CHAPTER THREE
The crisp November air had a refreshing bite as Ava and Christian walked through the courtyard of Virginia Beach’s City Hall, weaving between booths at the career and college day.
The leaves crunched beneath their feet, a mosaic of autumn oranges and reds. Christian led the way, his backpack slung over one shoulder, moving with a sense of purpose that made Ava’s heart swell. She was here to support him, letting him take charge of the day.
He stopped at a few local college tables, asking thoughtful questions about their programs and even visiting a trade school booth with an interest in auto mechanics.
Ava smiled, pride filling her as she watched him do his homework at every booth they passed. His questions were sharp, and his demeanor was calm and mature. He was a fifteen-year-old, far beyond his years. Ava knew his background had forced him to grow up faster, but seeing him like this, confident and in control, filled her with admiration.
After about an hour and a half, they finally approached the military booths, where the Navy’s display dominated the scene. Their booth was by far the grandest, with large banners, displays of various Navy equipment and uniforms, and even a few models of ships and aircraft. Given the proximity to Norfolk and the SEAL base in town, it wasn’t a surprise the Navy would go all out.
Christian’s eyes lit up as he approached the recruiters, two of them standing behind the booth in their crisp uniforms. He immediately struck up a conversation, his enthusiasm evident as he asked questions about different career paths and opportunities in the Navy.
Ava hung back, letting him take the lead, and once again, she was impressed with how well he handled himself. Christian wasn’t just asking about general things. His focus was centered around the SEALs.
“This is my mom,” Christian said suddenly, introducing her with a proud smile as he turned back toward Ava.
Ava felt a jolt of surprise at his words. Mom? Her heart skipped a beat, but she smiled warmly and stepped forward, shaking hands with the recruiters. She didn’t correct him.
One of the recruiters, a tall man with close-cropped hair, smiled at Christian. “So, you’re interested in becoming a SEAL, huh?”
Christian nodded eagerly. “Yes, sir. I’ve been studying the process. I know it’s hard even to get selected for BUD/S, and I’ve been reading about the training and what it takes to get through it. It’s tough, but I’m getting ready. I’ve been practicing the PST, and I joined the swim team at my high school.”
The other recruiter, a woman with a sharp, professional demeanor, raised her eyebrows, impressed. “You’ve done your homework. That’s a good start. It’s one of the hardest things to do in the military, but it sounds like you’ve got the right mindset.”
Christian beamed as the recruiters continued to talk to him, asking more questions about his interest in the military and his schooling. Ava listened, pride swelling in her chest. He was handling the conversation like a pro.
“Well, you came at the perfect time,” the male recruiter said, smiling down at Christian. “We’ve got a SEAL team doing a demonstration in about ten minutes. You should definitely check it out.”
Christian’s eyes went wide with excitement, and the recruiters handed him a bunch of Navy swag. He got a T-shirt, a keychain, stickers, and a water bottle. He thanked them excitedly, clutching the items to his chest, and then turned to Ava.
“Do you mind if we stay a little longer to see the demonstration?” he asked, practically bouncing on his heels.
“Of course,” Ava said, laughing softly. “Today is all about you.” She took a few brochures from the recruiters and nodded her thanks before following Christian toward the open field where the demonstration was set to take place.
Christian led them to an area off to the side, away from the main crowd gathering at the front of the field. Ava glanced around, curious. “Why over here?” she asked, a little puzzled that he wasn’t trying to get closer for a better view.
Christian pointed to the side, where a group of men that she assumed were the SEALs were gearing up for the demonstration. “This way, I can see everything—front and behind the scenes.”
She smiled, understanding now. “Smart,” she said, giving him a playful nudge.
The demonstration started soon after, with the team piling into vehicles that Ava could only describe as futuristic dune buggies. Christian leaned over and explained what they were called. The excitement was clear in his voice. “Those are special vehicles for all kinds of terrain. They can handle pretty much anything.”
Ava nodded, impressed. She couldn’t help but admire how much Christian already knew. As the SEALs raced through the field, displaying their tactical maneuvers, an announcer called out to the crowd. “We need a volunteer to help out the team. Anyone feeling brave?”
Before Ava could even blink, Christian’s hand shot up.
The announcer scanned the crowd, and then his eyes landed on Christian, standing off to the side. “You, over there!” he called out, pointing to Christian. “Come on up!”
Ava’s heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves as one of the SEALs jogged over, escorting Christian to where the rest of the team stood. She watched, her emotions bubbling over with pride as Christian beamed, chatting with the SEALs like he belonged there.
