Chapter 24 #2
Ava thought for a moment, allowing herself to drop the barrier she’d constructed around her heart to let the feelings flow. Confusion, grief, excitement, uncertainty—it all warred within her. She settled on the easiest to explain.
“I’m confused,” she confessed. “It was like muscle memory took over; it was so easy in the moment to forget why it was a bad idea. But I don't know if it changes anything. He has a kid; I have to get back to my job. I’m interviewing for the board position in August. Being in Cedar Falls is temporary.”
“What if it wasn't temporary?”
Ava looked at Noah. She could feel the pinch of her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
Noah put his hands behind his head and leaned back, relaxing into the chair as the weed settled in his system.
“Board appointments aren’t full-time gigs.
And you have the money from Dad's life insurance, which we all still need to talk about some more.” He glanced between Lucas and Ava, both of them nodding in assent before he continued.
“And I saw you two in the kitchen the other night, Ava.” He shot her an amused smile.
“No clue what you're talking about,” Ava deflected.
“What's this now?” Lucas interjected.
Noah's smile grew wider. “At the fire the other night, I walked in on Owen and Ava about to kiss in the kitchen. I didn't say anything, didn't want to embarrass you. But then you two were flirting at the café yesterday and it all clicked…” he trailed off.
“What clicked?” Ava asked, even though she suspected his next words.
“You're still in love with him.”
The crunch of gravel saved her from answering. They all turned to face the driveway, curious about who would visit so early in the morning.
“Whoever it is, they're driving like a bat out of hell,” Lucas said. He walked toward the end of the porch for a better view of the driveway. “Oh shit. It's for you, Ava.”
She could hear the spray of gravel and the squeal of brakes coming to a stop. A door opened and slammed shut. She exchanged a confused look with Noah, who shrugged back.
“Ava!” Owen yelled from the driveway, his feet stomping on the gravel toward the cabin.
Ava looked over at Noah. “He sounds mad,” she whispered.
Noah snorted a laugh before slapping a hand over his mouth. Lucas suppressed his own smile, leaning against the railing once more at the end of the porch. The only person with a clear view of Owen's rampage.
“Looking for Ava?” Lucas called out.
Ava sank back further into her chair.
“Hey, man. Yeah. She around?” Owen's footsteps pounded closer to the porch.
“Right here.” Lucas gestured to where Noah and Ava sat.
Owen appeared at the end of the porch, his hair a disheveled mess barely contained by his bun.
His flannel was unbuttoned midway down his chest. Ava stopped herself from licking her lips.
Now was not the time to be turned on by Owen's appearance.
He was clearly angry. Too bad her libido and her brain weren't on the same page.
When he spotted her, his chin lowered as he leveled a glare in her direction.
Where she would normally feel the anxiety rising in her chest at the thought of someone angry with her, the high of the weed turned her anxiety to amusement.
But she had a feeling laughing at the moment would only rile him further, and she gave him a tiny wave.
“Hi, Owen,” she greeted.
His glare deepened. “We need to talk,” he said, crossing his arms across his chest. The bulge of his arms from the movement made Ava squirm.
“Think that's our cue to get out of here. C'mon, Lucas.” Noah stood from his chair and walked toward the door.
Lucas straightened from his post and walked past Ava, lifting his eyebrows at her as he passed. “We'll be inside if you need us,” he said to her in a low voice.
The door shut quietly behind him. Owen stalked closer and came to a stop in front of her. Their height difference made her feel like a kid in trouble with the principal. Maybe he'd be interested in some role play in the future.
Not the time to be thinking about sex, Ava.
His eyes narrowed like he could hear her thoughts. She straightened her back and stared up at him, hoping her eyes weren't too red from the joint.
“First of all, are you okay?” Owen asked. His glare softened, but his eyes still drilled into her, demanding an answer.
She nodded.
“Words, Ava.”
She shifted in the chair, recalling when he’d said the same thing when he’d bent her over the desk. Except then she was Birdie, not Ava.
