Chapter 24
Skylar
Ava’s body is shaking with deep, heart-wrenching sobs as soon as she sees me in her doorway. The sound of her agony breaks my heart into a million tiny pieces, and I’m ready to fight whoever made her feel like this.
“Baby, let’s sit down, okay? Then you can tell me who I’m killing for making my girl cry,” I whisper into her hairline. She nods against me and pulls back so I can finally come inside. Her mascara is running, and her eyes are puffy and red.
The kids are on the couch watching a movie, so I take Ava’s hand and lead her towards her bedroom.
“Your mom and I are going to have a grown-up chat for a minute, okay, munchkins? Knock if you need us.”
“Is Mommy okay?” Zoe asks, her big blue eyes wide with concern.
“I think Grandma said something that hurt Mom’s feelings,” Gus whispers to his sister. “Auntie Skylar will help Mommy feel better.”
“Thanks, bud. I hope I can. We’ll be out soon, okay?”
Zoe’s attention is already back on the movie, and Gus says a quiet, “Okay.”
I tug Ava along to her room and sit her down on the bed. Sitting next to her, I wrap an arm around her waist and stroke her cheek while she tries to stem the flow of tears.
“What happened, Aves?”
She recounts her conversation with her mom, and even though anger simmers beneath my skin, all I can focus on is the hurt radiating from Ava.
“Ava, I’m so sorry she said those things. It was wrong of her. She should be happy for you, not telling you you’re wrong.”
Ava sniffles and rubs her nose with the back of her hand. “I know. I don’t know why I was expecting something different, but I hoped she’d be on board, you know? I never thought I’d have to consider cutting off my parents.”
I have her lie down on my shoulder and stroke her hair. “People fear what they don’t understand. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.”
“Thank you for coming over,” she whispers into my shoulder.
“Anytime, baby. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to be moral support for you.”
Ava shakes her head. “I didn’t want you there. It was something I needed to do on my own. I came out to her and told her I was dating you all at the same time. It’s a lot to take in. I should have known it would be too much, but she commented on how happy I looked, and I wanted to tell her why.”
Fuck, that makes me feel even worse. How can a mother comment on how her child looks happy one minute, then get upset about what’s making her happy the next?
My mom’s known I’m gay since I was seventeen when she saw me doodling hearts around Ava’s name.
She’s never been anything but supportive, but she’s also not a member of the church like Ava’s parents.
My dad took a little longer to come around, but he was never malicious.
He just didn’t understand, but he tried his best. Now, after over a decade of being out, he doesn’t even bat an eye when I mention a new girlfriend or crush.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m not afraid to fight your mom, if you need me to,” I say, trying to add some levity to the heavy conversation.
Ava snorts. “I’m sure Patricia wouldn’t stand a chance against you physically, but you know she prefers psychological warfare. Let’s just see if she comes around. If she doesn’t… then we’ll reevaluate.”
“What if she doesn’t?” I wish I didn’t have to ask the question. I don’t want her to lose her parents over our relationship.
“Then I guess I’ll be short one set of parents.”
“You know, I was at my parents’ today. I told my mom we’re dating, and she thought I was pulling a prank on her. She literally cried happy tears when she realized I wasn’t joking. Mama Kimberly will always be in our corner.”
Ava sniffles again, but a small smile pulls at her lips. “I love your parents. We’ll have to take the kids over sometime so they can meet them.”
“My parents are going to spoil them rotten, you know that, right?”
“Oh, I have no doubt.”
We hold each other for a few more minutes, the low hum of whatever movie the kids are watching wafts through the closed door.
When Ava’s tears have dried, she sighs. “Sorry for making you leave your parents’ early.”
“Ava, don’t you understand I’d do anything for you?”
Ava’s gaze darts to my mouth, then she shakes her head. “I’m not used to having someone willing to be there for me at the drop of a hat.”
Fucking Shea.
“Well, get used to it, baby. I plan on being here as long as you’ll have me.”
“Forever?” she whispers.
Forever isn’t long enough.
“Yeah, baby. Forever.”
Ava bites her lip and sighs. “I love you, Skylar.”
“I love you, too, Aves.”
“No—like, I love you.”
“You mean—”
“Not in a platonic way. In an all-consuming, burns-me-from-the-inside-out, I-want-to-live-in-your-skin kind of way.” Her cheeks flush with her admission, and my heart rate picks up speed.
I’m speechless. We haven’t even made our relationship official at work, and Ava’s just made a love confession.
When I remain silent, Ava groans and tries to stand, but I pull her by her wrist so she can’t get away.
“I have such poor timing, don’t I? I didn’t want to confess it in my bedroom after venting about my parents, but how was I supposed to keep it in?
I’ve been in love with you for almost two years, Sky, and you’ve shown up for me in every way.
You fit into my life and with the kids so seamlessly, and you know them so well.
They love you so much, and I just—I didn’t want you to leave without knowing I love you. ”
“Your timing is perfect. I love that you can’t seem to hold things in when they’re trying to burst out of you.
” I tilt her chin so she has to look me in the eyes.
“I’m in love with you, too, Ava. Have been for thirteen years.
I never thought I’d hear those three words come out of you in a romantic way, so I’m happy you couldn’t hold them in. ”
“You’re not scared off?” she teases.
“Not even a little bit,” I whisper, leaning in and sealing our mouths together. This kiss seals our declarations and nearly brings tears to my eyes.
A soft knock on the door has us breaking apart, and Ava wipes her tears away. “Come in.”
Gus pokes his head in and looks between us, his little brow furrowing. “Are you okay, Mommy?”
Ava opens her arms, and he wraps himself around her in a hug. “Yeah, buddy, I’m okay. Thank you for checking. Everything good out there?”
“Yeah. I wanted to make sure you were okay, though.”
“Thank you. Auntie Sky and I will be out in a minute, all right? What should we have for dinner?”
“Hmmm. Maybe we can make ramen noodles?” He looks up at me. “Can you stay for dinner, Auntie Sky?”
“Yeah, munchkin, I can stay.”
Someday, hopefully I won’t ever have to leave.