Okay here's another update! Hope all my American friends had a great 4th! As for everyone else, hope you had a great weekend! Hope you enjoy this next chapter! Thanks for all the great reviews!
~HM
Chapter 11
Ava tried her best to keep her issues with Liam temporarily out of her mind while she lounged by the pool surrounded by her family. She really did try, but her mind couldn't help but venture to what Dameon had said last night before he left her.
I know you don't want to be wrong about him and Merlin knows you don't like to be wrong about anything, but…maybe you should stop and really think about the kind of person he is and how he treats you.
She let out a frustrating sigh as she thought about Liam and exactly how he treated her. As her mind wandered, her eyes gazed over to her parents who were over by their lounge chairs. Her mum was sitting on the edge of the chair cheering on Zoe who had just did a back flip off the diving board. Her dad snuck behind her on the chair and wrapped his arms around her waist, then planted a quick kiss on her shoulder before perching his chin against it. She immediately leaned back against him as she placed her hands over his that were resting on her thighs.
She tried to think of a time when Liam was affectionate to her like that, but couldn't think of anything. He held her hand here and there and occasionally gave her a casual kiss, but was most of the time distracted…as if he was thinking of something else.
She gave a quick glance to Scorpius and Rosie, who were on the steps of the pool talking with Mia and Albus. Both couples were touching their spouses in some way even though Mia was talking with Rosie, while Scorpius was laughing about something with Albus.
Could she really see Liam being that way with her years later down the road? Would Liam love their kids as much as her brothers and Scorpius loved theirs? Would he ever reach out just to touch her like James just did with Samantha? Was Liam capable of taking care of her when she needed him? Or hold her when she was happy or sad?
Once again she flashed back to last night when Dameon caught her when she flung herself onto him…deliriously happy.
Don't let go.
I won't.
She closed her eyes as her heart quivered in her chest…it had been doing that a lot lately whenever she thought of Dameon or was near him. She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes and immediately made herself look over at Dameon and couldn't help the smile that boomed on her face.
He was playing with the triplets, who were all clinging desperately onto the inflatable raft that Dameon was thrashing and tossing about to try and throw them off. The boys shrieked and laughed as they were bucked and thrown and when they all finally fell into the water, they popped up like corks and chanted, "Again! Again!"
Dameon laughed and helped them all up on the raft, before starting the game again. He was so good with him, she thought with a sigh and couldn't help but laugh when Dameon sunk beneath the water for a sneak attack. The boys held onto each other in a mixture of fear and delight as they waited anxiously, then squealed when their raft capsized, tumbling them all into the water.
As the boys scrambled to get back on the raft, Dameon suddenly looked up and shifted his eyes right at her, causing her to take in a slight gasp of breath as her heart shuttered. As much as she wanted to look away, she found herself staring right back at him. Then he gave her that slow, sexy grin of his she had always loved and hated over the years, then added a quick wink before turning his attention back to the triplets.
"Oh boy," she murmured softly when it finally dawned on her.
What the hell was wrong with her? Why was she wasting her time with someone like Liam when there were so many other great guys out there that would treat her the way she deserved to be treated? Even Dameon…who she had sworn to despise for the rest of her life after he poured a bucket full of worms on her head when she was six…treated her better than Liam. He also made her feel things in ways Liam never had before.
So what was she waiting for? Why waste another damn minute with that asshole? She deserved better than Liam and so she would wait until she found that special someone. No matter how long it took…because the wait would be worth it if she were lucky enough to find someone who treated her with love and respect. She wanted what her parent's had. She wanted what her brothers and sisters had. And damn-it, she'd get it! And it would not be with Liam!
With a firm nod to herself, she swung her legs off to the side of the lounge chair and threw over her cover-up. She was going to search for Liam, dump his sorry ass and tell him to get the hell out of here and out of her life. She couldn't wait!
"Hey, Auntie, where are you off to?" Jacob laughed as he walked up with her. "You look like you're going off to war."
"I am," she said through clenched teeth. "I'll be back in a bit."
Jacob watched his aunt stalk off with determination and felt sorry for the sucker who would be at the end of her temper. Hopefully it would be Liam, he thought with a grin and almost thought about going after to watch, but then got distracted when he noticed the cute, brunette witch laying out on the other side of the pool. "I think I'm in love," he murmured and then sauntered his way over to give her some of that Potter Charm.
"Hey…Jacob," Dameon called out as he pulled himself out of the pool. "Wait a second."
Jacob turned around, but still had his eyes on the girl. "Not now, man…I've got a witch to charm."
Dameon pushed back his wet hair and eyed the witch Jacob was drooling over. "Come on, J…you know she's way out of your league."
