35. Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
Ava
My smile falls as soon as I walk across the threshold. The urge to throw one, ridiculously handsome, downright obstinate, Duncan James through a window is overpowering. Any attempt at conversation on the drive over was like pulling teeth. Not to mention the amount of grunting coming from the driver’s seat. I felt like I was sitting next to a caveman.
I know earlier I said that I can’t fault him, and I don’t. Doesn’t mean it’s not annoying.
Feeling like a teenager whose parents will punish them for being out all night, I close the front door behind me as quietly as possible. Tip-toeing my way down the hall to my bedroom I hold my breath until I’m safely inside.
Thirty minutes later I’m showered and in fresh clothes feeling more like myself and less like a raccoon that was struck by lightning. David and Scarlett’s happy voices carry through the house and my cheeks lift. I forgot how much I missed being in a space with people doing normal things.
The smoky smell of bacon slams into me, making my mouth water and my stomach grumble loud enough to wake an entire village. Hand over my stomach, I walk into the kitchen. David looks over his shoulder and smirks at me. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”
My eyes widen, and I feel heat creeping up my body. The chuckle I hear makes me want to throw another James brother out the window. Laughing at my expression, he turns back to scrambling eggs.
“Aunt Ava!” A wide smile spreads across my face at the sight of Scarlett. Dropping the crayon in her hand, she leaps from the chair, running over to wrap her arms around me like a sloth hanging from a branch. “I missed not seeing you before bedtime. Can you braid my hair before the game?”
“Of course,” I squeeze her back and kiss the top of her head. “Is it okay if we eat first? I’m ravenous.”
“We know,” Scarlett giggles, returning to her chair and continuing where she left off with her coloring. “Your stomach was talking.”
“I’m not sure talking is the right word to describe it.” Giggling, I walk over to the cabinet and pull out a plate and resting it on top of the two already on the counter. I reach up, pull a glass out, and fill it with orange juice. “Your brother is maddening,” I mumble to David before sitting beside Scarlett.
David quirks a brow, humor dancing in his eyes. “My brother? Duncan? The one who grunts more than talks? I don’t believe it!”
Scooping the eggs onto a plate, he asks Scarlett. “How many pieces of bacon do you want?”
“All the bacon,” she spreads her arms out wide.
“Three pieces it is,” David laughs, and Scarlett groans. “Ava?”
“As many as I’m allowed because apparently there’s a limit.” I nudge Scarlett with my elbow and she nods vigorously.
“He’s maddening too,” she whisper-yells behind her hand, making me press my lips together. “Especially when it comes to bacon.”
Carrying the plates over, David shrugs. “It’s my favorite. Do you want any coffee?”
“No I—” David’s brows shoot up and I realize I almost said I had some at Duncan’s. “I’m good.”
Slipping a plate in front of me and Scarlett, the two of us immediately dig in.
“Hey! It’s polite to wait for everyone to be seated before you start eating.” David crosses his arms over his chest and glares at us.
“He’s grumpy too,” I murmur leaning over toward Scarlett.
“He’s always grumpy before his coffee,” she whispers.
“Sitting right here you two.” He scowls at us, but his eyes are twinkling. Scrunching my face I look at Scarlett and chuckle. “So what did you and Duncan do last night?”
As I pin David with my gaze, my eyes widen to the size of saucers. A smug look is resting on his face as he innocently takes a bite of his bacon.
“We ordered take out from Rocco’s and then watched a movie,” I murmur, picking up my orange juice and sipping.
“Did Uncle Dunky make you watch The Zamboni Kiss ?” Scarlett asks, the corner of her lips lift up but she doesn’t stop coloring. “He makes me watch it all the time.”
David nearly spits out his coffee, and I narrow my eyes as the corner of my lips pulls up. “He said it used to be your favorite?” The question starting to form in my mind has my entire body humming.
“When I was like five,” she huffs, and rolls her eyes. “But I think he just really likes watching you.”
My fork stops mid-air and my mouth hangs open. All the butterflies in my stomach take that moment to flap their wings. Swallowing hard I ask. “Why do you think that?”
Scarlett puts down her crayon, and examines my face. Her eyes scrutinize me in a way that is too wise for her young age. She finally lands on a look that says you can’t be that dumb . Dropping my arm and leaning it on the table, my lip quirks.
