8. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Duncan
When my eyes landed on Ava and the crowd surrounding her as I walked out of the locker room, it took every ounce of control I had not to smash my fist into the head of every one of the people shoving a phone in her face. Seeing her shaky smile and eyes full of fear filled me with a staggering urge to protect her.
My heart is pounding furiously, and I’m sure it will batter its way through my chest. Her cheek is so soft under my hand, and her body feels so tiny next to me. The urge to keep her safe, even when we’re away from danger, is like a hunger that has to be fed.
“Ava.” My other hand cups her cheek, and I bend my knees to get to her eye level. “Please talk to me. Are you okay?”
The hand on my arm gently squeezes while I watch her mouth open and close a few times. No words are coming out.
Clenching my teeth together, I let my eyes look over her face again, ensuring she isn’t physically hurt.
“You’re safe,” I whisper. “I’m here, and I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.”
A shiver moves through her body. Her teeth pull her bottom lip and I notice it quiver.
“Look at me, Ava.” Her crystal blue eyes glance up, and she meets mine. “Take a deep breath.”
I feel her body rise and fall shakily against my forearms. “There you go. Good girl. Just breathe.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this version of Ava. Her brave front collapses in front of my eyes—the need to keep her guarded from the world reemerging.
I remember the first time I had this feeling. I was a gangly thirteen year-old. Me, Fiona, David, and Ava were walking home from the high school football game because David’s ‘classic’ 1975’s Chevy Chevelle was once again in the shop.
The night was one of those perfect autumn nights where the air is crisp and cool but not cold—the crinkling sound from the leaves getting blown around by the wind surrounding us.
“What’s wrong?” I asked Ava, the worried expression on her face making me want to wrap her in my arms. Fi and David were walking in front of us, hand in hand, quietly talking.
When Ava and Fiona moved next door, I was immediately smitten. Ava looked like a goddess, her silky blonde hair hanging loosely around her face. The smile she gave me was full of confidence, but her soft blue eyes had a touch of lingering sadness that I couldn’t put my finger on and it pulled at my heart.
The desire to make that sadness go away was almost as fierce as needing to play hockey. Tonight, five years later, it’s still the same.
“I hate that you can do that,” she grumbles.
“Do what?” My forehead furrowed as I looked at her over my shoulder.
“See me. I hate that you can see me, Duncan.” Her voice was filled with discomfort. “I can hide from everyone. Except Fi and you.”
Ava has always presented a collected front to the world, one I could always easily see through.
Despite the fact that I’m working to keep my distance from her while she’s here, that ability hasn’t gone away. Neither has the desire to protect her. But right now, I don’t question any of my actions. My only concern is ensuring the woman in front of me is unhurt.
Her breathing slows down, and her eyes pool with tears. I feel my stomach twist. Her hand gripping my shirt kneads me like a kitten.
My heart rate spikes, and I stand at my full height. Wrapping my arms around her and pulling her close in an attempt to relieve her from whatever is causing her this pain.
Click.
A gasp falls from Ava’s lips. We both whip our heads toward the sound, but there’s nothing. I feel pressure on my chest and look down to see the golden crown of Ava’s head resting on me.
Shaking racks her body, and an overwhelming feeling of dread fills me. I place a finger under her chin and gently lift her face up, only to find her laughing with no humor behind it.
“Great! Another scandal.” She says, not meeting my eyes. A delirious smile spread across her lips. “Me caught with another man. In an empty hallway. Perfect!”
Quietly, I watch the emotions playing over her face. Her beautiful face. Suddenly, she whips her round eyes to mine, panic filling them.
“Nathan,” she says quietly, fisting my shirt.
“What about Nathan?” I place my hand gently over her fist, trying to settle the panic I can feel oozing from her body.
Glassy blue eyes rise to mine, and a wrench squeezes my heart at the desperation reflected in them. “I’m afraid.” Her fist squeezes my shirt tighter.
