Chapter 7 Ava
AVA
The day passed after the disastrous meeting with Desmond.
When I got home later that evening, feet sore and with a hunger I couldn’t understand, I saw to my relief that the power was back on.
Mrs. Wilson had managed to keep her curling-iron disasters away for the moment, and I waved to her as I walked past her open window.
She paused her television show to call out a greeting before I walked up to my apartment.
Her delicious shrimp gumbo was waiting for me in my mini fridge, and I pulled it out and heated it while I checked my email on my phone.
I saw an email from my therapist, reminding me that it had been five months since I’d seen her.
The feeling of guilt took over for a minute.
My therapist, a woman Gabriela had suggested I work with, always insisted on asking me a lot of questions about Mom and her health.
I didn’t talk about Mom anymore. I didn’t want to think about her.
I hit Delete on that email and felt temporarily better, just as I got a phone call.
I abandoned my dinner when I saw that it was a four-person video call. In a minute, Freya, Lily, and Gabriela were talking over each other, asking me for more details about my relationship with Desmond in high school.
Freya sighed and looked smitten when I explained that Desmond and I had met at prom when we both reached for the last glass of punch at the same time.
Lily softened and smiled when I said that Desmond, after handing that glass over to me and seeing how I downed it in a second, had gotten the caterer to make a second and third glass just for me until my thirst was quenched.
Gabriela said nothing, but her lips had a smile every time I mentioned Desmond’s name.
“And now, I hate you all for making me relive those memories,” I said, finishing my story. “Let’s talk about something else, please. Tell me about your new jobs.”
For the most part, everyone was reasonably happy with their new jobs even if it meant we wouldn’t be working together for some time.
“Though I hear you have the fanciest workplace of all, Ava,” Freya said as she chewed on a protein bar. “Gabi told me that the lobby of Luxe Hotels has marble flooring!”
I nodded. I did have a really fancy workplace even if it was only temporary.
“Do you think Desmond will put in marble flooring in our restaurant?” Lily asked.
“More importantly,” Freya interjected, “what are you going to do when you see Desmond at work every day, Ava?”
On the phone, I could see Gabriela’s expression change.
Gabriela shot the screen a frown, which I presumed was aimed at Freya. “Ava is a professional. She can work just fine with Desmond around.”
I cleared my throat and prepared to respond, but Lily got there first.
“Why would Ava need to be concerned about working with Desmond in the first place? Sure, he saved her from a bad date, and he wound up being her boss. What’s the big deal?”
I tried to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth and speak up. For some reason, my mouth was dry, and I couldn’t seem to do it fast enough.
Freya cluck-clucked at Lily. Like it was the most obvious answer in the world. “You forgot the most important bit. He’s her ex from high school.”
She paused dramatically just as Lily raised her eyebrow.
“Ah, right,” Lily said. “That definitely adds complications to the mix.”
Freya nodded vehemently. “Especially when she’s still attracted to him.”
This time, all the working bits of my throat and mouth worked together in symphony to get words out. “Excuse me!” I said, managing to look indignant. “I am not attracted to him. I tolerate him!”
Freya chuckled while Lily tried and failed to hide her smile. Gabriela was the only one who looked at me with some sympathy.
“So, the news in Lifestyle magazine that says Desmond’s currently single wouldn’t send your heart a-flutter then?” Freya asked.
Lily rolled her eyes and mouthed, A-flutter?
“Don’t mock, Lily. I read the gossip about the wealthy and the famous. And this time, that magazine subscription has finally paid off!”
I heaved a sigh. “Freya, the only thing that would send my heart a-flutter right now is my dinner, which I’ve abandoned for this video call. And, Gabriela, surely, you can support me on this. Please tell me you don’t think I’m attracted to Desmond?”
I could see the cogs in her brain working while she tilted her head and pondered my question.
“You’re just having a very normal physical reaction,” she said at last. “I mean, no one can look at Desmond and not admire him.”
I groaned and covered my eyes with my hand.
“Don’t fight it, Ava,” Freya said sagely. “I didn’t fight it with Rhett and ended up with a ring on my finger.”
“I do not want to get engaged,” I huffed. “Not now. Not ever. And certainly not with Desmond.”
“So, staying single all your life is your solution?” Lily asked. “Even I cannot see the logic in that.”
“Remember Mom? I lost her two years after we moved to New York to run the restaurant. And Kyle, my boyfriend, embezzled fifty grand from my mom’s restaurant and made a run for it three days after her death.
I lost too many relationships after I got involved with the restaurant.
And because the restaurant is the only way I can keep Mom’s legacy going, I’m giving up on relationships. ”
“You didn’t lose us,” Gabriela quipped. She tilted her head a little, as if to challenge me on that.
“Yeah, well, I would marry one of you three if you’d have me.”
“Sorry,” Freya said, holding her ring finger out. “I’m taken.”
“I go for the brunettes, to be honest,” Lily said. “You’re too redheaded for me.”
Gabriela looked at me, extended her arms out as though she were giving me a hug from afar, and smiled. “I’m all yours, baby!”
Freya laughed but got a faraway look in her eyes. She turned her focus to me. “But I just remembered something, Ava. Did you bring up Kyle with Desmond?”
I fell silent, wishing I hadn’t brought up Kyle in the first place. But even I could see that I’d messed up by not bringing the incident up with our new investors.
“I know it’s hard, Ava,” Freya said. “But it’s better to be up front with Desmond from the start.”
I did not want to be up front with Desmond.
I did not want to be anything with Desmond.
So, I pushed it firmly out of my mind. When I waved goodbye minutes later, I knew I was going to ditch my now-cold shrimp gumbo and take up an evening shift at the soup kitchen.
Anything to keep me from thinking about talking about Kyle with Desmond.