Page 25 of Just One: Box Set

Chapter Seven

A s Allison led Austin across the foyer and sat down across from him, her stomach churned.

Seeing him disheveled and looking like he hadn’t slept in weeks, it triggered a pang of sympathy, but she quickly buried it beneath the rage simmering inside her.

He’s a liar, she reminded herself. His well-being is not my responsibility anymore.

"Why are you here, Austin?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration. "Did you think coming to Venice would find me brokenhearted, waiting for you to show up?"

Austin let out a long, tired breath and dropped his head into his hands. “I guess… yeah. I thought maybe if I could just explain?—"

Allison cut him off sharply, her voice shaking with barely restrained anger. "Austin, you can’t be serious. You’re married to another woman. Did you honestly believe we’d get married, and I’d never find out?"

His eyes met hers, and the sincerity there made her blood boil.

"I never planned for it to be like this," he muttered. "I was going to file for divorce. Natalie and I hadn’t been in love for a long time, but when I told her I wanted out, she told me she was dying, Allison. I couldn’t leave her, not when she was sick. "

Allison stared at him, incredulously. She wanted to slap him for the audacity, the gall of his excuses. "So, you had an affair with me instead? Wow, Austin, thanks for that," she spat, her words dripping with sarcasm.

"It’s not like that," Austin argued, his voice rising in desperation. "I thought if we got through the cancer, I could walk away without guilt, feeling like a decent human being. But I fell for you, Allison. I love you. And it turns out she lied—Natalie lied about the cancer."

Allison’s mouth fell open in shock. “Lied? About having cancer? Who does something like that?”

Austin’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “She liked the life I provided. She thought faking an illness would make me stay, that maybe I’d fall back in love with her.

But it made things worse. We fought constantly.

She hated how much I traveled for work, but I now realize she was scheduling those doctor appointments when I was out of town… to keep me from finding out the truth.”

Allison shifted uncomfortably on the couch, unsure how to process it all.

Part of her wondered what might have happened if things had played out differently.

But then, as if Damon’s voice echoed in her mind, reminding her of the man who had been nothing but honest and loyal, she realized where her heart truly lay.

She stood abruptly, making her way toward the bedroom.

"Damon?" she called out, guilt wrapping itself around her. She hadn’t even thought of him while Austin had been talking, and that realization gnawed at her. She should’ve had him beside her while Austin spewed his explanations.

Instead, she’d blanked out, lost in a whirlwind of old wounds.

“He’s gone,” Austin said softly from behind her. “He left about an hour ago.”

“Damn it,” Allison cursed, grabbing her phone from the counter. She dialed Damon’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. "Austin, you have no right to come here and mess up my life again. You should’ve stayed far away."

Austin’s voice was gentle, but it struck a nerve. “You love him.”

Allison stilled, her breath catching. “I don’t…

” she started to deny it, but the truth pressed against her chest, demanding release.

She swallowed hard. "Yeah, I think I do. He’s everything I deserve.

Damon flew across the world for me. You?

You chose your wife in front of everyone.

You picked her. So go home, Austin. Fix whatever it is you need to fix.

But it's not me you’re going to find waiting for you anymore. "

Austin’s face fell, resignation clouding his eyes. "I’m sorry, Allison. I didn’t know what I was thinking."

"If I lose him because of this," she said through gritted teeth, "I’ll never forgive you." Without waiting for a response, she dialed the only person who might know how to help her find Damon.

“Alli Cat, I figured you’d be tangled up in the sheets today,” Lorenzo’s playful voice greeted her on the other end of the line.

Allison’s voice cracked with emotion. "Lorenzo."

The lightness vanished from his tone immediately. “Bella, what’s wrong?”

Allison breathed in sharply, holding back the tears threatening to spill. “I fucked up. I need your help. Damon… he left.”

“Where is he?”

She turned and glared at Austin, feeling her frustration boil over. “Austin showed up, and I stupidly let him talk. Damon left, and I can’t reach him. Lorenzo, I love him. I can’t lose him.”

Lorenzo’s voice turned firm and reassuring. “I’ll find him, Ally. Don’t worry. What about Austin?”