“Cause he’s in love with you.” My eyes bug out of my face and my pounding heart moves through me like a ground-shaking rumble. Grinning, she shifts her gaze to David. “Right, Daddy?”
My eyes whip to David only to have him shrug noncommittally and continue scooping eggs in his mouth. But he never takes his eyes from mine.
The pounding is now a thundering mass of buffalo running full speed around my entire body. Eyes wide open, I watch Scarlett pick up the project she’s been working on and hold it close to her chest. A mischievous glint fills her hazel eyes before turning the paper around for me to see the image she’s drawn.
My heart skips a beat before my stomach swoops at what she drew: A pink heart with the initials DJ & AN written in black block letters.
Heat creeps up my face, my cheeks tug up, and a sheepish grin rests on my face. Pushing my eggs back and forth, I feel David’s and Scarlett’s eyes on me. I feel like a schoolgirl whose crush just found her doodles in her notebook.
Duncan’s in love with me.
“See, Daddy! I told you she loves Uncle Dunky.”
The grin on my face widens. When I look up, I shrug a shoulder and bite my lip.
“Fiona always claimed you did,” David says softly, nudging my elbow. “I didn’t believe it until I saw the sparks fly this time.”
Chewing on a piece of bacon I smirk. “My sister always was pretty smart, wasn’t she?”
“Definitely,” David smiles, a slight hint of sadness lingers in his eyes before a massive smile slides across his face. “She’d be happy for the two of you, A.”
“Let’s not count our eggs before they hatch, shall we?” I say pushing my food around. “Duncan and I still need to talk.”
“With your lips?” Scarlett’s face lights up and I laugh remembering her newest crush.
“You’ve been talking an awful lot about kissing, Scarlett…is there something you want to tell me?” David asks his daughter. The flaming shade of red that covers her face tells it all, and his expression is priceless. He’s trying to act calm, but his eyes have an underlying look of terror.
When his panicked gaze flies to mine, I shrug one shoulder, take a bite of my bacon, and smirk, grateful the focus is off my crush and me.
***
All of us are wearing Duncan’s jersey as we make our way to our seats. The music blares, blades shred up the ice and cracking sounds of sticks slapping the puck multiple times fill the air as the players warm up. Scarlett has been talking non-stop since we left the house about why this game is essential for the Wolverines.
I wish I could say I’ve been paying attention, but most of my yesses and nods were place fillers. My sole focus is on what happens after the game. Because regardless of the outcome of the game, I hope Duncan feels like a winner.
Settled in my seat, Scarlett still talking, I let my eyes skate over the ice. Immediately, my gaze lands on Duncan. He’s covered from head to toe in gear, and I can’t make out his expression. I wipe my hands on my jeans knowing I’ll have to wait hours before I can tell him how I feel.
Under the excitement is the slightest part of me terrified he won’t feel the same. Irrational? Maybe. But it’s lingering nonetheless.
David and Scarlett may have told me that he loves me, but I won’t be able to relax until I hear the words come from his lips. My body zings with energy as Duncan’s gaze slams into mine just as he’s skating toward the locker room.
Scarlett jumps up and down, and Duncan waves her. Then, he looks back at me and gives me a two-finger salute. From where I’m sitting I can see his green eyes gleaming and I have to control the urge driving me to get up and throw my arms around him.
Two. More. Hours. If there isn’t overtime. Impatience swirls through me. I don’t want to waste another moment where we aren’t on the same page. I want the world to know he’s mine. Most importantly I want him to know that he is, and has always been, the only one for me.
I collapse fully into my seat, butterflies flitting around my body. Scarlett babbles happily about stats, records, and how Duncan played on the Panthers versus his play on the Wolverines. Looking over her shoulder at David, I mouth, “You’ve created a monster.”
His lip pulls up, a satisfied grin spreads across his face, pride written all over it. “Wait until baseball season,” he mouths back, and I groan.
I love my best friend, but I have never been a huge sports fan. Don’t get me wrong, I will cheer all day long, but most of the time I don’t fully know what’s going on.
Just like hockey.
A wide grin spreads across my face and a shiver runs from head to toe at the thought of all the time I can spend with Duncan letting him teach me about hockey. When the Wolverines take the ice and Duncan heads to the ‘basket’, my cheeks pull up to the point that I think they may crack.
I plan on making sure that it includes lots of snuggle time and kissing breaks.