Chapter 38

Avrils strolled around like a zombie, her brain shutting down and her legs taking over. She ended up back in the room she was sharing with Thomas, more curious than ever. She had managed to forget about Lilith after their first meeting, however, this last encounter made her unable to concentrate on anything else.

It was torture not being able to question Thomas during the reception but she knew it hadn't been the right time. Now that they were back in their room she had an opportunity to question him, her heart was drumming against her chest. She didn't know how he was going to respond, he made it clear that he didn't want to have anything to do with Lilith, well at least in front of Avril, but she didn't want to be overthinking.

She also thought that it shouldn't be a big deal since their relationship had been progressing quickly. If she couldn't talk to the person she was seeing then did it make any sense?

"I am gonna take a quick shower before I call the cab to take us to the airport," he said as he kicked off his shoes. Avril had barely realized when he let go of her hand and was rummaging through his suitcase for clothing.

"Actually, can I talk to you about something?" She questioned carefully, taking a few steps towards him. She could only see his profile and she wondered how nervous she would be if she saw his entire face. She didn't want to think about those steely eyes looking at her, she already felt weird having to ask questions about another female. The last thing she wanted was for Thomas to think she was jealous or nagging.

" Sure, what's it about?" He asked absentmindedly as he pulled out a white t-shirt and jeans and placed them on the bed.

"Lilith." the word came out on an exhale. Avril refused to take another sip of oxygen until she saw his reaction. The seconds drawing out. She tried not to pay attention to the way his features hardened. She focused on the clenching of his jaw and when he didn't turn his attention to her or respond to her, Avril paced in a tiny circle. She rolled her neck around to relieve the tension piling up and she sighed.

Already off to a bad start.

"Who exactly is she?" Avril paused, gazed back at Thomas, and blurted, his silence speaking volumes to her.

"I don't really see how that is any of your business." He growled. Avril stood in a state of paralysis as he walked into the bathroom. While she knew there was a possibility of him being annoyed, having it actually happen infuriated her.

"None of my business..." She muttered angrily, pacing around the room. She's paused in front of the bed, hands-on-hips and her gaze fell on his clothes.

"As if!" she growled, and before she knew it, she had yanked the door handle on the bathroom door and stormed in while he was removing his clothes. His hands were at his pants button. His fingers paused and she glared at her as if she'd just lost her mind.

"Privacy, please." He muttered coldly. His voice low.

Avril rose her eyebrows in defiance. "You have no right to speak to me like that." She had steeled her voice and her eyes were blazing with anger.

"Avril, can I take my shower?" He ignored her, his eyes reminding her of thunder clouds.

"No." She replied instantly as if he asked the stupidest question in the world.

"No?" He repeated incredulously, blinking back a few times.

" Far be it from what you may believe, you do not get to treat me however you think fit." she folded her arms across her chest.

"Avril..." His voice was turning ferocious again.

"Do not interrupt me." She replied with equal ferocity. " I asked a simple question, if you didn't want to talk about it then there are a million other ways you could have said that. You do not get to speak to me in the manner you just did." her chest was heaving.

She turned on her heels and stormed back off.

Thomas treaded his fingers through his hair in frustration. She was right. He didn't know where that came from. He just wanted to forget Lilith and have her out of his life. The fewer people who knew about her the better.

He got into the shower feeling guilty at his reaction.

Avril paced the room. She couldn't believe him. He was the one who wanted to try with her, he offered her a relationship and he was treating her as if she wasn't to be trusted.

Lilith's words echoed in her brain now causing Avril to assume the worst. What if Thomas' intentions were for her to be a temporary object in his life, perhaps he truly was fascinated by her on a level that was skin deep. She shook the troubling thoughts away.

She didn't ask or expect a lifetime with Thomas but she also didn't expect to just be a distraction or his plaything and if that was his intention she needed to leave.

Ughh


How she wanted to scream out her frustration. How could he change so easily and unpredictably? One minute he was understanding and gentle the next he was nothing short of a beast.

She quelled her anger by gathering the last of her things.

When Thomas exited, she was no where to be found...neither were her luggage. He felt panic course through him. He pulled on his clothes, his heart trembling consistently. Before he left the room his cell rang.

Avril was with Austin, she had gone down to wait and he'd met her there. Austin had called since Avril ignored every mention of Thomas.

He fell back on the bed, running his fingers through his hair. He didn't know what wager he was playing. He was making foolish moves. He was letting her slip through his fingers by portraying an idiot. He had to fix it.

****

Austin sat next to Thomas on the plane. Avril begged him to switch seats with her. So now she was in the opposite lane sitting next to a guy who wouldn't shut up when talking to her.

This made Thomas angrier by the second. Austin on the other hand was highly amused.

"Why did you switch seats with her again?" Thomas asked through a clenched jaw.

"Because when a woman asks you for a favor, you oblige... It's the gentlemanly thing to do." Austin grinned.

Thomas felt as if the vein at his temple was going to explode.

"Besides, I think it's imperative that people make acquaintances especially at her age." Austin added, much to Thomas's dismay.

"Well, I think it's imperative that she learn the benefits of not being too social." Thomas countered.

" Are any of you going to tell me what you did?" Austin asked blatantly.

"Me? Why does it have to be my fault?" Thomas was offended.

"Well is it hers?" Austin redirected.

Thomas gave no reply.

" My advice. Give her some time to cool off, she has a temper. " Austin grinned. " and then apologize, women hate it when men are too proud to admit their mistakes."

"Apologize?" Thomas repeated the word as if it was his first time hearing it.

"Relationships are give and take. You wanted this with her, you need to work at it. Getting her was the easy part, your ability to keep her is another story." Austin was caught in one of his rare serious moments.

"And tell me, how are you an expert? Last time I checked we were cut from the same cloth." Thomas observed.

Austin grinned. "My sister lectures me."

***

At home, Avril still hadn't said a word to Thomas, nor had she even looked at him. He was growing impatient. She trudged up to her room and dropped onto her bed.

She heard a knock on her door, but she chose to ignore it.

"I am coming in." His voice traveled to her smoothly.

He pushed open the door to find her in a lotus position on her bed.

" Can we talk?" He asked gently.

"Not in the mood, Thomas." She pronounced each word carefully.

"Please. I just want to apologize." He walked further into the room.

"Apology not accepted. Are we done now?" She replied callously.

"No, we are not."

"Do you really think mere words are enough? Do you think it makes it all okay?" She pestered.

"I know they won't be enough and it definitely won't make it okay, I know I was terrible but I have my reasons for not wanting to address those issues."

"This doesn't sound like an apology... it's more of an excuse." She commented venomously.

Thomas sighed. He didn't know how to continue. He couldn't bare to have her angry at him. He wished that he could hold her until she forgot his stupidity but that was impossible. Her anger seemed unquenchable.