Chapter 22
Skylar
Halfway through the movie, after we’ve eaten our fill of the cheesy—and pineapple-y in Ava’s case—goodness, Zoe and Gus are sprawled out on the floor, completely entranced by the colorful show.
Me?
I couldn’t care less about what’s happening because Ava’s thigh is pressed up against mine on the couch, and our fingers are intertwined under the blanket we’re sharing.
It’s reminiscent of teenagers trying to sneak around and hide their relationship, which feels apt in our case.
I know Ava’s not trying to hide us out of shame. Throwing this curveball at the kids would be a lot for them—especially with what Gus is going through right now.
Ava told me about what those fuckers said to him at church and how her asshole ex responded. I had half a mind to go over to his house and punch him in the mouth. How dare he?
But I know Ava wants to fight her own battles, and I’m not going to step on her toes. The best thing I can do is be here for whatever she needs.
Right now, it seems all she needs are the physical touches we’re sharing. She’s laid her head on my shoulder, and without thinking, I plant a kiss on her hair.
She looks up at me, and I worry I overstepped, but she gives me a hazy smile and plants a gentle kiss on my shoulder before lying back down.
Her thumb rubs absently over mine for the rest of the movie, and I swear I’ve never felt more content.
I want this. Her. Them.
I want Friday movie nights and Saturday morning pancakes. I want Sunday brunches with the kids and cooking dinner with them when they’re here. I want to help Ava pack lunches for school and steal kisses in between.
I want to take Ava out on weekends when the kids are with their dad and show her what it’s like when someone is completely obsessed with her.
I want it all.
And wanting it all is scary because it means I have something—everything—to lose.
When the movie is over, Zoe and Gus try their best to persuade us to let them watch just one more movie, but Ava isn’t giving in.
“You guys don’t want to be tired when we go to Grandma’s tomorrow, do you?”
“No,” they grumble simultaneously.
“Then brush your teeth, and get in bed. I’ll come read to you in a second.”
“Can Auntie Skylar read to me?” Zoe clasps her hands under her chin. “Please, please, please?”
Ava looks to me to answer.
“Of course I can, Princess Zoe. I’ll come in when you’re all ready for bed.”
With a cheer, Zoe rushes off to the bathroom.
Gus hesitates on the end of the blanket before he looks at his mom. “I’m going to sleep in my bed tonight,” he whispers.
“Are you sure, buddy? You know you don’t have to.”
He nods his head. “It’s okay. If Auntie Sky wants to sleep over, I don’t want her to sleep on the couch. She can sleep in your bed.”
Ava and I both freeze. “Why would she sleep in my bed?” Ava asks, and I can tell she’s trying to keep her voice neutral.
Gus’s face scrunches up in confusion. “Because you two are best friends? I wouldn’t want my best friend to sleep on the couch.”
Ava and I share an amused look, and I nod. “Thanks, Gus. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I have to go home and sleep in my bed. Sounds like you guys have a big day at Grandma’s tomorrow.”
“Okay. Well, goodnight, Auntie Skylar.” He wraps me in a quick hug, then rushes off to get ready for bed.
“Goodnight, buddy,” I call after him.
Ava giggles as soon as he’s out of sight. “I thought we were about to have a more serious conversation.”
“Kids are perceptive. Especially Gus. I think we may need to tell them sooner rather than later."
Ava lets out a loaded sigh. “I know. And trust me, it’s not because I don’t want to tell them or scream from the rooftops how much I want to be with you, but it’s just…”
“A lot right now?” I finish for her, and she nods. “I get it, Aves. I promise I’m not upset, okay? We’ll go at your pace.”
“Thank you, Sky. Tonight was perfect.”
I peek over at the hall to make sure there are no little ones spying on us, and then I lean over and seal our mouths together. Ava’s hands come up to cup my face, and she tries to deepen the kiss, but I pull back.
I don’t want to get carried away since we can’t take it further.
“I’ve been dying to kiss you all night,” she hums against my lips before giving me one last peck.
“Me too, baby.”
“AUNTIE SKY, I’M READY!” Zoe screams from her room, making us laugh.
“That’s my queue. I’ll wait for you to settle Gus down before I leave.”
“Thank you.”
I read Zoe a story about a princess who kisses a frog, and he turns into a prince, and she’s out by the time I’m on page five. I wait just a few minutes to make sure her breathing is even, and she’s fully asleep before I make my escape.
A few minutes later, Ava sneaks out of her own room. I guess Gus wasn’t ready to sleep alone after all.
“Is he going to be okay?” I ask, wishing I could take the weight of everything off of both their shoulders. I wish I could fix the things bothering him.
Ava nods. “I made him an appointment with a therapist for next Wednesday afternoon. I don’t want him to have to keep going to church. He’s never liked it, and now it’s causing him so much anxiety he’s going through a sleep regression. I just don’t know what to do.”
I wrap Ava in a tight hug. “He’ll be okay. If you need me to fight Shea for you so he stops being an ignorant ass, I will. If you want to fight him for full custody, I’ll be there with you every step of the way. You’re not alone in this, Aves.”
Ava tips her head up to me, her hazel eyes shiny with tears. “Thank you, Sky. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You deserve the best, baby. I’m going to make sure you get it.”
Ava attacks my mouth in a greedy kiss. Her tongue sweeps against mine, and she tastes like sour gummy worms and the strawberry sparkling water she drank. I’m able to just barely hold back my groan as our kiss escalates, and she nips at my lip.
“Ava, we can’t get carried away, sweetheart. I don’t want to wake up the kids.”
“I can be quiet,” she whines.
I snort. “No, baby. You can’t.”
“You can. Let me make you feel good, please.”
God, she sounds so eager. I want to let her. I want to let her press me up against this wall and finger me, but then I wouldn’t want to leave without returning the favor.
“Save it for next weekend. I’m spending the weekend here, okay? We can trade as many orgasms as we can handle.”
Ava’s face turns mopey. “Fine. You’re right. But I’m holding you to the orgasm promise. It doesn’t feel the same when it’s my fingers.”
An image of Ava with her fingers in her panties, writhing on the bed frustrated she can’t quite get there flashes through my head and makes me smirk.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll help you soon,” I coo. “But I have to go.”
“Text me when you get home?”
“Of course.”
Begrudgingly, I leave the woman I’m head over heels in love with.
When I get home and text Ava, I’m rewarded with a picture of her silhouette in the fogged up mirror of her bathroom. It’s too blurry to make out anything other than vague shapes, but I already know what her body looks like naked. I know what she feels tastes like.
Yeah, next weekend can’t come soon enough.