CHAPTER NINE
Aussie stood at the shooting range with his team, the distant crack of gunfire filling the air as they all took turns at the targets. His hands rested on his rifle, but his mind was far from the steel barrels and steady trigger pulls. Ever since last week’s dinner with Ava and Christian, they had been all he could think about. The quiet conversation, the easy laughter, and the genuine connection he felt. It had all left a mark. He’d enjoyed himself more than he had in a long time, and now, a week later, he found himself itching to see them again.
Thanksgiving was coming up fast, and all he could think about was how Ava had admitted she usually spent the holidays alone. The thought of her and Christian sitting at home with just the two of them tugged at something deep inside him. It didn’t feel right. They deserved to be surrounded by people who cared about them.
“Hey, Aussie!” Bear’s voice cut through his thoughts, and Aussie blinked, snapping back to the present. Bear stood a few feet away, arms crossed, his brow raised in question. “You’ve been standing there like a statue for five minutes. What’s going on with you?”
The rest of the team paused, turning their attention toward him. Aussie shrugged, trying to shake off the cloud of thoughts. “Nothing, just thinking.”
“Yeah, we can see that.” Bear grinned, handing his weapon to one of the guys. “You never get that quiet unless something’s eating at you. Spill it.”
Aussie exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to find the right words. “It’s nothing major. I’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving, about how Ava and Christian are probably gonna spend it alone.”
A murmur went around the group, the guys shifting their weight as they listened. Everyone on the team knew what it was like to have each other's backs, especially during the holidays. No one ever got left behind.
Bear narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you invite them to dinner at our place? I mean, Jocelyn’s already prepping for an army. What’s two more people?”
Aussie froze, a spark of hope lighting up inside him. He hadn’t even considered it until Bear said something, but now that the idea was there, it seemed perfect. “Are you sure Jocelyn wouldn’t mind?”
Bear chuckled and pulled out his phone, already typing. “I’ll text her right now, but trust me, she won’t care. She loves having a full house.”
The other guys went back to their targets, but Aussie stood there, waiting while Bear fired off a quick message. A few seconds later, Bear’s phone buzzed, and he looked up with a grin. “Told you. Jocelyn says it’s no problem. The more, the merrier.”
Aussie nodded, feeling the weight on his chest lift slightly. But then Bear shot him a curious look. “Tell me a little more about these two. You’ve been real tight-lipped.”
Aussie scratched his jaw, debating how much to say. He knew the guys would be supportive, but he wasn’t sure how to explain his feelings about Ava—mostly because he hadn’t quite figured them out himself. “Christian’s a good kid. He’s the one who volunteered during that college and career day demo we did a couple of weeks back. Remember him?”
Bear’s face lit up with recognition. “Yeah, I remember him. Good kid. He seemed really eager to learn. That’s Ava’s boy?”
“Well, sort of,” Aussie said, adjusting his stance. “Ava’s his social worker. She’s been looking out for him, and from what I’ve seen, she’s doing a damn good job. She’s the kind of person who cares, you know?”
Bear crossed his arms again, clearly interested now. “And what about her? Sounds like you’ve been thinking about her a lot.”
Aussie paused, unsure how to put his thoughts into words. “She’s different. Not like anyone I’ve met before. She’s a bit closed off, though. I think it’s because of her past. She doesn’t let people in easily.”
Bear nodded slowly, taking it all in. “You serious about her?”
Aussie hesitated, feeling the weight of that question. “I don’t know if it’s serious yet. I just know there’s something there. She’s strong and independent, and she’s been taking care of Christian like he’s her own. I like that about her. I like that a lot. But I’m taking it slow. I don’t want to push her too hard.”
Bear slapped him on the shoulder with a grin. “Sounds like you’ve got your head on straight. Just don’t rush it. If she’s worth it, and it sounds like she is, take your time. I’m looking forward to meeting them both next week.”
Aussie smiled, a strange sense of calm settling over him. “Yeah. I hope they come.”
Without wasting any more time, he pulled out his phone and typed out a text to Ava.
Aussie: Hey, Ava. You mentioned that you and Christian were going to cook Thanksgiving dinner. However, I wanted to see if the two of you would like to join me at Bear and Jocelyn’s place for dinner. My whole team, along with their families, will be there. Let me know.