“He’s going back to America,” she said, shooting a glare at Austin before adding, “where he belongs.”

Austin nodded, understanding that his time was up. “Allison—” he began.

But she didn’t wait for him to finish. She slammed the door in his face and marched toward the stairs, phone still in hand. "I’m going to grab my shoes. I’ll meet you in the lobby in a few minutes. Please, Lorenzo—find him."

“I’ll find your man, Bella,” he promised before hanging up.

Allison tossed her phone on the bed, her eyes falling on the rumpled sheets where she and Damon had been wrapped in each other’s arms just that morning. She felt a pang of loss as she hurried to slip on her shoes, knowing she had to find him, to make things right.

Her phone buzzed just as she stepped into the elevator. It was her brother, Archer. She let out a frustrated growl as she answered. "Archer."

“Whoa, slow down, baby sis,” Archer said, laughing. “You sound like you’re running. What’s going on?”

“Sorry, I’m just trying to get downstairs. What’s up?”

“I got a call from Dad. Austin’s been blowing up everyone’s phones and showed up at the house looking for you. Is everything okay?”

Allison groaned. “Yeah, well, Austin flew to Venice. Showed up here this morning.”

Archer was silent for a moment. “What the fuck, Allison? Tell me you’re not thinking about getting back with him.”

“Of course not. He tried to explain, but it doesn’t matter. I’m in love with Damon, Archer. And I need to find him.”

“I knew it.” Archer chuckled before the protective big brother mode slipped into his voice. “Don’t fuck it up, sis. Damon’s a good guy. If you love him, don’t let him go.”

Allison closed her eyes, pressing the elevator button repeatedly as if that would make it move faster. “I won’t. Thanks, Archer.”

“Go get your man,” Archer said, the smile evident in his voice.

Just as the elevator doors opened, her phone buzzed again. “Lorenzo,” she answered breathlessly.

“Found him,” Lorenzo’s voice came through with a hint of humor. “Your man’s drunk as hell at the hotel bar, Bella.”

“What?”

“Yeah, and I’m keeping the vultures at bay, but you’d better get down here. Fast.”

Allison didn’t need to hear anything more.

The moment the elevator doors opened, she sprinted across the lobby, heading straight for the bar.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Damon slumped over the bar, his head resting on the counter.

Lorenzo was sitting beside him, trying to coax him to stand.

But what made her blood boil was the sight of a woman—perfectly groomed and far too close—her hand resting on Damon’s neck as she whispered something into his ear. Allison’s body reacted before her brain caught up. She stormed over, eyes blazing.

“Allison, wait—” Lorenzo started, but it was too late.

Allison snatched the woman’s hand off Damon’s neck and twisted it back. “Do not touch him. He’s mine.”

The woman stepped back, eyes wide. “I was just comforting him.”

“He doesn’t need your comfort,” Allison snapped, her teeth clenched in anger. “I said he’s mine. Now, leave.”

The woman backed away, muttering something under her breath, but Allison didn’t care. Her heart pounded as she turned to face Damon, who lifted his head, his eyes glassy with alcohol. He blinked at her, his voice slurred but filled with wonder. "I’m yours?"

Allison’s heart clenched. Tears welled up as she cupped his cheek, whispering, "You’re mine, Damon."

Without hesitation, his lips found hers, the kiss deep and full of desperation. "I’m sorry," she mumbled against his mouth, clinging to him. "I should’ve stopped you from leaving."

“You needed to know,” Damon murmured, his forehead resting against hers.

“Know what?”

“That you really wanted me,” he said, his voice tight. “Not him.”

Allison stared into his eyes, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve realized that what I thought I felt for Austin wasn’t real. It was never love. But with you… this is real. I was scared in Vegas because I knew if you rejected me, it would break what was left of my heart.”

Damon’s fingers tightened around hers, pulling her close. "You have me, Allison. You’ll always have me."

She smiled, feeling the weight of everything lifting. "And you have me. I love you, Damon. More than I ever thought I could."

Damon’s breath hitched, a mixture of relief and joy washing over his face. "You love me?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Do you think I’d call you mine if I didn’t?"