any of those terrible things I
said to you earlier.
”

“
So why did you say them?
”

“
I
…”
Aviva was reluctant to answer his question but knew she had no
choice.
“
I suppose I was just
tired, and frustrated at you and Carlos. Carlos at the way he has treated a
girlfriend of mine and you for thinking it
’
s acceptable to boss me around. You can
’
t keep doing that, Jason.
”

He knew she
was right but he was unsure how to stop. So he made a promise based on what he
thought he could live up to.
“
I can
’
t promise you not to react in the same
way as I did earlier, but I will promise to try not to react before I think
about how my words may affect you and I need you to do the same for me. As for
Carlos, if you guys are just friends, don
’
t hide the fact that you are spending time with him. I need to
believe that I can trust you no matter what.
”

“
Carlos is just a friend, more like a big
brother actually and I really think he
’
s in my life to stay. I think you
’
ll like him when you get to know him, he can be a bit full of
himself sometimes, but he
’
s good
people, and Jason, I can and do promise not to say such horrible things to you,
ever again.
”

Knowing
immediately to what she was referring, and seeing her sincerity, he dismissed
it. As for Carlos, he would reserve judgment until he spent more time with him.
Turning towards the stairs Jason looked over his shoulder at a still immobile
Aviva.
“
Well are you coming? I
think we both need some sleep.
”

Walking
hesitantly towards him, she slipped her hand into the one he offered as they
both climbed the stairs. Jason stopped outside her room with a question in his
eyes. Aviva realized he was leaving the decision up to her of whether she would
spend the night with him. Yet to slake the shame of her comments, she kissed
him goodnight as she opened her bedroom door and went inside.

Disappointed
she wanted to sleep alone; Jason knew he needed to give her time, knowing that
pushing too hard could backfire on him. The thought of her not being a part of
his life was something he was unwilling to contemplate. Turning he headed for
his room resolved to spend the night alone.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next
morning Aviva awoke to a single red rose lying on her pillow.  Below the rose
was a folded note, reaching for the cream colored parchment, she opened it and
read its content.

Good morning Angel,

I hope you slept well.

I
’
m afraid I
will be out for most of the day attending to outstanding business matters.

I did quite a lot of thinking last night, and came to a
realization. If I am to move forward with the life I want to spend with you; I
will first have to come to terms with this new family I seem to have acquired.

Please set up a meeting for today, here at the house, if the
others are free. I should be home by five so any time after six will be fine. 

As you can see, I have also enclosed my cell number as I would
hate a repeat performance of yesterday. Call me when you get a moment.

Jason

P.S I had a wonderful dream about you last night; remind me to
tell you all about it tonight
–
better yet
I think I
’
ll show
you.

Seeing that
it was already 9am Aviva got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Once
dressed and breakfast eaten, she decided to give Jackson a call to set up the
meeting. She also wanted to give them enough time to change any plans they may
have already made if necessary. Aviva felt sure that if they already had
commitments they would be willing to cancel them as Jackson had sounded keen to
meet with Jason as soon as possible.

Going into
Jason
’
s office, Aviva sat
down at his desk, and dialed Jackson
’
s number.
Jackson answered after four rings and greeted Aviva, surprise evident in his voice.

“
Aviva, my dear, it
’
s good to hear from you, and so soon. I
hope you have good news.
”

“
I do have good news, Jason has agreed to
a meeting, today if you are all available?
”

“
We
’
ll make ourselves available, just tell me where and when and we
will be there.
”
Jackson
replied without hesitation.

Giving
Jackson the necessary details Aviva disconnected and immediately dialed Jason
to fill him in on the arrangements.  He was in a meeting when Aviva called and
therefore kept the conversation short, assuring her he would be home in plenty
of time. Aviva didn't miss the slight hesitation that came immediately before
his assurance, he obviously still had doubts about the meeting, and although he
tried, he couldn't quite hide them.