Chapter 26 #2
He laughed. “The guys and I are close, but not that close. Spencer just knows how to read the room.”
It was quiet now, with just the sound of the ocean and the echoes of our past. Of our summer together. There were so many nights when we found a beach and sat together, stargazing, just like this. Everything was so simple back then. I wanted that kind of simplicity again.
After a while, Lincoln said, “Are you going to tell me what’s been up with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Every so often, you go into this pensive mood. You can hide it from the others, but not me. Are you thinking about your story?”
I let out a sound—something between a laugh and a sigh. I never could hide much from him. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I confessed, “I spoke to my boss.”
“And?”
“I pitched the story. Told him I had something real. He shut it down before I could even explain. He even suggested that if there really was a story, I should hand it off to another journalist. After all of my hard work. He doesn’t think I’m good enough.”
Lincoln’s jaw tightened. He seemed pissed on my behalf, and I was appreciative.
The tears I’d been holding back for a while welled up. “I thought I’d get the chance to do something that mattered, like I’ve dreamed about. But maybe he’s right. I’m not good enough. Maybe I’m not cut out for this—for real journalism.”
Lincoln didn’t speak right away. He reached over, took my hand, and laced our fingers together. “You are more than good enough, Ava. You’re brilliant and relentless. You care, you’re passionate, and that’s a rarity nowadays.”
I blinked back tears. “You really think so?”
“Remember that story you did for the school paper in the eighth grade? The one exposing the drama teacher giving the lead roles to students whose parents were granting her favors and donations?”
I burst out laughing. “I can’t believe you remember that. I got suspicious after watching a few plays with leads that were terrible, and launched an investigation.”
“You were like a tiny detective with a notepad and a vengeance. You kept going until you uncovered the truth.” He grinned.
“What was the title…? Casting Shadows: The Truth Behind the Curtain. That scathing editorial led to re-auditions, fair casting, a pissed-off drama teacher, and an awkward PTA meeting. You became the drama kids’ hero that year. Your parents even framed the article.”
She laughed. “Yeah, and Ethan was so proud.”
He gave me a nudge with his shoulder. “I was too.”
Warmth spread through me. He even remembered the title of the article after so many years.
“It was good investigative work and amazing writing,” he said.
“I was such a menace when I joined the school paper,” I joked.
“You were a journalist,” Lincoln said. “Even then. You saw something wrong, you dug into it, and you made people care. That’s who you are. You were born to do it, Ava. Don’t let some guys make you think you’re not good enough.”
“That guy is an award-winning journalist turned editor," I pointed out.
“Hey, who are you going to listen to? Him or me? You know I’m always right about stuff. You’re damn good, Montgomery.”
I laughed. “That cocky streak of yours has remained intact, I see.”
He smirked.
“But I am going to listen to you. I’m damn good.”
“And you’re not going to give up?”
“Never.”
“That’s my girl.”
His girl. The words sent a jolt of electricity through me. I gazed at him—probably with the same stars in my eyes as I had when I was a teenager. Then I reached over, cupped his cheek, and pulled him in for a kiss.
“What was that for?” he asked when I pulled away.
“Thank you,” I whispered. His faith in me was all the encouragement I needed.
He smiled and lifted his hand to brush his thumb across my cheek. I swore I fell more in love with him. Which was crazy, right…? Maybe it was time to make up my mind once and for all about that. I felt like I was ready for a real relationship after my disaster of an engagement.
I told myself I didn’t want another relationship because I was traumatized.
But seeing the other couples, seeing how the men respected, protected, and doted on their wives…
I wanted it. Lincoln was a perfect partner.
Maybe if I let go of my fear, things would be different this time.
Or maybe it was still too soon to let my guard down completely…
“Ava.”
I reined in my runaway thoughts.
He took a deep breath as if bracing himself for something. “I have doubts too, you know.”
My eyebrows snapped together. “About your job?”
“About us.” After a beat of silence, he continued. “When I heard that you got engaged, I lost my shit.” He let out a laugh. “Seriously. I did things that still make me feel like a fool when I look back on them. I panicked.”
I folded my lips and gazed at him with wariness. Did I really want to go there now? It struck me that I’d avoided it long enough. “Why?”
He captured my gaze. “I panicked because, in my mind, that meant I’d never get a second chance with you. A part of me held on to that sliver of hope even though we hadn’t seen each other in twelve years.”
I pulled in a deep breath but stayed quiet.
“Now that you’re here with me… Well, not really, because we’re fake dating. Still, it’s been an incredible few days. I wish we were really together. That’s what I want, but I’ve been afraid to say it. I fucked up the first time, and there’s a good chance you won’t want what I want.”
He exhaled as if he’d been holding that breath for years. However, his shoulders were still tense as he awaited my response.
“How long have you been holding on to all that?” I asked.
“Too long,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. “I…” That pesky sliver of fear kept popping up, but I pushed it back. “I want what you want. Let’s stop pretending.”
His expression froze for a beat, then his eyebrows lifted with disbelief—like he wasn’t sure he’d heard me right.
I chuckled. “Not the response you were expecting.”
He blinked and then let out a breathless laugh. “Honestly, I thought you’d tell me I was drunk and delusional.”
“Well, we are pretty tipsy after all that rum.”
He grinned at that.
“And maybe we’re both delusional, but I’m sure I want us to try again.”
His laughter wrapped around me, warming to the core. It was the same sound I remembered from our summer nights, wrapped up in each other, talking and laughing about the silliest things.
“In that case, you just made me the happiest delusional man on this beach.”
I laughed too because we were still us. It was like all the years between us never existed.
He reached for me and had me in his arms before I could blink.
He lay back in the sand, tugging me with him until I was sprawled across his chest. His arms were strong and sure as he rolled us over and swooped down to capture my mouth.
Our kiss was deep and slow, the kind that could melt a person from the inside out.
“I missed this,” he whispered when we paused for air.
I knew exactly what he meant. The moon and stars above us, the sand beneath us, as we lay wrapped in each other’s arms. It felt like I was nineteen again, completely consumed by the guy who had stolen my heart.
“Me too.”
I settled with my head on his shoulder, and we stared at the sky in comfortable silence.