Page 40 of Stay With Me

“I’m just telling it like it is!” she shouts back. “You gave her money. She fucked you. That’s what whores do.” Shaking, Tasha turns to Ava, who’s now crying. I want to go over to her, pull her into my arms, and tell her everything is going to be alright.

But that wouldn’t help anything right now; it would just make things worse.

“I knew you had a thing for him, but I didn’t think you would actually go so low as to fuck him behind my back.” Tasha shakes her head. “Is that why you stayed friends with me all these years? To keep me close so you could get to him someday.”

“What?” Ava gasps. “No. Of course not. Tasha, you’re my best friend. My person. I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It just did. I never wanted to hurt you. You’re like a sister to me.”

“So you’re into fucking your dad then?” she asks.

“Fuck.” Ava runs a frantic hand through her hair. “Please, please believe me.”

“Ava, Princess, please breathe. You’re going to make yourself sick.” I try to soothe her, but fuck up by calling her by the nickname I gave her.

“Princess?” Tasha snorts. “Oh, that’s fucking rich. You got a pet name for her and everything. You living out your Pretty Woman fantasy, Dad?”

“I’m gonna leave,” Ava says, rushing over to her desk. She grabs her purse and car keys.

Panic fills me. “Ava, please. Don’t go.”

“I’m sorry, Roman.” The look she gives me fucking kills. “This is what I was trying to avoid. This is why I ended things. You should have just left me alone. You shouldn’t have come here.” She shakes her head. “Everything is ruined.”

Ava rushes towards the bedroom door. “I love you, Tasha. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I didn’t do any of this on purpose. It just... happened.”

Tasha glares at her. Ava gives her one last look before hurrying out of the apartment.

“Get the fuck out,” I snap at my daughter. Her eyes widen as if she can’t believe I’d talk to her like that. Neither can I. But I’m too far past caring.

She stumbles out of the room and I quickly get dressed before following after her. “I’m gonna make this quick because the love of my life just left, taking my fucking heart with her, but I will be back to talk about your behavior because I raised you better than that. I love you, Tasha. You’re my daughter. I’d do anything in the world for you. But you’re an adult. I’m an adult. Who I choose to be with shouldn’t matter as long as they are a good person and treat you and myself well. And Ava? She’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m sorry that she’s your best friend. I’m sorry that this hurts. Was it wrong to go behind your back? Yes. But it’s complicated and something I’m not getting into right now. The girl you just called a whore,” I spit. “Left me because she couldn’t stand the idea of hurting you. She is willing to give up her happiness for you. And I don’t think she should have to because, if you were her best friend, you would want to see her happy. Want what’s best for her. And no, you might not like the fact that it’s me, but I’m not lying when I tell you I love that woman. And I will do whatever is in my power to be with her.”

I leave her standing there, shell-shocked and gaping at me, as I quickly kiss the side of her head. “I love you, Tasha,” I tell her as I rush out of the apartment to go after my woman. “But I love her too.”

My pulse races as I head for the stairs, skipping the elevator and taking the stairs two steps at a time. As I bust out of the building into the parking lot, I pray I’m not too late. But when I look around, I don’t see her car.

“Fuck!” I shout. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Grabbing my phone out of my pants pocket, I dial her number. “Pick up. Pick up. Pick up!”

It just rings and rings before going to voicemail. I text her, telling her to call me. Telling her to be safe. To come back.

Part of me wants to freak out. She’s gone, and I’ve lost her forever. But the other part of me is telling me to keep a level head. This was a big shock to everyone, and it’s going to take some time for all of us to process.

I just hate that she’s upset and in pain by herself. That I can’t be there to hold her, to make everything better. It’s my job, what I need to do, and I can’t fucking do it right now.

I try her phone repeatedly, every call going to voicemail. I finally decide to leave a message. “Princess, I know you’re upset and hurting right now, and it fucking kills me. I know you’re wishing none of this happened. But I need you to know that I love you. I love you so fucking much that I can’t breathe without you. I’m not giving up on us. You can tell me no. You can tell me to leave. But it won’t matter. You’re worth it, Ava. You’re worth everything in this world, and I plan on giving it all to you. I will wear you down and make you see how loved you are. You’re not getting rid of me, sweet girl. So don’t even get that idea in your head.”

After I hang up, I call my office in New York and extend my trip by a few weeks. I don’t give a fuck about work. I’ve been needing to take a step back anyway. And what better of a time than when I need to focus on getting my Princess back. Because there’s no way in hell I’m going anywhere.

I don’t care how long it takes or what I have to do. I will get Ava back. I pray that I don’t lose my daughter in the process, but if she’s the woman I raised her to be, she will come around, too.

That’s what I have to believe because the other outcome isn’t an option. I won’t let it be.

Ava, baby, wherever you are right now, I hope you’re safe. I’m going to find you and win you back. Just wait, you’ll see. It’s you and me against the world. You’re it for me, baby.

There is no life without Ava because she is my life. My heart. My Princess.

Ava

It’s been a week since Tasha walked in on her dad and me. I took off from the apartment, got in my car and drove around the city for hours, crying, not having a clue what to do or where to go.

Tasha hasn’t tried to contact me, and I’ve been too afraid to message her. She didn’t handle finding out about her dad and me very well. And I don’t blame her, not with the way she found us. She shouldn’t have found out that way. She shouldn’t have found out at all. That’s why I was trying to end things with Roman. But of course, I had to have one last night with him.