Revenge With A Smile

Chapter 8: Revenge With A Smile 

Ethan 

I went to the store after work, my mind still spinning with thoughts of Liam and Owen. What the hell were they doing in front of my office? Was Liam spying on me now? That idiot, that cheater. As if running into them hadn’t been bad enough, he had to act all smug and charming, like nothing had ever happened.

I clenched my jaw as I stood in the frozen food aisle, staring blankly at the selection of pizzas. My fridge had been empty since the weekend—I hadn’t gone grocery shopping after hiding out at home, wallowing in my own misery. It was Monday now, and with Riley coming over later, I needed to get my act together. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I couldn’t even manage to feed myself.

I grabbed a box of frozen dumplings and threw it into the basket, followed by a carton of eggs, some vegetables, and whatever else looked easy to cook. My budget wasn’t exactly thriving, but I figured I could splurge a little since Riley was doing me such a massive favor. I tossed in a bottle of wine for good measure, hoping it would make the night feel less like a strategy meeting and more like… well, something less awkward.

By the time I was done, my basket was so full I could barely carry it to the checkout counter. The cashier gave me a sympathetic smile as she scanned my items, and I forced myself to smile back. Once everything was bagged up, I hailed a taxi outside the store, refusing to subject myself to the humiliation of lugging groceries onto the bus.

When I finally got home, I struggled up the stairs to my apartment, both hands full of shopping bags. The moment I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I froze.

“WHAT THE HELL?” I screamed, the bags slipping from my hands and hitting the floor with a loud thud. My heart was racing, my muscles tense as I stared at the dark figure sitting on my couch.

A burst of laughter filled the room, and my fear quickly morphed into anger when I realized who it was.

“Ava?!” I snapped, flicking on the light. “What the hell are you doing here, sitting in the dark like some kind of horror movie villain?”

She was doubled over, clutching her stomach as she laughed. “Oh my God, Ethan. Your face! I wish I’d recorded that. Priceless.”

“This isn’t funny!” I snapped, picking up the bags I’d dropped. “You scared the crap out of me!”

Ava wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still grinning. “I didn’t mean to freak you out. I was just waiting for you to get home.”

“In the dark?” I shot her an incredulous look as I carried the bags to the kitchen counter. “You couldn’t have turned on a light? Or, I don’t know, called and told me you were coming over?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” she said, following me into the kitchen. “Besides, I wanted to talk to you in person. You’ve been dodging my calls all day.”

“I’ve been working,” I said, unloading the groceries with a little more force than necessary. “And dealing with Liam.”

Her playful demeanor shifted instantly, her smile fading. “Wait. You saw Liam today?”

“Yep,” I said bitterly, slamming a carton of eggs onto the counter. “And his perfect boyfriend, Owen. They were standing right outside my office building, looking all happy and in love. It was disgusting.”

Ava leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing important,” I muttered, ripping open the bag of frozen dumplings and shoving them into the freezer. “Just the usual fake concern. ‘Oh, Ethan, it’s so great to see you! Are you coming to the wedding? We’d love to have you there.’” I mimicked Liam’s overly cheerful tone, rolling my eyes.

Ava groaned. “Ugh. He’s such a manipulative asshole. Why does he even care if you show up? It’s not like he deserves to have you there.”

“Because he wants to rub it in my face,” I said, slamming the freezer shut. “That’s all this is. He wants me to see how happy he is with Owen, like he didn’t cheat on me and destroy everything we had.”

Ava reached out and squeezed my arm gently. “Hey. Don’t let him get in your head, okay? You’re better than him. And you’ve got Riley now, remember?”

I sighed, leaning against the counter. “Yeah, Riley. He’s coming over tonight so we can plan out this whole fake boyfriend thing. I just… I don’t know, Ava. What if this was a mistake?”

“It’s not a mistake,” she said firmly. “Riley’s hot, charming, and clearly willing to help you out. Plus, it’ll drive Liam insane, which is exactly what he deserves. You’re playing this perfectly.”

I rolled my eyes at her enthusiasm. “You’ve never even seen Riley.”

“Oh, I’ve seen him,” she said, practically bouncing with excitement. “I mean, I’ve heard all about him. Your hot, charming, very handsome neighbor? Who wouldn't be excited? I’m so ready to meet him. He sounds amazing.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at how eager she was. “You’ve got a whole fantasy built up, don’t you?”

She grinned wickedly. “I’m just saying, I can’t wait to see him in person. I bet he’s even better than you’ve described. And I know you’re being modest, but trust me—he sounds like a total catch.”

“Great,” I said dryly, my lips curving into a small smile despite myself. “Maybe I should just introduce you to him and call it a day.”

“Are you kidding?” she exclaimed. “I’ll just hang back and enjoy the show. I’m rooting for you, and I’m rooting for Riley. And I will definitely have a few words for Liam if he gets any ideas.”

I shook my head, laughing at her excitement. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I know,” she said with a wink. “But seriously, you’re going to be fine. And if Liam tries anything, I’ll personally show up to the wedding and dump a glass of wine on him.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the mental image. “You’d really do that?”

“In a heartbeat,” she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “No one messes with my best friend and gets away with it.”

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. Ava had always been my biggest cheerleader, even when I didn’t deserve it. “Thanks, Ava. You’re the best.”

“I know,” she said, tossing her hair dramatically. “Now, are you going to feed me, or should I just start raiding your cabinets?”

I groaned, grabbing a bag of chips and tossing it at her. “Help yourself. But don’t make a mess—I just cleaned.”

She caught the bag with a grin and plopped onto the couch, turning on the TV as if she owned the place. I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help feeling a little lighter. Ava had that effect on me.

As I finished unpacking the groceries, I glanced at the clock. 7:30 p.m. Riley would be here soon, and I needed to pull myself together. This wasn’t just about proving something to Liam—it was

about proving something to myself.

I wasn’t going to let him see me broken.