Chapter 7
Ipretend to be asleep on the ride home. I know Ava and Riley aren’t buying it, but I don’t want to talk about it. I’m not ready to admit how fucked up my life is, and I refuse to discuss why I moved back home again.
I’m not in the mood to see my parents either, so I sit in Ava’s SUV until they walk home. Laying my head against the seat, my thoughts run wild. A knock at the window does nothing more than make me angrier.
“What?” I whip my head around to see Ava standing at the opposite door.
“Open the fuckin’ door,” she commands, and I obey.
“Yes?” I glare at her as she climbs in.
“Do you realize you’ve been out here for thirty minutes?” I’m thrilled it’s dark in here. I bet her nostrils are flaring.
I look at my watch then glance back at her. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”
“Walker, I’ve been here. I get it, I do. Riley worries about everything but when it starts bothering me, there’s a problem.” Ava knows me so well.
“I’m okay,” I reassure her.
“The fuck you are.” She spins in her seat toward me. “When Riley and I first got together, you were running free. A different girl every night. Everyone was concerned, but I got it. I’ve been there. Too much alcohol, too many one-night stands, and too much time to think about it all.”
“Exactly.” Point proven.
“You’re not doing any of it now, though. You’ve gone… dead.” She touches my arm, making me realize how concerned she must be. Ava has a tough time with affection. Being close to people is not her forte. Neither is it mine.
“It’s better than bed-hopping.” I smirk.
“Not really.” She sighs. “I, of all people, know how hard it is to stop your life from spiraling. I also know you can’t control it. Life’s a roller coaster at best.”
She’s right. I swallow hard past the bile rising in my throat and say the hardest thing I’ve had to in a long time. “I know.” There it is, rip it off. “I can’t go back to who I was. I won’t. I need to seem like I have it together.”
“When clearly, you don’t.” She scrutinizes me. “How about try being you. The caring, intelligent man we know you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“Walker, you’re my best friend, aside from Riley.
Torrie’s a close second, but it gets weird with Brannon.
I mean, she’s my ex’s wife..” She shrugs.
“You’ve loved me as much as Riley has all these years.
You didn’t take care of me while he was gone because he asked. You did it outta love.” She’s right.
“I’d do it all again.” I wink at her.
“I know you would. Thank you.” She hesitates. “We all know you gave your life up in Charleston to help us. Being here while Riley was deployed meant the world to us; it also meant you came back when you didn’t plan to.”
I shake my head. “I wanted to come home. I needed to.”
“But?”
“I’m afraid,” I say, fisting my hair. “I’m can’t lose it all again. I’m afraid of being myself.”
“It’s okay that you haven’t figured it out yet, you know?” She wrinkles her nose.
“No, it’s not. I’m the responsible one. I’m the one who takes care of everything, everyone.”
“It’s not your job.” She straightens in her seat, grabbing the handle. “Walker, I’m giving you permission to run away from home. Set up the apartment. Get to know yourself. Find love.”
“You’ve lost your shit.” I chuckle.
“I’m marrying your brother, so yeah. But it’s time you take care of you. Unless you want me to do it for you?” Ava’s eyes grow round as she crosses them.
“Hell, naw. I got this. I mean, I know you have experience at this, but I got it.”
“You sure?” She grins.
I glare at her. “I’m positive.”
“Okay then, I’m here if you need me.” She jumps out and I sit for a second, letting her words sink in. She’s right. It’s time I start living for me. “Get your ass out. It’s time for bed.”
I hop from the SUV, hot on her heels. “I’m not my brother. I ain’t whipped.” I smack her ass as I run by.
“Not yet, asshole! I’m gonna get you for that,” she yells behind me as I take the steps two at a time, trying to get away from her.
I rush through the door, locking it behind me. “Night, sis.”
She grabs the handle. I see it on her face the second it dawns on her. “Motherfucker, I’m gonna kick your ass.”
“Not tonight.” I smile before turning and running up the stairs to my room, locking the door behind me as I hear Ava beat on the door.
