Chapter Eighteen
Ava Anderson
I hear his footsteps coming towards the living room which makes me stand up immediately. He walks in and I avoid eye contact while trying to walk past him. He grabs a hold of my hand.
“Ava.” His deep voice calling my name almost makes me jump into his arms to be comforted again but I hold myself back.
“I need to prepare DJ’s snacks. He’ll be back from school at any time.” I say without looking at him before walking away.
I head straight to the kitchen and pretend as if I’m doing something relevant. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I rest my back on the counter.
Lynn always used to tell me that hiding something from the person you loved was like holding a dagger to your chest and I can actually testify to that now. Keeping what I saw that morning from Wade has been like hell .
When Daniel called me five days ago, fear set into my heart when I recalled the scene I had witnessed when I ran out of the hotel and away from Wade. Maybe it was due to the series of events and having to prepare for my show day and night that made me forget that part of the day but when I heard his voice again, everything came rushing back.
There’s no way he was the one, right? I mean, Daniel could be cruel but there’s absolutely no way he would do that to me. The mother of his only child. Even if the way we ended things was gruesome, we did have good times and there was a time in my life where he was the entire world. It’s those memories that I decided to keep of him when we separated. And besides, DJ was his son. What sick individual would try to hurt his own son?
I feel bad for giving Wade the cold shoulder for the past few days, but I needed the time and space to think things through. Maybe we had taken things too fast. Maybe I had given myself to him a little too much. The deep attraction and love I have for him is nearly tearing me apart and my past traumas are all coming back at once. When this case is solved, Wade would have no reason to remain here. What would happen to us then?
What will happen to me then? Will I be left to tend to my broken heart again? Just like I did with DJ’s father?
So many things have been running through this head of mine ever since Daniel called. I still don’t know what he wanted from me. Even though he didn’t say anything specific, I felt like he knew something. Everything.
I ruffle my hair before heading to the fridge to get the ingredients to make French toast. It’s DJ’s favorite and he always has it whenever he gets back from school .
He was excited and jumping all around the house when I dressed him for school this morning. He is such a social fellow, that I can say he got it from me.
Wade walks into the kitchen and heads straight to the fridge. He doesn’t spare a glance at me, nor do I say anything to him.
I know he must have noticed how distant I have been acting towards him, especially after we had gotten much closer recently, but he hasn’t said anything to me nor is he pushing me to talk to him.
I don’t know if I should feel grateful that he’s giving me the space I needed or be annoyed that he didn’t seem to care that I wasn’t speaking to him.
I gasped softly when I felt a warm palm covering mine. I look up and see Wade looking down at me. I opened my mouth to say something but only ended up saying nothing as I felt ashamed by my actions. Maybe talking to him and telling him the truth would be better than treating him this way. He’s been nothing but a great support to me, and I feel bad for acting like this.
“I’ll be by your side, no matter what. Push me away all you want, and I’ll understand. When you’re ready to come back to me, I’ll be waiting for you.” Wade says gently before kissing my forehead. Then he walks out of the kitchen, leaving me feeling guilty.
* * * *
I closed the door behind me slowly and quietly after I managed to put DJ to bed. He had been so hyperactive tonight as he had met all his friends and the playful spirit remained in him until I turned the lights off and he was forced to sleep.
I breathed out heavily, thankful that he didn’t wake up. Tugging my cardigan closer, I walk to the living room where I see the lights on.
Wade is sitting on the couch, watching a show on the TV. There is a glass of juice in his hands, and I smile softly at the sight.
The ever-dutiful bodyguard.
“Hey.” He smiles at me, and I smile back.
“Hello.”
“Uh, this is the last of it. I think I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow.” He tells me and I nod softly. His gaze returns to the TV while I stand at the doorway, not knowing if I should sit with him or head back to my bedroom. I shift my feet on the floor before finally deciding.
“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.” I take a few hesitant steps into the living room.
Wade looks at me and raises an eyebrow. Great, he wants me to elaborate.
“For giving you the cold shoulder with no explanation. I needed some space and didn’t know how exactly to tell you. So, I’m sorry for acting childish.” I let out .
“Apology accepted.” He bobs his head before returning his gaze to the TV.
I stand in the middle of the living room, feeling dejected and a little embarrassed by his response. I’m sure this is how he felt when he tried to talk to me, and I pushed him away.
“I want to make it up to you.” I add. “You didn’t have anything to eat. Should I make something quick?”
Wade chuckles lightly before shaking his head. He switches off the TV before walking towards me. He easily towered over me as he looked down at me.
“I understand, Ava. I understand that you might not have been in the right state of mind, especially after Daniel’s phone call, which is why I didn’t try to push you to talk to me even when I was dying inside to talk to you. And now, the goddess is out of her bubble and she’s trying to make things up?” He scoffs. “There’s absolutely no need for that. Trust me, I was never upset enough for you to try to appease me now.” Wade says but I still feel bad.
“Thank you.” I smile at him. “How about some pizza? Can we order some? It’s been a long time since I had junk.” I pout slightly and he laughs.
“As the goddess wishes.” He pecks my cheek before getting his phone to call the pizza place.
I settle down on the couch and stretch my legs out with a sigh. I watch Wade as he places the call, and a small smile slips onto my lips. I wonder how I ended up with someone like him .
Someone so kind, caring, and supportive all at the same time. He didn’t have to try too hard for me to fall in love with him. His character, attitude, and words all won me over, and before I knew it, I found myself smitten with this bodyguard of mine.
He is so different from all the men I have met so far and the one thing that sets him apart is the way he treats me. With love, care, and gentleness.
He doesn’t treat me like an egg who is too fragile to do anything on its own nor does he let me be too loose which would make him appear indifferent. He is just the perfect amount of everything and that is all I need at this stage of my life.
Someone who will be my backbone and the perfect father figure for my son.
The pizza came shortly after, and Wade went to open the door.
A second later, a loud gunshot burst in through the air and my heart dropped as I fell to the floor in shock. By the time I picked myself up to head towards the door, I saw blood all over the floor.
This is it. My worst nightmare is coming to pass.
I see Wade on the floor with blood flowing out of his shoulder. He struggles, trying to pull his firearm from his back pocket.
I look up to see a man dressed in all-black clothes and a mask covering his entire face except his eyes. His hollow black eyes met mine and a violent shudder passed through my body as he took a step forward .
It’s then Wade notices I’m right behind him. He jumps up in the blink of an eye before he punches the man in the face. “Ava!! Get DJ and hide!!” he shouts and that’s when I’m finally able to break out of my trance.
I see him scuffling with the deliveryman–who is definitely not delivering shit!—and I turn on my heel immediately, heading to my son’s room. DJ is already awake due to the gunshot and tears are streaming down his round face.
I bet I look exactly the same way. Wade.
I fight the urge to run back and make sure he is all right. Instead, I take DJ into my arms, calm him down and grab my phone from the nightstand as we hide in a closet in my dressing room. I called the police and with bated breath, I waited for them to arrive.
Another gunshot rings out and I sob in pain and fear. DJ starts crying again and I hold him close to me.
“Shhh, baby, shhh.” I whisper, but he doesn’t stop whining, probably because he can tell I’m tense as well. I hear heavy footsteps heading this way, and my heart drops. Is it the killer? Has he succeeded in eliminating Wade and he’s coming for me?
The footsteps get louder, and I can sense he is close. I gently place my palm over DJ’s mouth, so his baby noises don’t give us away. My heart drops as the closet is opened.