He’s mad.
“Yes, I'm okay. A little sore. And I'm kind of high. Blame my brothers for that one.” She grimaced, not meaning to ramble.
His eyebrows lifted in surprise. “We’ll circle back to that last part.” He uncrossed his arms, placing his hands on his hips.
He's got the disappointed dad act down. Think he'd let me call him daddy? No, that's weird. Focus, Ava.
“I'm glad you're okay, because I'm not. What the hell, Ava? Leaving me like that. No note. No text. Nothing but your silky red thong left behind like a calling card.”
His chest heaved with anger. Something must be wrong with her, because it only turned her on.
“You found my thong? I looked all over for it. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to wear tight shorts without underwear?”
He shoved a hand in his pocket and pulled out the balled up red thong. “Yes, I found it. Under the couch, where you left me naked for anyone to find without so much as a goodbye. How's that for uncomfortable?”
“I locked the door behind me,” she said.
Owen blew out a heavy exhale through his nose.
Not the right thing to say.
She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist, tipping her head back to rest her chin on his chest. He’d always loved when she did that. Maybe it would get her out of trouble. His arms didn't move around her.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “When I woke up, you looked so peaceful, and I had a bunch of messages from Summer asking where I was. I'd been at the bar with her, and she only thought I went out for some air. I wasn't thinking.”
At her apology, the fight left his body, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I was worried. When I woke up and you were gone, I thought I dreamed the whole thing.”
“It wasn't a dream. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a hickey on my thigh,” she teased.
That got a small smile out of him. She shoved her face against his chest and sank into his warm embrace. After a moment, she pulled back. “Can I have my thong back?”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“Finders keepers. You left them in my building. Now they’re mine.”
He arched an eyebrow at her, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Owen released his hold on her and stepped back, shoving the red thong back into his pocket. She immediately missed his warmth.
“If we're doing this, we're doing it right. Avery comes home tomorrow from camp, so we have tonight to get our shit together. Understand?”
She wasn't sure she understood, but she nodded anyway. At his raised eyebrows she added a quick, “Yes.”
“I'll pick you up at 7:00pm. We're going on a date. An actual date, not a fuck on my grandfather's antique desk, God rest his soul, in the Agatha Building. And we're going to talk.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“Okay,” he said. A finality to his tone. He cupped the back of her head and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “See you tonight,” he murmured against her hair.
She stood in a daze, confused by the turn of events.
“You guys can come out now,” Owen called over his shoulder as he walked away.
The porch door swung open, and Noah tumbled out like he’d had his ear pressed to it. Lucas followed out more slowly. Ava trailed after Owen, stopping at the edge of the porch, not wanting to step on the gravel with her bare feet.
Owen swung himself up into his truck. Before shutting the door, he gave her a final look. “Later, Birdie.”
Warmth filled her all over. She was Birdie again. Not just Ava. She watched him back up and maneuver out of the driveway, his driving less aggressive than before.
Noah walked up behind her, bumping his shoulder against hers. “If that's how you ask a woman out, then I've been doing it wrong this whole time.”
Ava laughed and bumped his shoulder back. She had a whole day to obsess over their date tonight, and she'd take any distraction she could to quiet her mind.
“Please tell me you didn't hear all of that?” She cringed, remembering how he’d refused to relinquish her panties.
“Nah, only the last part. About the date. Guess me and Lucas are on our own for Fourth of July tonight,” Noah said, throwing an arm over her shoulder and turning her back to the porch.
“I forgot today was Fourth of July. Do you guys mind?”
Lucas waved her off. “Don't worry about us. Sounds like you have bigger problems to face. Like the fact your temporary stay just got more complicated.”
Ava let Noah lead her back into the cabin, her mind racing. Lucas was right. Every time she was around Owen, being in Cedar Falls felt a little less temporary. And she didn't know what that meant for her life and career in New York.