“She’s gonna rip your balls off, dude.” Riley chuckles, walking down the hall to the stairs. “And if I don’t get laid tonight, I’m gonna kick your ass.”
“What’s going on, Poppa?”
Oh, shit. I’m in trouble. I unlock the door and peek out.
Riley stops at Andi’s room. “Your momma’s gonna beat Uncle Walker up but not until tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay. Night.” Andi’s fuzzy head turns back to bed, and I have no doubt Ava’s going to kill me.
After a couple of minutes, I hear her outside my door. “Paybacks a bitch, and I carry karma like cash.”
Oh, fuck.
I wake the next morning with a throbbing headache. I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol or the pungent chemical smell invading my senses. Fuck.
“Ava!” I leap from the bed, running to the bathroom. “Fuck! Ava!” I stare at my face in the mirror. I have a half-shaven face. She’s tore me a new one. I knew she was vindictive, but damn.
I stomp downstairs, pissed as hell and ready for war. Ava stands across the counter, smirking. My brother and niece hold their hands over their mouths to keep from laughing their asses off.
“Next time, I take a brow.” She cocks hers.
I narrow my eyes. “I’m supposed to be grateful?”
“Damn straight. It’s half a beard shave. Or would you rather I shaved your brow to match the other?” She takes a drink from her cup, glaring at me. I’m scared. I admit it.
“You gonna sit there and let her do this to me?” Of course he is, but I have to ask.
“You know it.” He laughs.
I grab a cup of coffee and find a seat. “I need some clothes.”
“T-shirt and sweats in the bathroom, the adjoining bathroom you forgot to lock last night.” He chuckles.
“Thanks.” I stand. “Razors?”
Ava shakes her head with a smirk plastered on her face. “We’re out.”
I leer at her. “I gotcha.” I back away. You never know what could happen.
A ten-minute shower and I’m ready to get on the road. I need to check on the apartment and work on a few things. After I shave, of course.
“I’m out, people.”
Andi runs to me. I pick her up for a hug, although Ava says she’s too big to do that now. “I love you. Thank you for the game.” She wraps her arms around my neck, and I squeeze her tight.
“You’re welcome. I love you too.”
“Come back in two weeks, please,” she asks into my neck, holding on with a death grip.
“I promise.” I sit her down, and Ava strides toward me. “Nope. No way. You stay over there.”
“Shut up.” She hugs me anyway. “I love you.”
“Until it’s time for payback.” I raise my brows with a grin.
“Y’all, stop. This war could go on forever with you two,” Riley butts in. “Give me my girl.” He drags Ava to him.
“Call me later.” We shake, and I turn to the door. “Shit.” I drop my head back.
“What?” Riley asks.
“I need gas.” The laughter echoes as I walk out the door. Yeah, this is war.
I coast through town, praying it’s early enough that I don’t run into a soul. I pull up to the first empty pump I see and hurry to get gas. I slide the card and squeeze the nozzle. My stomach drops when I hear the one voice I didn’t need to.
“Walker?” Reese steps between the pumps. I eye her out of the corner of my eye, hoping to keep her there. And to keep from turning my head.
“Reese.” My blood pounds in my ears. Why does she make me nervous?
“I didn’t think anyone would be out this early. I’m on my way to work out.” Is she trying to make small talk?
“Going for a couple’s workout?” I ask snidely. He doesn’t deserve her.
“No, just me. Alden doesn’t need to work out.” Her voice is no more than a whisper and before I stop myself, I whip my head around.
“Does he fucking tell you that?” I stop pumping, stepping closer to her, pinning her between the pump and myself.
I drag my eyes down her body, taking in every curve as if it were my hands.
When my eyes snap to hers, I say the first thing that comes to mind.
“You’re perfect. Fuck anyone who says otherwise. ”
Her eyes search mine before a smile creeps across her face. My heart pounds in my ears. I think she might understand now.
Suddenly, she giggles. “Do you realize you’re half shaven?” She laughs louder. I’m sure it’s the way my cheeks are turning bright red in front of her.
