31. Ava
Chapter Thirty-One
Ava
Team Tanner
“He is so cute,” Maisie enthused as she sat down beside Growly on the couch.
I smiled over at Growly. “I love him.”
Maisie smiled. “Well, that’s good. How are you going to let him go?”
“I don’t think I can,” I said honestly.
Holly plunked down on the opposite side of Growly, who was being a very good sport about visitors in my little temporary home. He seemed completely unbothered by them and enjoyed the attention between napping. He liked to sleep. A lot.
“I think you should stay in Willow Brook,” Holly said casually.
“Oh? Are you thinking about staying?” Maisie asked, looking up from Growly again.
“I don’t know. Um, Josie offered me a job.”
“Oh yes, they’re about to start hiring for the ski resort,” Maisie said, leaning forward, eyes bright.
“That’s what she told me.”
“Oh, you should take it,” Maisie said firmly.
There was a light knock on the door, and I called out, “Come in,” just as Josie began to open it. She walked in holding a tray in one hand and a bag in the other. She made a beeline for the kitchen island counter with a few more women trailing her.
“You offered Ava a job?” Holly called over to Josie.
“I did. We need a business manager. An ‘in charge of everyone’ kind of situation.” Josie grinned. “I looked Ava up. She has everything we need.”
“Is everyone here local?” I couldn’t help but ask.
A chorus chimed in with voices crisscrossing. Casey, Maisie, and Tish declared they were transplants.
“Where are you from?” I asked, surprised as I glanced among them.
“Tish is from Seattle,” Maisie supplied. “Casey’s from North Carolina. I’m from mostly California.”
“I’m a former city girl too,” Madison announced, dropping onto the ottoman, careful to avoid my booted foot.
“City girl?” I asked.
“I’m from Houston. High heels, makeup, dressed to the nines. That was me.”
“You look absolutely amazing,” I pointed out.
She really did. Madison was one of those women who didn’t need much makeup, but what she wore was expertly applied. She had perfect smoky eye shadow, her nails were beautifully done, and her glossy dark hair was pulled back in a high ponytail.
“I wouldn’t trade my life now for my old life if you paid me,” she added.
I thought about my life. Working myself to the bone, always on the run.
Trying to make enough money to help fill the gaps for my parents.
Realistically, I could help with their bills no matter where I lived.
Now that everything had gone down with Brad, I sure as hell didn’t want to go back to that office and have to work with him and his new whatever-she-was.
I let out a sigh. “You know, I’m not that attached to my city life.”
“Really?” Madison tilted her head.
“I came here on a second trip because I had so much fun the first time.”
“When was your first trip?” she asked.
“Divorce trip,” I said with a half smile. “Last spring. My friends brought me. We loved it. It was one of those package deals—shorter than I wanted—but I had a bunch of leave saved up. So we came again.”
“And then you fell on a glacier, and Tanner rescued you!” Holly said brightly.
“He did.” I felt my cheeks heating. I could tell Madison noticed, but she was gracious enough not to say a word.
“I’m on Team Tanner, by the way,” Holly added cheerfully.
“Team Tanner?” I raised an eyebrow.
Since that first night we’d spent together, we’d shared more. As much as I wanted to have card night tonight, I also really wanted him here. I was already contemplating texting Tanner the moment I had the place to myself again.
“Is something going on between you and Tanner?” Madison asked, her lips twitching at the corners.
Now my cheeks were burning up. “I might have kissed him.”
“Oh. Well, okay.” She waggled her brows. “I think a vacation fling is in order. Especially after a divorce.”
“You think?”
“Well, sure. But if you’re going to move here, that could be a complication.”
“I know. I don’t know if Tanner…” My words trailed off because I didn’t even know where I was going with that.
Holly met my gaze. “I think you and Tanner should be more than a fling.”
“He specifically told me he’s not looking for anything more. From what I understand, with his ex, that wasn’t a great breakup.”
Holly waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, Laney. She was immature, and I don’t think they were a great match to begin with. You and Tanner are a good match.”
“We are?”
“Yes. You’ll appreciate everything about him. He’s loyal. He’s steady. The man is solid gold,” Holly said firmly.
“Tanner is the nicest,” Josie said as she plunked down in a chair across from me.
“Really?” I asked curiously. I thought so, but these women had known him far longer than I have.
Josie bobbed her head. “Yes. Good friend. Good son. All that. His dad was a total asshole, but that’s not him at all.”
“What do you mean?” Madison cut in, and I was relieved because I wanted to know what she meant too.
“Oh,” Holly rolled her eyes, “Tanner’s dad was rigid, controlling, and verbally, and I think a little bit more than that, kind of abusive. I don’t think life at home was great. I imagine Tanner probably doesn’t miss him all that much.”
“His mom is friends with mine,” Josie added. “Trust me when I tell you, his mom doesn’t miss him.”
“Oh, that’s sad,” Madison said softly.
Questions were bouncing around in my thoughts, but I also felt like I was somehow violating Tanner’s privacy even though he wasn’t the one telling me any of this. “He’s such a nice guy.”
“I know, seriously,” Josie agreed.
“Speaking of Laney,” Casey chimed in as she plunked down on the couch. “She came into Firehouse Café. Can’t say I’m a fan.”
“Oh, I know. I was there,” Maisie said, glancing at me with a gleam in her gaze. “I may have name-dropped you just to give her some shit.”
“What do you mean?” I sputtered.
“Well, she seemed a little proprietary about him. I didn’t like that.” Maisie shrugged. “She’s the one who dumped him. That’s what Beck said.”
The questions multiplied. Curiously, I wanted to see Laney too.
It wasn’t even rational that I experienced a jolt of unease and jealousy slithering through me.
It was not a good plan for me to be jealous of an ex.
Maybe they were meant to be together. I forcefully dragged my thoughts out of that track.
The night rolled along, and we played cards, with Josie pulling a coffee table over and clarifying that we couldn’t sit at the kitchen table because of my ankle.
As conversation flowed around me, I realized I loved it.
This group of women was a mix-and-match.
Everyone had their own story and their own background, but they were all just here for each other. It made me miss my friends.
Yet the reality is, my friends and I weren’t all in the same place anymore. So nights like this were few and far between. We usually tried to plan trips together just to see each other.
As things were winding down, Tori offered to give me a ride to any upcoming medical appointments if I needed one. “I’m on Team Tanner too,” she added with a grin before she left with a wave.
As soon as everyone was gone, I texted Tanner.
Me: Can I see you?
His reply was swift.
Tanner: When?
Me: Tonight.