He hit send and stared at the screen for a moment, hoping she’d say yes. The thought of spending Thanksgiving with Ava and Christian made him feel more excited than he wanted to admit.
Pocketing his phone, Aussie took a deep breath and returned his focus to the range. He picked up his rifle and got into position, his hands steady as he lined up his shot. The target downrange blurred slightly as his mind drifted back to Ava. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone in a long time. There was something about her—something real, something worth waiting for.
As he squeezed the trigger and fired off a round, the recoil kicked into his shoulder, but all he could think about was his phone buzzing with Ava’s reply.
◆◆◆
Ava sat across from Sarah in the break room, her brown-bagged lunch of a simple ham and cheese sandwich in front of her. She unwrapped it methodically, her mind elsewhere.
Sarah, sipping her iced tea, noticed the distant look in Ava’s eyes. The hum of office chatter and the faint smell of coffee lingered in the air, but Ava was miles away, stuck in a conversation she knew she needed to have.
“Everything okay with Christian?” Sarah asked, leaning forward slightly, concern evident in her tone.
Ava sighed, glancing down at her sandwich before pushing it aside. “I don’t know. Things were going really good, but the last few days, he’s been off,” she said, her voice laced with worry. “I think he might be getting bullied at school, but every time I ask him about it, he just shrugs it off like it’s nothing. But I can tell. Something’s bothering him, and it’s starting to really get to me.”
Sarah frowned, stirring her tea absently. “That’s tough. You know, sometimes kids don’t open up to their parents, no matter how much they want to. Maybe he needs to talk to someone else. Someone who’s, you know, more relatable to him.”
Ava tilted her head, curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe he needs a guy to talk to,” Sarah said gently, her eyes locking with Ava’s. “A strong male presence.”
Ava’s heart gave a little thud in her chest as Sarah’s next words came out casually, “What about Aussie?”
A sudden flush warmed Ava’s cheeks. Aussie. His name stirred up something she hadn’t wanted to confront, and she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Aussie was a good guy—he had an easy smile, was great with Christian, and every time they talked, there was this unspoken connection that left her feeling both comforted and unsettled. Could he really be the answer for Christian? And did she want him to be?
“Do you really think Aussie could help?” Ava asked, trying to mask the flood of emotions that surfaced just at the mention of his name.
“Well, he’s someone that Christian knows. He’s good with Christian. From what you’ve told me, he’s a stand-up guy. Maybe Christian needs someone like that to talk to,” Sarah said, leaning back in her chair. “I mean, you’re doing an amazing job, Ava. But maybe a guy would help.”
Ava’s chest tightened. Was she enough? She had always prided herself on being everything Christian needed. She wanted to be his support, his rock, his advocate. But now, hearing Sarah say that, it tugged at a deep-rooted insecurity she tried to bury. What if she wasn’t enough? What if Christian really did need someone like Aussie in his life? Someone she could never be?
Sensing Ava’s inner turmoil, Sarah quickly shifted the conversation. “So, what about you and Aussie, huh?” She grinned mischievously. “Any other encounters I should know about?”
Ava rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. “No. He’s a great guy, but after putting myself out there with Jarod and getting screwed over, who, by the way, is still trying to apologize, I’m just not sure I’m ready to jump into anything. I’ve got enough on my plate with Christian.”
“Girl, Jarod’s an idiot. Forget him.” Sarah waved her hand dismissively. “And as for Aussie, if he likes Christian, I don’t see a problem there. You’re just scared to open up your heart because you’ve been alone for so long.”
Ava flinched, Sarah’s words striking a nerve. Was that it? Was she just scared? She looked down at her sandwich, no longer hungry. Maybe Sarah had a point. Aussie did make her feel something she hadn’t felt in years. But did she have it in her to risk getting hurt again?
Just then, Ava’s phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up, her pulse quickening as she saw Aussie’s name light up the screen. She hesitated for a second before opening the message.
Aussie: Hey, Ava. You mentioned that you and Christian were going to cook Thanksgiving dinner. However, I wanted to see if the two of you would like to join me at Bear and Jocelyn’s place for dinner. My whole team, along with their families, will be there. Let me know.