In an attempt to calm her, I rub my hands slowly up and down her arms. “Afraid of what Ava? You’re here with me. No one is going to hurt you.”
She shakes her head back and forth furiously but doesn’t say a word. Her lips are tight, and her eyes are round. My stomach drops.
Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close to me. Once again, I can’t help but marvel at how fragile she feels in my arms. Her head barely reaches the top of my chest. The soft smell of sandalwood invades my nostrils while the warmth of her pressed against me penetrates my frozen heart.
Tiny shakes move her body, and wetness seeps through my shirt. My chest tightens, and my stomach dips. Apparently, the fairytale relationship stories presented about Ava and Nathan weren’t even close to being true.
Gently swaying back and forth, I wait for her breathing to return to normal.
“Now I know why Scarlett would always stop crying when you were holding her.” Her words vibrate against my chest. “You’re good at this.”
My lip curves up at the corner. “I do have some redeeming qualities.”
“Not just some, Duncan.” She pulls away from my chest and pins me with her gaze. “You have many good qualities.”
Afraid to ruin the moment happening, I stay still and hold my breath.
“When you’re not being a complete grump, that is.” A gleam of humor enters her eyes, and my stomach clenches.
This woman is my kryptonite, even after all these years. I silently watch her lift her hand from my chest and wipe the tears from her face. When I feel my hand lift to her face, I catch myself and take a step back, putting distance between us.
A buzz against my leg grabs my attention, and I reach into my pocket, pulling out my phone.
“Hey,” I answer, meeting Ava’s gaze, and mouth the words. “It’s David.”
“Dunc, where are you?” His voice is tinged with worry. “Is Ava with you?”
“Ava’s with me. When I got out of the locker room, she was surrounded by people hounding her, and my instinct was just to get her out of there.”
“Thank goodness.” Relief pours through the phone. “I was worried. Ava hasn’t said anything outright, but I know she’s concerned about Nathan.”
“Yeah. I get that feeling, too.”
Ava tilts her head, and her eyebrows pull together.
“Has she said anything to you?”
“No, it’s just an impression I got.” This time Ava crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me. I have to press my lips together to stop the smirk that wants to pop. She has never liked people talking about her as if she wasn’t there. “Look, I’ll head over to your house, drop Ava off, and stop in for a bit. I have something for Scarlett.”
“Yay!” Scarlett’s cheer can be heard in the background. “It better be good.”
There’s no stopping the smirk that skates across my face at that. “See you in a bit.”
Sliding the phone back in my pocket I glance up to see Ava with her arms still crossed and a frown on her face.
“What was all that about?”
“David’s worried about you.” She snorts and shakes her head. “And I can see why.”
Her eyes widen, and her mouth falls open.
“Let’s go,” I say quickly, placing my hand beside her. Hoping the stubborn look I see in her eyes won’t hold. She reminds me of Scarlett when she sets her mind on something. “I’m tired, and I’d like to see my niece before it’s her bedtime.”
“It’s already past her bedtime.” I watch the tightness release as her shoulders drop and the lines around her mouth relax.
“Well, then, we better get moving.” I start walking toward the corridor, hoping to encourage Ava to follow me.
“Duncan,” she calls out softly. Tingles move through my stomach, and I turn back to look at her. The earnestness in her eyes squeezes my chest. “Thank you for your help. I wasn’t expecting any of that. The press, that is.”
“You’re welcome.” A rare smile slides across my lips. “Ready?”
I wait for Ava to reach me before I start walking toward the players' parking lot.
“This is mine,” I say a few minutes later, breaking the comfortable silence when we reach my Acadia. Ava lets herself in the passenger side, and I slide into the driver’s seat.
Neither one of us speaks on the way to David’s, but it’s not uncomfortable, and for the first time in over a decade, there is a sense of ease between us.
But it feels bigger, like we’re finally on an even playing field. That I’m no longer just her best friend’s younger brother, but Duncan. A man. Her equal.
The realization jolts me to my very core, and I can’t help but wonder: Who’s going to protect me from Ava?