Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
Ava
Tuesday night rolls around, and I’m finally able to slip on my pajamas—cute shorts and a tank top, pink with little white flowers.
The cotton is smooth on my skin. I hop into bed and cuddle up with my book.
Once I finish one more chapter, I’ll call Kai.
We’ve been so busy, but I’m not letting another night go by without talking to him.
We’ve texted about the mundane aspects of life.
He’s like an unexpected text that makes me smile.
When we are together, we can sit in comfortable silence, wrapped in each other’s arms, or just talk.
His presence is something I look forward to.
I close the book, pick up my phone, and click on the video call. It rings a few times, and my heart sinks to my stomach. I was expecting him to pick up on the first ring, but maybe he’s busy. I hover over the red button, and my breath catches in my throat as his handsome face shows up on my screen.
“Hey, what are you up to?” he asks as his image shakes on the screen like he’s walking.
“Just finished reading to give you a call. I wasn’t sure if you were going to answer.” I avert my eyes and push my hair off my shoulder as heat sprinkles up my neck.
He finally sits down, pulls the phone away from his face, and all I see is that he has no shirt on. If I were sitting there, I’d be trailing my fingers lazily over his chest while snuggling up to his side. I imagine his arms wrapped tightly around me.
“What are you thinking? I see the wheels turning.” And I wonder how he can read me so well. It puts a smile on my face.
Turning on my side and propping the phone on the other pillows, I decide honesty is the best policy. “Just thinking about being in your arms.” The moment the words leave my lips, his eyes widen, and a smirk appears on his face that melts me.
“You have an open invitation,” he says, taking the phone farther from his body, and the view on my screen is just him sitting on his living room couch. Then my eyes get a glimpse of his waistband, and my legs squeeze together. All he has to do is be himself, and what I want is to be with him.
“I know. Thank you.” Thinking about seeing him has my heart pumping faster and a smile that no one could wash off my face. I’ll see him tomorrow at Kendall’s, helping with some final wedding setup.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow because I’ll see my favorite person.” His face never falters. The happiness written all over his face is hard to miss.
He knows exactly what to say to make me feel all of him. “Yes, I can’t wait either.” I chuckle.
“How’s everything going with the transfer?” he asks and then waits for me to answer.
“It should be finalized next week. I can’t believe how quickly it’s all happening. I’m feeling the pressure.”
“Want to talk about it?” he asks as he stays quiet, letting the silence linger. But my body feels antsy.
Do I want to talk about it?
“It’s hard to think that I’m staying in Saxville. It feels pretty permanent to purchase the coffeehouse. I haven’t had anything holding me anywhere in years, and I could leave at any time. It’s a bit scary, wrapped up in excitement and exhilaration.”
“I can see that. Are you having any regrets about any of it?”
I sigh and let a few seconds pass before replying.
When I think about it, I don’t have any regrets, but the urge to run is high after this week.
After connecting with Kai these past couple of months and weeks, it’s hard to imagine I won’t hurt him.
I don’t want to leave, but I have the urge to run.
It’s probably me overthinking everything that can go wrong.
“No, no regrets.” I’m honest with him. Not just saying what he wants to hear.
“That makes me happy.” He coughs into his hand and then asks in a pleading tone, “Can I pick you up tomorrow, and we can ride together to Dane and Kendall’s?”
“I already told my sister that I’ll be riding with them, but if you want to take me home?” I suggest, putting my chin in my hand with my elbow on my knee.
“That sounds like a good plan.” I yawn. “It’s not the company.”
“Why don’t I let you go so you can get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He waves at the phone.
I blow him a kiss. “Good night, handsome.”
As we pull up to Dane’s Lakehouse, it brings back memories of a couple of months ago, when we spent time with Kai, where we first met. The day that will forever be etched in my memory. Logan parks the car, and as I step out, my phone dings. I dig in my clutch to pull it out, and it’s Kai.
Kai:
I wish I had picked you up. If it’s not a late night, you want to come back to my house and take a dip in the hot tub…maybe stay the night?
I massage my shoulder. The tightness that sits there could use a beating from the jets. And another night with Kai, I let out a deep breath. Yeah…
Ava:
That idea sounds like a good remedy for tight shoulder and neck muscles.
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about all the other ways he could massage me.
I close the car door. Logan and my sister are already at the house. I was too busy texting Kai. It’s time to have some fun; anything Kendall plans will be nothing short of amazing.
Since I’m not in too much of a hurry, I take my time to meet up with my sister and Logan.
The minute I approach them with wide eyes and my mouth goes dry when I see him standing next to Dane.
It’s a rare sight to see him in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.
The glow in his eyes when they meet mine stops my heart dead in its tracks.
Kendall comes out of the house and says, “Oh, you two are here. Welcome! I’m happy you’re here to help us. There’s not much left to do but a few things. We appreciate it.”
Eyeing her with suspicion, she takes both mine and Kai’s arms and leads us down to the water. “Come on, let’s get you two situated down here.” We both follow her. She runs the show, so neither of us argues.
“Can you two help with putting together these favors for us?” Tapping us both on the back, she pushes us closer together, then walks away.
“That was interesting.” I shake my head, staring at her as she walks back to the main table in the yard.
Kai steps closer to me, and I can feel the heat rising. “Guess we’re on wedding favor duty.”