Ava’s breath caught in her throat. The message was so genuine, so heartfelt. The thought of spending Thanksgiving with Aussie and his team stirred something deep inside her. But more than that, the idea that Aussie didn’t want her or Christian to be alone on the holiday touched her in a way she hadn’t expected.
“Well, well, well,” Sarah smirked, leaning over to peek at Ava’s phone. “Looks like someone really likes you.”
Ava laughed softly, her face flushing. “He just invited Christian and me to Thanksgiving with his team. He’s just being nice.”
Sarah gave her a knowing look. “Ava, that’s not just being nice. He’s into you. Trust me, guys don’t go out of their way like that unless they really care. And the fact that he’s inviting you to meet his team tells you something. Those guys don’t just bring anyone into their little worlds.”
Sarah was right. SEALs were secretive even outside of their jobs. They kept a low profile and usually stayed close to those within their community.
Ava’s stomach fluttered, her heart racing as she typed out a response.
Ava: Thank you so much for the invite. It was very sweet of you. I’ll talk to Christian about it tonight and get back to you.
She hovered over the send button for a moment, already knowing what Christian’s answer would be.
As she hit send, her mind drifted back to what Sarah had said. Was she really scared to open up? Had she been holding back because she was afraid of being hurt again?
Maybe, just maybe, it was time to let herself feel something again.
◆◆◆
Christian glanced down at his lunch tray, picking at his sandwich as he sat across from Katy in the bustling school cafeteria. She’d been watching him for a few minutes now, her brown eyes filled with concern, and he knew she wasn’t going to let it go.
“Okay, seriously, what’s going on?” Katy leaned forward, her voice soft but steady so only he could hear. “You’ve barely said a word these past few days. Did something happen?”
Christian shrugged, trying to dodge her question with a half-hearted smile. “Just stuff,” he said, hoping it would be enough to satisfy her.
But Katy wasn’t having it. “Christian, come on. You can talk to me. I promise I won’t tell anyone.” She hesitated, then nudged his arm gently. “I’m just worried, okay?”
Her words hit him harder than he expected. He knew she cared, but he wasn’t sure if he should tell her everything. Barrett and Chase weren’t the kind of people anyone should mess with, especially not someone like Katy. She was good, and he didn’t want her to get mixed up in anything dangerous.
He looked away, swallowing hard. “It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he murmured, but the tension in his voice was too obvious.
Katy tilted her head, her eyebrows knitting together. “Is it Barrett and Chase?”
Christian stiffened, not expecting her to be so direct. He knew she wasn’t clueless; she’d seen them hanging around him a few times. But he hadn’t wanted her to know the whole story. Her worried gaze stayed on him, though, and it was like she was slowly peeling away his defenses with each silent second that passed.
“They want me to join some club,” he finally admitted, keeping his voice low.
“A club?” Katy’s voice was skeptical. “Or something else?”
He let out a defeated sigh, shaking his head. “It’s like a secret club,” he said, hoping the phrase would sound innocent enough, but Katy’s expression only darkened.
“Christian, that doesn’t sound like a club.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I’ve heard about Barrett and Chase. They’re not exactly the kind of people who start school clubs.”
He gave her a wary look.“You think I don’t know that?” He pressed his lips together. “But they’re persistent. And they don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Then talk to Ava,” she suggested, her voice gentle. “She would help you. You know she would.”
“I don’t want to get her involved,” he said quietly as his hands fidgeted with the corner of his lunch tray. “Ava has enough on her plate. She doesn’t need to be bothered with my problems.”
Katy’s face softened. She leaned closer to him. “Christian, Ava cares about you. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have offered to take you in. Please talk to her. If something’s going on, I’m sure she’d want to know.”
How could he explain to Katy that he didn’t want to involve Ava because he didn't want anything bad to come her way?
He looked at Katy. “If Barrett and Chase come back around, I’ll tell her.”
Katy smiled, the relief evident on her face, and Christian felt a weight lift off his chest. He didn’t know where things would go from here, but for once, he felt a glimmer of hope.
“Thanks,” he said quietly, meeting her gaze.
She nudged his arm playfully. “Anytime. Now, want to get ice cream after school?”
Christian grinned, his heart skipping a beat. “Yeah. I’d like that.”