<div style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 22px">aven miller</span><br/>
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<br/>
"I'm happy for her. I'll send the contacts to you at the restaurant," Aven meant her words. All the negativity she felt after the splitting didn't fall onto Rafael's wife once. When she had called later to offer Aven a verbal lashing that had a part of her lashing onto all the shame she felt even presently Aven did not utter a single word to defend herself. After what she had done with a man who had not been worth it, Aven knew she deserved every bitter, hateful word the woman had to spill. In Aven's mind, it was the least she could do for the too-beautiful brunette. Danielle was a good woman and she did not deserve what Rafael and Aven had put her through.<br/>
<br/>
"No Rafael, you can't," Aven snapped. Her dark gaze met Rafael's startling blue ones with force, the anger that she had been trying so desperately to ignore singing her blood. He didn't get to <i>watch out</i> for her when he had been the one to pretty much drive her out of New York. She noted the way his jaw ticked almost as if he were vexed that she had the audacity to try and find happiness with someone else. What was she doing here with him? Why did she think drinks would be a good idea?<br/>
<br/>
Aven clamped her jaw tight, inky lashes confining themselves downward towards the clean floor. The quiet charge of tension that rippled spiked at her snippy words and Aven couldn't find it in herself to diffuse it. How dare he think he could care for her after he had been the one to break her in the first place?<br/>
<br/>
<i>He's married. He has a kid. He has a family. Calm yourself.</i><br/>
<br/>
Aven repeated the words like a desperate mantra to herself the whole way to the booth. When they were seated, Aven memorized the interior of the bar, noting the sleek ebony counters, mahogany wood tables, and chairs that were slightly sticky. It reminded her of the vision Sebastian had for his bar. As long as she remembered Seb during the rest of what Aven imagined to be this hellish meeting, she would be fine. Still, to hear Rafael speak of taking Danielle to Europe, a trip he had once upon a time promised her was humiliating at best. It also further helped her demonize the man in front of her which is exactly what she needed to do. Aven's relationship with Rafael had been seen through rose-colored lenses and his appearance now would help shatter that image.<br/>
<br/>
It was when he mentioned her age and talked down to her as if she were a child that had something in Aven's body fracture - a switch in her mind that bucked and grappled the entire day. One side called for peace and forgiveness while the other wrestled to our down every bit of hurt and anguish she still had not dealt with. To hear him speak about her in such a manner made her wonder if what they had in the past had ever been as intense to him as it had been to her. Aven had been more than prepared to settle down with <i>him</i>, to be his wife, to travel different parts of the world, to share his sorrow and joy, and do all that was in between. His comment was so neglectful that pain split the wound she had heedlessly wrapped wide open.<br/>
<br/>
"Of course not. But it's not like me to bounce around choices either, is it? Now that would be a super immature, childish thing to do, don't you agree, Raf?" Aven threw out. Despite the blaze that charred her body at the sheer audacity of Rafel, her voice came out deceptively calm.  Her intentions hadn't been to confront Rafael when he had called her for drinks. In fact, Aven's plan was to prolong any type of talk for as long as possible because she did not want to deal with all that came with talking to Rafael. The feelings, the bruised ego, the part of her heart that had permanently closed off because of his betrayal had been too much for Aven to bear. Seeing him now only brought all those repressed feelings to the front of her mind and his words were threatening to have it all spill right over. If Aven were being fully honest, she wanted Rafael to hurt the way she had. She desired for her words to bring him an ounce of shame because from where she was sitting, he did not seem to regret a damn thing.<br/>
<br/>
And maybe that's what hurt the most. Knowing that Rafael had picked the right option and that option had not been her.<br/>
<br/>
"A Caribou Lou and double shot of Jameson neat," the bartender slid both drinks to Aven and Rafael. Momentarily, Aven kept her heated eyes fixated deeply onto Rafael, daring him to look away. Relocation, the blonde tore her gaze away from her ex, looking up at the waiter with a polite smile she did not feel.<br/>
<br/>
"Thank you," Once the waiter walked away, oblivious to the conversation that was about to ensue between the pair, Aven observed the thin, caramel liquid in Rafael's cup. Distance may have severed the connection between them and Rafael may not have given two shits about Aven, but that didn't mean she could just sit back and watch him drink after all that had occurred.<br/>
<br/>
"Don't drink that,"​</div>