As she watched from the side, a figure appeared next to her. She glanced over and felt her breath catch. A tall man, broad-shouldered and in the same tactical clothing as the others, minus all the gear, stood beside her. He had a strong jawline, piercing hazel eyes, and a surprisingly friendly and slightly shy smile. Ava felt her pulse quicken as he met her gaze.
“He seems happy,” the man said, nodding toward Christian. “And he really seems to understand what we’re doing out there.”
Ava smiled, her heart fluttering slightly at the sound of his voice. It had a subtle accent. It was Australian, she realized after a moment. “Yeah, it’s his goal to become a SEAL. We were just over at the recruiter booth talking to them about it.”
The man grinned, his smile making her heart skip again. “I know. The recruiter told us to pick him if he volunteered.”
Ava blinked, surprised. “Really? Why?”
“He was impressed by your son’s attitude and how prepared he is,” the man said.
Ava felt warmth spread through her. “He’s not technically my son,” she admitted, glancing down before meeting the man’s eyes again. “I’m his foster mom. Well, sort of. It’s actually a long story. I’m his social worker, and he’s staying with me through the holidays.” She had no idea why she had told the man that.
The man’s expression softened, and he seemed genuinely interested. “He’s a lucky kid to have someone supporting him. And I’m sorry the recruiter mentioned you were his mom.”
Ava chuckled softly. “Oh, please don’t apologize. I don’t mind.”
“I’m Aussie, by the way,” the man introduced himself, holding out his hand. There was that soft accent again.
Ava took his hand, feeling the warmth of his grip. “Ava,” she replied, trying not to let her thoughts run wild about how good-looking he was. His accent, his kind eyes, oh, be still my heart. It was all too much.
Aussie’s eyes flicked to Christian again. “He’s got the drive, that’s for sure. What’s his story? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Ava hesitated, but for some reason, she felt comfortable enough to share some of his background. “Christian had a rough start. His mother was a drug addict and a prostitute. She overdosed when he was just three. He’s been in the system ever since. We have no idea who the father is. There is no name listed on the birth certificate.”
Aussie’s expression was full of understanding and no judgment. “Sounds like he’s lucky to have you.”
Ava smiled, her heart warming at his words. “I feel lucky to have him, too.”
◆◆◆
Aussie was intrigued by the woman standing beside him.
Ava, as he now knew her name, had caught his eye when Lucas, one of the Navy recruiters he had been talking to, had been talking about the boy who was with her.
When Lucas had first pointed the boy out, it wasn’t the kid that had caught his attention. It had been the woman standing next to him with hair as dark as a raven’s wing. When the sunlight hit it just right, a blueish hue danced within the long strands that fell down her back in waves. She had been impossible to miss.
When Aussie first approached her, he had been a nervous wreck, which was ridiculous because he was a SEAL who was trained for the toughest missions. Talking to a stranger shouldn’t have felt like stepping into uncharted territory.
But the longer he stood there listening to Ava talk about the boy she was caring for, the more he began to loosen up.
From what he’s heard, Aussie’s respect for Christian grew, but it was Ava’s quiet strength that struck him. She didn’t seem like someone who sought the spotlight, yet here she was, advocating for a kid who clearly mattered to her.
As the demonstration continued, Aussie stood beside Ava, a comfortable silence hovering between them. When an opportunity arose, he snuck a few peeks at her.
As a small explosive device detonated, Ava jumped.
“Holy crap!” she exclaimed as she held her hand over her heart. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Aussie chuckled. “It’s quite the show,” he replied, looking down at her. Her dark blue eyes sparkled.
“That was really intense,” she said, a small laugh escaping her.
“It can be,” Aussie admitted. He nodded his head in the direction where Christian was helping Snow, one of his teammates, carry a fake injured person. He had a serious and determined look on his face.
“He seems to really be enjoying himself.”
“He does. I’m just glad he got to experience this,” she told him.
Aussie wanted to ask more questions, but he didn’t want to come across as being nosey.
Moments later, the crowd was clapping as the demonstration came to an end, and after shaking hands with Aussie’s teammates, Christian came running back over.
“Ava! Did you see that? That was so cool!” Christian said. The smile on his face grew by the second.
“I did,” she told him.
Suddenly, Christian realized Aussie was standing there, and he gave Ava a look as if asking who he was.
Ava smiled. “Christian, this is Aussie. Aussie, this is Christian.”
Aussie held his hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Christian. You looked pretty good out there with my team.”
Christian shook his hand, and Aussie was impressed with the kid’s grip. It was a strong and confident handshake.
“It’s nice to meet you too. You’re a SEAL too?” he asked, and Aussie grinned.
“I am.”
“That’s so cool,” Christian said.
