Chapter 12
TWELVE
Ava
Our short-term rental is right by the beach, and we’ve settled in nicely. Lia comes barging through my bedroom door. “Ava, whatcha doing?”
“I talked to Kai last night.” I glance over at my phone lying on the bed next to me. I resist the urge to pick up my phone and text him.
“Ohhh, how did that go?” she asks, walking over to my bed and jumping on it. She’s aware I’ve been dwelling on how I left him. When I thought I was dead inside, he ignited something inside of me, and every inch of me lit on fire.
“That smile…” Lia pokes. “It’s all for him. I haven’t seen you like this in…yeah, never.”
A huge sigh comes out of my mouth as my body lands on the bed. “I should text him, it’s what I want to do. But I…I don’t know.”
Lia clears her throat and falls onto the bed, looking at me with her elbow holding her head up. I look to meet her gaze—she’s squinting at me. She says, “Hmm. Yeah, you should. Why not? You’ve talked, texted, so what’s holding you back?”
“Am I leading him on? I don’t want to hurt him. He told me about his ex, Katrina, and I don’t want to be one more woman who broke his heart. He truly is a nice guy.”
“Yes, he seems like it. Let your walls down and share it all with him.” Lia flops next to me. “Come on…You haven’t dated anyone in years. Those lame dates you go on…yeah, not the same as what I’m witnessing right here.” She pushes my shoulder hard.
“Ugh, but…”
“Nope, not listening to your bullshit answer this time. You’re all mushy for this guy.
You can tell me all day long about what happened in your past. If you keep living there, you’ll never actually live your life.
Instead, you’ll keep running, running scared of what this might actually be.
Open your heart a little more and see what possibilities are out there for your life,” she says, throwing her arms around me.
“Lia…” I close my eyes and shift my head, staring up at the ceiling. “I promised myself I wouldn’t ever put myself in this kind of situation. Then, with all the stuff that happened with my parents, I am so fine with being alone.”
She’s silent. Then rolls herself onto her belly and moves closer to me.
“What?” I shout, a bit annoyed she’s staring. Not turning toward her, I can feel her eyes boring into my body.
“So…do I point out that you are lying to yourself, or shall I agree with you?”
“Why are we friends, again?” An exaggerated groan comes out of my mouth, and I fling both my arms over my head.
She proudly says, “Because you love me and won’t know what to do with your life if I weren’t in it, giving you all the perspective you need, maybe not what you want.”
I roll all the way over and smash my face into the bed. As I pull my head from the comforter, my phone dings. Our heads whip around to each other. “Do you think it’s him?” I ask with a smile so wide that my face might break.
Hesitating to pick it up. Lia beats me to it, grabs it, and runs to the kitchen. She’s the worst friend ever. I scream into the bed. My body zings with pleasure thinking it’s him. I’m running, my feet are stomping, chasing her all the way to the kitchen.
“It’s him.” She waves the phone in front of her. “Come on, you need to read it.”
When I finally reach her, she hands me the phone and says, “I love you. You’ll figure it out.” And hugs me tightly as she rubs my back.
The entire time I’ve been away, there hasn’t been a day I haven't thought about him. I wonder if he’s thought about me as much as I’ve thought about him.
His hand in mine. The way he holds me and listens to me…
there’s no one else in the entire world that understands me.
When I’m with him, it’s like I’m the only person in his world.
I flip my phone over to the screen, unlock it, and tap his text message.
Kai:
My smile hasn’t left my face since I talked to you last night.
As I stare at my phone. I shake my head and run my palms over my forearms, goosebumps rough under my fingers. “Why is he such a nice guy?” I whisper.
“Because that’s what you need in your life.” Lia rubs my shoulders and squeezes them.
I didn’t hear from him all day, so I was second-guessing if it had been a good idea to have texted and called him last night in the first place. Now, I’m ecstatic. I walk back to my bed with Lia following as I type out a text to him.
Ava:
We started a habit of my being in bed when we talk and text. I’m so tired…and kinda missing my sister tonight.
Kai:
And I always seem to be in the hot tub. I’m a creature of habit. I’m virtually hugging you. Can you feel it? I’m sorry you’re missing her.
I giggle when I imagine him saying this, shrugging his broad shoulders.
“Head. Over. Heels,” Lia says as she puckers her lips and kisses the air.
When I side-eye her, she blows me a kiss.
“We’d better get some sleep. It’s an early morning tomorrow,” I say, pushing her off my bed. “Goodnight.”
My phone rings. It’s Kai.
“Hello,” I say abruptly.
“Hey, I figured a call was warranted. You sounded sad in your last text message.” I hear him sigh on the other end.
I wish I were in the hot tub with him, always in that hot tub. I’m jealous; my body could use it right about now.
Clearing my throat, as tears well in my eyes, I say, “I can’t remember the last time I missed her this much.”
“Aw, I’m sure she misses you, too.” His soothing voice coats me from the outside in.