Jacob snorted. "Whatever…no witch can deny my killer good looks and easy grin."
Dameon rolled his eyes, but couldn't but laugh. "Witches of the world, beware…look, go charm your lady friend, but first tell me where A.J. went. She looked pissed."
"She was royally pissed," he corrected as he gave his full attention to him now. "I think she went off to kill someone. I sure do hope its Liam."
"Ditto," he agreed. "Can't stand the guy."
Jacob grinned. "Yeah, I know…you've always hated him."
"Yeah," he said a little uneasy by his grin. "Everyone has."
"Not at first…we all gave him a shot, but then decided we hated him after we got to know him. You've been hating him ever since you first found out he liked A.J."
"What?" Dameon exclaimed. "You're crazy…I've always thought he was a punk."
"Maybe, but you think a lot of the guys at school are punks, but you don't really give them any thought. I remember when you first told me about Liam…you had overheard him talk about A.J. to his friends. You were fuming."
"You would have been fuming too, if you overheard the stuff he was saying about her," he shot back. "The guy was disrespecting her even before he started dating her."
Jacob chuckled. "You've always been overprotective of her."
Dameon's jaw dropped. "Okay, now you've officially gone bonkers…where the hell have you been? The three of us grew up together, you must have noticed how much we fought."
"Hard not to," he muttered with a roll of his eyes. "It was very annoying at times…and there's no question that you would pick fights with her constantly…but dude…I've also noticed that if anyone else insulted her that wasn't a member of our family…you kicked some ass."
Dameon crossed his arms over his chest in denial. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh really? Well, I remember that time that Slytherin bully pushed her down the stairs during her second year at Hogwarts…she ended up having to go the hospital wing because her nose was bleeding."
Dameon clenched his fists. "Yeah…I remember."
"So you also may remember how that Slytherin bully also just happened to end up in the hospital wing as well with not only a bloody nose, but maybe a few broken ribs?"
"I may have some recollection of that. A.J. thought it was you. She still does."
"I didn't touch him. You beat me to it."
"Yeah…I beat you to it," he admitted. "I bloodied the bastard up, you happy? He hurt her…made her bleed. I may tease her and pick on her a bit, but I'd never hurt her."
"I know that, mate."
"Man, I was furious with that little shit."
Jacob just chuckled. "You are so stuck on her."
Dameon opened his mouth to argue, but instead blew out a defeating sigh. "Yeah, I know….I'm slightly annoyed about it."
Jacob slapped him hard on his arm. "You'll get over it. Now if you'll excuse me…my witch is waiting for me. And so is yours," he added over his shoulder as he walked away.
Dameon shook his head in amusement as he watched Jacob saunter up to the witch with all the confidence in the world. He had to hand it to him…he was fairly good with the ladies. That Potter Charm…the girls can't seem to resist it.
However, the Malfoy Charm…wasn't too shabby either.
And with that in mind, he went over to his chair, slipped on his flip-flops, and went after the one girl who had always managed to drive him crazy.
XXXX
He wasn't at the Quidditch Pitch. The wizard in charge told her they finished their match about an hour ago. This only made her more furious as she stomped angrily towards the house.
Did it ever occur to him to join her and her family by the pool? No, of course not, because he was in inconsiderate jackass who only thought about himself.
"Asshole," she muttered as she let herself into the house. He was probably hiding out in his room doing Merlin knows what…bloody bastard.
She took the stairs two at a time and walked quickly to his room, however, she lingered outside his closed door. She didn't really know why she chose to open the door quietly. Later, she'd think maybe it was because deep down, she knew what she'd discover beyond the door.
She heard the soft moans first, before she saw her very naked boyfriend entangled with a very naked girl. Not just any naked girl, but Dede…the big nosed, nasally blonde from the bar. Typical. It was so damned typical she wasn't the least bit surprised.
With murder in her eyes, she slammed the door hard behind her and watched two stunned faces staring back at her. A muffled curse erupted from Liam as he practically threw Dede off him, who shrieked and held up the sheets to cover her.
"Oh, please…don't stop on my account," she said sarcastically as Liam frantically tugged on his boxers.
"Ava…babe…I can explain, I…"
"Oh, do me a favor and just stop the bullshit," she said firmly, holding up both hands. "We're done, Liam…I was coming to end it myself, but you just made it a whole lot easier."
"But, babe…"
"Put some clothes on and get the fuck out of my life." She then turned and whipped open the door and tried her best to walk out with as much pride as she could muster.
Humiliation clouded her anger, causing the unwanted tears to come and blur her vision. She fled down the stairs, desperate to get away, to escape so she could have a good long cry in solitude. She flung open the door, stumbled down the porch steps, and ran into something hard, warm…and wonderful.