“Ava here tells me that you’re interested in becoming one yourself,” Aussie said, directing his attention to Christian.
The boy nodded enthusiastically. “I am. I spoke with the recruiter about it, and he gave me some tips on things that I should focus on and concentrate on. I’m scheduled to take the ASVAB test in the third week of January.”
Aussie raised an eyebrow, impressed. Lucas wasn’t lying when he said the kid was prepared. “Being a SEAL is a big goal. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” Aussie told him.
Christian shrugged, but there was a fire in his eyes. “I'm ready for it. Like I told the recruiter, I know it’s tough both mentally and physically, but I’m doing everything that I can to prepare myself for it. Do you have any pointers that you can give me? You know things that I might be missing or not doing to prepare?”
Aussie smiled, loving the kid's dedication and willingness to reach his dream.
“Well, you’re on the right track already. Going through BUD/s is more mental than it is physical. I’ve seen some of the strongest men quit because they mentally could not withstand the grueling training that recruits are put through. You see, BUD/s is designed to push recruits beyond their physical limits.”
“Was it hard for you?” Christian asked.
Aussie laughed. “Yeah. It was one of the hardest things I think I ever did.”
“Was there a time that you wanted to quit? You know, ring the bell?”
“There were numerous times,” Aussie admitted, and he wasn’t ashamed to say it because if anybody who has gone through BUD/s and said that quitting never crossed their mind, he knew they were lying.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what was it that prevented you from ringing out?”
“Pride. I knew I wanted to be a SEAL when I was around your age, and when I got selected into BUD/s, I promised myself that I wasn’t going to ring out no matter how badly I wanted to. Anytime I started thinking about quitting, I would think back to a phrase that my mentor, a Master Chief and former SEAL, had told me. And would repeat that phrase over and over in my head until quitting was a thing of the past.”
“What was the phrase?”
Aussie grinned. “Don’t ring the damn bell. That was the phrase I would repeat.”
Christian grinned. “Thanks for sharing that with me. If I get in, I’ll have to remember that.”
Aussie smiled. “You do that.”
“Is there any type of program that could help prepare kids who are Christian’s age? I know there is JROTC in high schools, but Christian is focused on core classes,” Ava asked.
Aussie felt a surge of respect for both of them—Christian for his resilience and Ava for her dedication to helping him.
Aussie looked at Christian. “If you’re serious about this, you should look into the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets.”
“Sea Cadets? What is that?” Ava asked, tilting her head.
“It’s a youth leadership program for kids interested in the military. The Navy sponsors it,” Aussie explained. “One of my buddies has a kid in the program. They get to learn about discipline, teamwork, and leadership. It’s a great way to see if military life is really for you before you make the full commitment.”
Ava’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’ve never heard of it. How does it work?”
“They have local units across the country. There’s one right here in Virginia Beach,” Aussie said. “The cadets get together several times a month on the weekends for drills. During the summer months, they host training sessions all around the country. The trainings consist of almost any career offered in the military, including Special Warfare. They get to wear uniforms just like the Navy. They learn about naval history and even get a taste of what it’s like to be on a ship. It’s not all physical, either. It’s about building character.”
“That sounds amazing,” Ava said as she glanced at Christian.
Aussie nodded. “It is. And it’s not just about the military.” He looked at Christian. “Even if you decide later that the military isn’t for you, the skills that you’ve learned will carry you through anything you want to do.”
Ava smiled again. “Is that something you’re interested in?” she asked Christian.
“Yeah. It sounds like a great program.”
“If you go out to their website, they have all the information. And they will have the contact information for the Commanding Officer for the local unit here in town.”
“Thank you so much for all the great information,” Ava told him.
“It’s my pleasure.” He looked at Christian. “If you ever need some advice or just want to chat, feel free to reach out.”
Christian beamed. “Really? That would be awesome!”
Ava looked at Aussie, gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Aussie shrugged modestly. “Happy to help. Besides, it’s great to see young people passionate about something.”
They spoke for a few more minutes. The conversation flowed easily. Aussie found himself increasingly drawn to Ava, not just because of her beauty but her compassion and strength. She seemed to care for Christian genuinely, and that spoke volumes about her character.
As they wrapped up their discussion, Aussie turned to Ava. “It was great meeting you both. Like I said, if you have a question or if you ever want to talk or anything else, here’s my number.” He handed her a card with his number written down on it.
Ava took it, smiling. “Thanks, Aussie. And thanks again for everything today. Christian really looks up to guys like you.”
Aussie grinned. “The pleasure was mine. Take care, Ava.” He looked at Christian. “Keep working hard.”
