Chapter 7 #2
“We were reaching for the same book in the bookstore,” she answered, seeming more relaxed than she had.
He couldn’t decide if that annoyed him or made him happy. “Did you at least get the book?”
She grinned, souring his mood. “I did. At a price.”
“Price?”
“He let me have the book as long as I promised to have dinner with him and tell him how it was.”
Alex held back an eye roll. He imagined the man’s smarmy grin as he made the offer.
She paused the game again, and he forced his features into an interested smile. “I have something I need to ask you. But please don’t feel obliged to give me an answer right now.”
He shifted under her intense gaze. “Sure. Ask away, Avs.”
Her features melted a little, turning pleading. He wondered what it was. Would he be lucky enough for her to say she didn’t actually want a divorce and wondered if he’d be willing to go along with it?
“Will you come to our wedding?”
All the hope in him for what she was about to say to him dissipated. She still intended to marry Chris. She wasn’t looking for a way out. She was looking for validation.
“Uh, well, I don’t–”
Her warm fingers wrapped around his hand again. “You don’t have to answer now. I know you’re busy, and maybe you’d prefer not to have everyone bugging you with tech questions.”
He was never too busy for her. And for her, he didn’t care if he fielded people’s ridiculous inquiries all night long. But he couldn’t sit there and watch her marry another man.
For a moment, the image of him standing up when the pastor asked if anyone had any objections flashed through his mind.
He shook it away. Maybe he could use this as an opportunity to gain some information. “Avs, I’m never too busy for you. But…I don’t know if Chris is going to be happy with me being there.”
Her shoulders slumped, her hand tightening around his. “I want you there.”
He sucked in breath, forcing the words out of his mouth as he struggled not to choke on them. “Then, I will be there. I just…don’t want to cause any trouble. And you said our favorite architect didn’t take it very well when he found out about me.”
She tugged her lips back in a wide wince. “Well, maybe we don’t have to tell him who you are.”
The words sliced through him. “Avs,” he said, his voice soft, “if you have to lie to him–”
“You’re right. You’re right. Maybe it’s best if you’re not there. I don’t know.”
That got away from him in a way he hadn’t expected. He wanted to tell her if she had to lie to her fiancé, maybe he wasn’t the man for her. They had always been honest with each other. In fact, engaged to Chris has been the most closed off he’d ever seen Ava Collins.
But instead, she’d gone in a different direction. He’d gone from her begging him to be at her wedding to uninvited in the span of five minutes.
He hated this more than words could describe. But pushing her too far now when she was this on edge wouldn’t help him. She’d shut down, refuse to discuss it, and he’d lose his chance.
As difficult as it was, he had to stay the course. He had to keep reminding her of their connection, shower her with gifts that reminded her of how much she meant to him, and work on winning her over.
“Why don’t we postpone this conversation for when things are more settled?” he suggested.
“You’re right. I’m tired, and things are crazy right now.”
He offered her a tight-lipped smile as she twisted to face the television again, settling closer to him.
“And I need to finish winning this game.” The coy grin returned to her face as she unpaused play and created another row.
“Of course, you’re winning. You’re leaning on me and disrupting my gameplay.”
“Oh, right, like this?” She pressed her back against him.
“Just like that.”
“You want me to switch seats? Then, there will be no excuses when I beat you.”
“No,” he answered, not wanting to lose the physical contact with her, “no, I’ll win with the handicap.”
“We’ll see about that,” she said, her thumbs mashing the buttons on the controller.
They played a few rounds, each of them winning a couple. The familiarity and nostalgia eased the tension from earlier. Her muscles had relaxed, and she’d slouched against him, her head resting on his shoulder.
It reminded him of a similar summer night during their graduate school years. She showed up at his door, tears staining her cheeks after a tumultuous breakup with her boyfriend. She’d sought him out for comfort, the one person she trusted above all others, she’d said.
They’d spent the night on his couch, wrapped in blankets, gaming and talking.
She’d fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder. That night had cemented something unspoken between them, a bond that had only grown stronger with time.
Maybe he should broach the subject of Chris again now that things weren’t so intense. But he hated to lose this close moment.
If she left Chris, though, they could have many more of these experiences.
His stomach twisted into a knot as he prepared to launch into the subject again, seeking more information. After pausing the game, he slid an arm around her, letting her head fall against his chest. She twisted her neck to gaze up at him. “Avs–”
He didn’t get further than his nickname for her when a shrill shriek sliced through the quiet night.
Ava straightened, clamping her hands over her ears. “What is that?”
“House alarm!” he shouted, grabbing his tablet from the table and tapping on it.
His fingers flew over the tablet, pulling up the security camera while Ava peered over his shoulder. A dark figure raced away from a side entrance to the house.
His heart pounded hard as he stared at the image for another second before he flicked his gaze to Ava, his eyes wide. “Someone just tried to break in.”