"Woah there, Grace," Dameon laughed as his arms came around to steady her. "Where's the fire?"
"Sorry," she said choking back tears as she tried to struggle out of his arms, but was too weak with misery to break free. "I have to…please…"
"What is it?" he asked suddenly when he heard a soft sob escape her. He pulled her away, gripping her arms as he studied her, noticing the sorrow look in her watery eyes. "What did he do?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
"Ava…"
"He's leaving...he's packing now and…"
"A.J.!"
The front door flew open and Dameon took one look at him and knew exactly what he did. His face was sweaty and guilty, his hair ruffled, his shirt inside out and his jeans were unbuttoned. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. He set Ava aside and as Liam came rushing down the stairs, his eyes fixed on Ava; Dameon took two long strides and rammed his fist right into the bastard's face.
Ava let out a shocking gasp when Liam flew back in the air before landing flat on his backside. Her jaw dropped as Liam groaned in agony on the ground, too injured to even fight back. "Wow," she whispered in awe. Dameon had one mean right cross.
Dameon loomed over Liam and reached down to grab him by the shirt, lifting him only halfway up. "Now you listen to me, Kelson. You're going to crawl your sorry ass back upstairs, pack your shit…and get the hell out of here. Understood?"
"Fuck off, Malfoy…this isn't your concern."
Ava stepped up to glare at him over Dameon's shoulder. "No, but he's right…I don't' want to hear anything you have to say. Just go, Liam…before I go and get my dad to help you leave."
Dameon saw the flicker of fear in his eyes and knew she hit the right button. "I'd be happy to go and get him for you," he added with a grin. "I'm sure he'd love to…help you pack."
Liam glared at him for a moment, challenging him, but then spat out blood and looked away in defeat. "Fine…I'll leave."
"Good." He then shoved him back down, causing Liam to wince in pain.
Before he could get back up, the door opened and Dede stalked out mad as hell. She walked over to Liam, who was still struggling to get up, and suddenly kicked him right in the groin.
Dameon winced as he watched Liam crumble to the ground once more. "Didn't see that one coming," he muttered to Ava.
"Neither did I."
Dede lifted her chin and walked over to them, but looked at Ava. "I know you can't stand me right now and hey…don't blame you. I just want you to know…Liam told me he was your cousin." She glared at the still suffering Liam. "The lying bastard!" She turned back around and let out a frustrating huff. "Look…I like boys…I like sex…but I don't go around stealing other girls' boyfriends. Anyway…just wanted to let you know." She turned to leave, but then hesitated and circled back. "By the way…you're better off without him anyway…I had to fake it…if you know what I mean."
Dameon snickered next to him, causing Dede to look over at him, and gave him a quick look over. "I bet I wouldn't have to fake it with you, cutie."
Dameon saw Ava narrow her eyes at Dede and couldn't help but grin. "No, but…keep walking, blondie."
She let out a disappointing sigh. "Very well…I'm out of here. Good luck, hun."
Once she was gone and Liam had successfully staggered into the house, Dameon placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
She sighed. "No…but I will be." She turned around to face him. "Well? Are you going to say, `I told you so?' Because I deserve it."
He squeezed her shoulder once, before slipping his hands into the pockets of his swim trunks. "If I remember correctly, I told you I would try not to say, `I told you so'. Turns out it's not as hard as I thought it would be."
"You're letting me off easy…I was an idiot."
"No…he fooled you…he fooled a lot of people. He's the idiot, Ava…for treating you the way he did. You deserve better."
She took in a shaky breath, and slowly let it out. "I know that now."
"Good. Hey, do you want to get out of here? Go for a walk of something?"
She started to decline, because she figured she still needed that good cry in solitude. However, she found herself not wanting to be alone and couldn't think of anyone else she wanted to be with. How pleasantly surprising was that?
"I'd love to."
He smiled and nudged his head for her to follow him and together they walked side by side towards a nearby trail. They were about thirty yards into the trail when Dameon finally go the courage to reach out and take her hand.
Ava slowed her walk as she stared down at her joined hands and felt her heart tremble. "Do you want me to let go?" he asked when she remained silent.
She looked up to meet his bluish gray eyes and suddenly started to experience all sorts of feelings rush inside her. Scary and wonderful feelings that she didn't want to go away. At least not right now "No," she finally answered with a small smile. "I don't want you to let go."
He responded by linking their fingers together and gave her a slight squeeze. "Then I won't." He then gave her that wonderful slow grin of his as he tugged at her hand. "Let's go."
She followed, leaving Liam happily in her past and couldn't help but think that maybe…just maybe…she was walking to her future.
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