“It’s too late to call her now. She’s been so tired with this pregnancy. I wish I were there to help her, too. Maybe that’s weighing on me.” I throw myself back on my pillow, staring hopelessly up at the ceiling while I stare into it like it holds the answers to my struggles.
“You’ll be back soon. Right? For the baby shower?” he asks with hope and a smidge of excitement in his voice.
“Yeah, you’re right, I will be.” Slinging my arm over my eyes, I take a deep breath and let it out. When I roll over, I tuck my knees close to me as I listen to Kai’s soothing voice purring into my ear.
“One day at a time, and then you’ll be back hugging her and your niece,” he says with compassion, and I can feel it deep in my bones.
The excitement of being home only flourishes within me. And the days I’m counting down until I see them…and Kai. And I wonder if some of my sadness comes from missing him and the short time we shared.
“Tell me all about what’s going on with you. I’ve talked enough.” I sigh, questioning all these feelings.
“You can talk as long as you want with me. I’m here for you.” Okay, maybe the tears aren’t dried up as one slides down my cheek and straight into my mouth. It’s like he’s hugging me from afar, and I don’t want him to stop.
“Please…” I whisper into the phone. “Distract me for a little bit.”
He talks about the case he has at work and updates me on the renovation projects he’s working on in the house. His smooth voice shares his life with me, and soon, my eyes are heavy and I fall asleep.
My alarm is chiming at five o’clock in the morning right next to my head—what the? Oh…I must have fallen asleep while Kai was talking. I whack my head against the pillow and groan. I fell asleep on the poor guy.
I fumble for my phone to see if he texted me.
Kai:
You must have been tired. I tried to wake you, but all I could hear was your breathing. I convinced myself it wasn’t my boring lawyer story, but that you were exhausted.
More groans come out of my mouth while I text him back.
Ava:
You would be correct…I’m utterly exhausted. And for the record, I like listening to you talk.
I leave it at that, not diving into the way my body feels over text or maybe ever. It might be for the best, but I can’t seem to release him from my grip. My entire body vibrates when I talk to him, like that night at his house.
But it’s back to the grind. This week will be amazing. Groggy as hell, I sling my legs over the side of the bed. Letting out an enormous sigh, I scuff my feet along the floor and hop in the shower.
I’m dressed and head to the kitchen to grab some coffee. Lia is already up, sipping her coffee, and scrolling on her phone. “Morning, sunshine,” she says, not looking up from her phone.
“Morning, Lia. Hyped up for today?” I ask her, walking to sit down at the table with her, not mentioning what happened after she went to her room last night. I’m grateful she doesn’t ask either.
She slowly pulls her eyes up at me, and she smirks. “Oh, yes, I am.”
This is the beginning of a big, exciting week here in Virginia Beach. Today is the start of the VB Food Truck Bonanza. All I need is one high-profile rep to find me. The excitement between the two of us this morning is buzzing.
We finish up our coffee and head down to the beach.
It’s a quick walk from our short-term rental.
The trucks are lined up along Atlantic Ave.
As we walk closer, the smell of all the food mingles.
There’s street tacos, seafood, burgers, barbecue, pizza—you name it, it’s probably here.
A few other vendors, like mine, aren’t just food-based.
Truth be told, I am the only books-on-the-go van with coffee, tea, chai, matcha, baked goodies, and quick breakfast-type foods.
The sun beats down on us, and I’m soaking it up now, all the vitamin D. Once we are in our vans, it’s unbearably hot. Sweating to death is an understatement in August, but seeing the smiling faces of readers and coffee lovers alike makes it all worth my time—and sweat.
“Today is going to be a gorgeous day.” I move my face to the sun, right before hugging Lia. “Thanks for last night.”
“I didn’t do much…you’re welcome. I’m here for you, babe.”
“You’re the best. Let’s get it.”
She walks to her van next door, and I step up into Pages & Brew.
Opening up the doors and setting up the small table and chairs, along with a couple of small bookshelves.
This week, we are featuring local authors in the area.
They were so fun to hang out with, and we’ve become instant friends, along with a couple of locally women-owned businesses.
Back in the van, I quickly check the shelves and fix any misplaced books I didn’t finish yesterday before closing up. The last thing on my list is to start the coffee.
Once everything is complete, I wait for the crowds: the lines, laughter, and the noise of all the kids.
There’s a carnival right down the street, so this week will be exceptional for all who come to enjoy the festivities.
There will be families lining the streets, children laughing and having fun running around, and people eating great food.
The smell of the tacos next to me and the cart around the corner with kettle corn mingle around me.
If all goes as planned, this week's revenue will cover at least eight months of expenses. The van has been more than paying for itself, but it’s comforting to see such a large profit in a short period.
Lia jumps up at the window and yells, “Hey! All set, babe?”
“Yup, I was thinking about all the revenue this week will bring in.”
“It will be better than last year,” she says, holding up double fingers crossed and squeezing her eyes shut.
I move closer to the window. “It absolutely will.”