After saying goodbye, Aussie watched as Ava and Christian walked toward the parking lot. He couldn’t shake the strange feeling flowing through his body. It felt like a spark of something—interest, curiosity, maybe even an attraction.
Meeting Ava had been unexpected, but he couldn’t help but hope he’d see her again.
◆◆◆
Ava couldn’t shake the thoughts of Aussie as she and Christian walked back to the car. The cool November breeze brushed against her skin, but her mind was still lingering on the warmth of his smile, the kindness in his eyes, and that cute Australian accent that had caught her completely off guard.
There was something rugged about him. Maybe it was his tactical uniform and his confident stance, but also a surprising friendliness that softened his edges. And okay, she thought with a grin, the man was undeniably sexy. Those hazel eyes were captivating and sucked her right in.
She couldn’t help but admire how attentive he had been to Christian, not just brushing him off like some people did with teenagers. No, Aussie had listened. He’d shown genuine interest in Christian’s story, in his dreams. And that made her heart swell even more—a SEAL, of all people, caring enough to notice someone like Christian. That kind of awareness was rare, and she hadn’t expected it.
As they reached the car, Christian was practically bouncing with excitement, still pumped from the SEAL demonstration and his conversation with Aussie.
He couldn’t stop talking about how cool it had been to help out. “Did you see how they worked together, Ava? They’re like a well-oiled machine! And when they picked me to participate with them, man, that was awesome!”
Ava smiled as she unlocked the car, listening to him go on, his energy infectious. But just as they were about to get in, Christian turned to her, a mischievous grin on his face.
“And what about Aussie, huh?” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows.
Ava’s eyes widened, a laugh escaping her. “What? Christian, come on. It’s not like that.”
“Oh, it’s totally like that,” he said, sliding into the passenger seat, still grinning. “I saw the way he was looking at you. He’s definitely interested.”
Ava shook her head, trying to laugh it off as she started the car. “He was just being nice. He was more interested in you than me, trust me.”
“Yeah, because I’m awesome,” Christian said with a wink, “but he still gave you his number. You should use it.”
Ava’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel for a second. She had almost forgotten about the number Aussie had casually slipped her before they parted ways. “Christian, stop it,” she said with a chuckle, though a part of her couldn’t deny the idea was tempting.
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, but Christian wasn’t letting up. “I’m serious, Ava. You should totally call or text him. I think he’s into you. And he’s way better than that other guy you were seeing. What was his name? Oh, yeah. Jarod.”
Jarod.
The name sent a flicker of tension through her. She’d been dating Jarod on and off for the last year. He was a county judge and was ten years older than her. He was good-looking and had a solid career. He had everything you’d think a woman would want. But there was something about him that always made her hold back.
Maybe it was the fact that being around Jarod felt more like an obligation than anything else. He checked all the right boxes, but there was no spark, no real excitement when she thought about seeing him. They were supposed to have dinner next week, and the idea of it didn’t exactly fill her with anticipation. If she was honest with herself, she wasn’t even looking forward to it.
“You don’t like Jarod?” Ava asked, raising an eyebrow.
Christian shrugged, looking out the window for a second before speaking. “I don’t know. There’s just something about him that seemed off the few times that I met him. He’s nice enough, I guess. But I get bad vibes when he’s around.”
Ava glanced over at Christian, surprised by how serious he sounded. She knew Christian had good instincts. He’d been through enough in life to read people well. And the fact that he didn’t like Jarod struck her as something she couldn’t ignore.
But before she could dive too deep into those thoughts, her mind drifted back to Aussie. His easy smile, the way he’d seemed a little shy when he introduced himself, that hint of an accent that somehow made him even more charming. And unlike Jarod, Aussie’s presence had excited her and made her heart race in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She found herself smiling as she pulled the car onto the road. Aussie.
Christian noticed the grin and nudged her playfully. “You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”
Ava laughed, shaking her head but not denying it. “Maybe,” she admitted, a warmth spreading through her chest. “Maybe I am.”
Christian grinned, looking victorious. “Told you.”
Ava tried to push thoughts of Jarod out of her mind, and it wasn’t that hard. She didn’t want to think about her lackluster relationship with the judge right now. Not when the thought of a certain Navy SEAL with an accent could make her smile like this.
As they drove home, Christian rambled on about what they should make for dinner, excited to cook something together. But Ava’s mind kept drifting back to Aussie—his smile, his rugged charm, and the phone number burning a hole in her pocket. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to take a chance on something new.
For now, though, she would focus on making dinner with Christian and enjoy the present moment. But she couldn’t help but wonder what might happen if she dialed that number.