Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Ava
Kai’s trip here was eye-opening for me, and my mind reels about the situation while my entire body has a visceral reaction to him.
Our short time together has me questioning everything.
I don’t stay anywhere long enough to create these types of connections.
Here I am trying like hell not to pay attention to them, but they’re too strong to ignore.
I don’t see it in the cards, not now, maybe not ever.
But then why do I keep talking to him? We’ll both be disappointed when I leave for my next trip.
How do I sever ties with him? Every time I think about it, nausea rolls up my throat, and I have to swallow it back down.
My heart sinks to my stomach with every thought of him.
Am I leading him on? While I take what I need and leave him standing, waiting for me.
These next few days, I’m hyper-focused on wrapping up the Bonanza on a high note, but I told Kai that I’ll be straight out and crash into my bed every night. So, not a whole lot of talking, just a few text messages exchanged.
Lia was right. Food Truck Bonanza far exceeded last year’s revenue. I met a rep, but I'm not sure if anything will come of it. I’m happy with the rest of our time in Virginia Beach. Packing up the van to head back to Saxville. It’s crazy to think the last time I was there was two months ago.
My sister’s co-ed baby shower is next week.
I’m heading back there to help finalize the plans and address anything else that comes up.
Not sure why they’re hosting a baby shower, never mind a co-ed one.
Logan says it’s because my sister wants to have a party to celebrate with everyone, and they had a girl last time. This baby is a boy.
Logan follows my sister's lead in planning parties, and his line, ‘happy wife, happy life,’ holds true for the two of them.
I took my time heading up the coast, taking a couple of extra breaks along the way.
Once I hit Connecticut, I’m exhausted and decide that I can’t do the last three hours, so I grab a hotel room.
The need to sleep was overwhelming. It was a good call to leave when I did; it gave me enough time to drive back without being up against the clock to arrive at my sister's.
The next morning, I finally decide to text her my ETA.
Ava:
I’m 3 hours away!!
Theresa:
OMG! You’re coming earlier than I expected.
Ava:
Hanging out with my niece and helping you is way better than staying in Virginia Beach with all those people. I miss you guys.
Theresa:
We miss you too. Love you. Drive safe. XOXO
Ava:
Always.
The drive was uneventful, which is what I needed. I’m pulling into their driveway, and my foot barely hits the pavement when my sister runs out. She wraps her arms around me. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
She hugs me tight and wiggles us. “I’m happy to be here. Now, where’s my niece?”
“What? Am I chopped liver now?” she asks as she releases me and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Stop it.” I roll my eyes at her and head inside in search of Giana.
“Auntie, Auntie, you here!” she screeches at the top of her lungs, running to me with her arms outstretched.
I scoop her little body into my arms and squeeze her tight. “How’s my little lady doing?”
“Auntie, you squeeze me too tight.” She tries to wiggle out of my arms, but I hold her a little tighter for a few seconds longer.
I loosen my grip on her. “I missed you so much.”
“I miss you too. Want to play kitchen with me?”
That’s what we play for the next hour. She cooks me food and I eat it. This girl has me wrapped around her little finger.
She comes and sits on my lap on the floor. The snuggles are like nothing else as she gives the best ones, and I don’t want her to grow up. She can stay this little forever.
My sister disappeared while we were playing. I hope she took a nap. With her due date a month away, she must be exhausted. Frankly, for her not to come and talk to me while I played with Giana, she must be exhausted.
“Do you want a snack?” I ask her as she stands up.
“Yes, my belly needs a snack,” she says, rubbing her belly and walking toward the kitchen.
“Okay, what kind of snack do you want? Apple, puffs, cheese…”
She climbs up the chair and clasps her hands on the table. “Puffs, please.”
I give her a bowl of puffs and say, “Auntie will be right back, and I’ll have a snack with you, okay?”
Taking one puff at a time and shoving it into her mouth, she barely says, “Okay, Auntie.”
I head to my sister’s bedroom and walk through the door. There she is, lying like Sleeping Beauty on her California king-sized bed. She needs sleep, so I scurry back to Giana and entertain her the rest of the afternoon.
Logan walks through the door around seven o’clock. Giana’s fed, bathed, and ready for bed.
“Hey, I didn’t think you were coming until mid-next week,” he says, walking over to give me and Giana a big hug.
“Everything down there wrapped up quicker than I thought it would. Instead of hanging around, I drove straight here.”
Logan searches the room. “Where’s your sister?”
“She’s been sleeping ever since I arrived. She really must be exhausted.” I snap my tongue against the roof of my mouth.
“That doesn't surprise me. The last few nights, she hasn’t slept well—she’s very uncomfortable. I feel bad. I’ve massaged her, bought her a new body pillow, but nothing has helped. I'm relieved she’s finally sleeping.” He shrugs and moves to sit with us to play with baby dolls on the floor.
The next thirty minutes fly by as Giana and Logan play with baby dolls; it’s a sight to see. The love he has for her is insurmountable.
“Alright, munchkin. It’s time for bed.” Logan pulls her in, and she wraps her tiny arms around him with her face burrowed into his neck. “Don’t forget to say goodnight to Auntie.”
She must be exhausted. Her little hand comes up and waves, “Night, night, Auntie. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” And with little effort, she’s almost asleep in Logan’s arms. He takes her to bed.
All of my luggage is still in the van, so I walk out and grab it. The last couple of days of traveling are catching up with me. I take a shower, throw on a t-shirt, and hop into bed.
I had every intention of checking on my sister and texting Kai, but my body succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep before I could.
The bright light streams in through the open blinds. I throw the covers over my head. I was so tired I didn’t think to shut the blinds last night.
I toss off the covers and hop onto the cold hardwood floor.
The mission is coffee. I don’t smell any when I open the bedroom door.
What time is it? Everyone here is still sleeping.
I tiptoe to the kitchen. My sister grinds her own beans, of the brand I recommended.
It’s my thing. When I open it up, I take a deep inhale of the aroma.
It’s nutty, with hints of chocolate and apples.
I brew the coffee and sit outside on their deck.
They need to speed up the search for the Lakehouse.
Imagining myself on a deck overlooking the lake…
the lake…My mind drifts off to those couple of days in Saxville during my last visit here, his trip to see me.
Kai and his crystal-blue eyes, his polo shirts…
And all I can think about now is him ravaging my body, seeing right through me, and the tether that connects us.
I sip my coffee, bringing myself back to reality on my sister’s deck overlooking their backyard with the burnt grass Logan complains about.
The swing set in the corner, a storage shed in the back, a sandbox closer to the deck, and plenty of toys scattered around.
Peaceful. No one else is awake yet. I take some deep breaths and let them out. Releasing the tension that creeps into my muscles when I think about Kai.
The slider opens, and I turn to see my sister holding a cup of tea. “Good morning.”
“Well, well, well, you decided to join the real world again.” I laugh and tap the seat next to me.
“I’ve been exhausted. Being pregnant and keeping up with a three-year-old is hard.
To top it all off, the last few nights, my body decided it didn’t need any of that.
Insomnia is ridiculous,” she says as she plops down next to me, pushing her shoulder into mine. “You looked deep in thought out here.”
I stare out into the yard and simply say, “I was.”