I stare at her, speechless. I decide honesty is the best policy. “Ava. She used Nair on half my face.”
“Do they even make that anymore?” She snickers, making her green eyes sparkle. Damn, my stomach is in knots.
“Apparently,” I chuckle. “I’m happy someone finds this funny.”
“Oh, I do. Matter of fact, let’s take a selfie.” She bellows with laughter.
“Smartass.” I shake my head. “I’m on way to shave before getting in some work.”
“Good because this isn’t a good look for you. I like the scruff.”
“I’ll remember that.” I kick my pump off.
Reese slowly backs away. “I gotta go. I’m late.”
“Oh, yeah. Boyfriend,” I mutter.
“I’ll see you Tuesday?” she stops to ask.
“Tuesday.” I offer a tight smile, the thoughts of her working out with him making my blood boil.
“Be sure to shave or we might cause a scene.” She smiles at me with a wink, and my knees go weak.
“I think you cause one wherever you go.”
Whatever it is I say, she doesn’t like. Her eyes leave mine, staring at the pavement. Her smile nothing more than a frown. “I’m sure I do. See ya, Walker.” She slides into her Jeep before I can correct whatever I said.
I remove the hose, fix my cap, and get back on the road. I’m not even sure which way she went, but I know one thing for sure. She does things to me. I pull into the lower end of my office, parking close to the doors.
Brannon and his crew have been working on my apartment. I want to check it out, but I need to shave first. I stop by the bathroom, taking out my razor as I begin to apply the cream. I can’t help but laugh. “Fucking Ava.”
“I used to say that all the time.”
I jump out of my skin. “The fuck!” Brannon stands by the door with a shit-eating grin. “You people are going to be the death of me.”
“Sorry. I thought you heard me come through the door.” He shrugs. “Ava, huh?” he says as he examines my beard.
“Yeah, she better be thankful I didn’t have a full beard.” I continue to shave. “This is bad enough.”
“At least you haven’t run into anyone,” he adds. I turn back to him, staring blankly. “Shit.”
“Tell me about it.” I grimace. “Another attorney. A fucking gorgeous attorney.”
He shakes his head with a laugh. “Finish here. I’ll meet you in the back.”
I shave quickly. Well, it was only half. I find Brannon in my gutted offices. “How’s it going in here?”
“Good. As you can see, we’re ready for drywall.” He looks around at their handiwork.
“Sounds great. What can I do?”
“Get some paint and flooring picked out,” he says.
“This week. I’ll text you the information.”
“You’ll be ready for furniture by the weekend,” he says as we walk the room. “I have to say, I’m surprised you didn’t build.”
“One day.” I offer a tight smile, still not ready to admit my shortcomings.
“Hit me up when you get your order in.” I take his hand when offered, and he’s out the door.
I change clothes and head downstairs. I want to make the best possible proposal to Reese on Tuesday, and I need to make sure Lachlan’s on board. I rework every aspect of this deal until I know it’s the best proposition available.
I fax Lachlan the new suggestions for his consideration. I’m not at all surprised when my phone rings within minutes. “Lachlan. I see you have the new prospectus.”
“I do.” He pauses, making my stomach flip as I wait with bated breath. “I like it.”
“You do? I know this means an increase in cost, but I believe it’s the best compromise on the table.”
“It is. We both get what we want and the possibilities for additional sales know no limit.” I drag in a much-needed breath of air. “Great work, Walker. Now, seal the deal.”
“I plan to.” I smile. Not because of the deal but thoughts of seeing Reese.
“When are you meeting her?” he asks.
“Tuesday. Dinner.”
“Keep me up to date,” he says.
“Will do.” I end our call and immediately, my thoughts are with Reese.
“I should take her the new offer so she can look over it. Give her time to see if she wants addendums or changes.” I shake my head at the thought. “Her boyfriend will be there. Don’t do it, man,” I tell myself. I grab my phone and call the one person I know who will tell me what I should do.
“Hey, what’s up?” Riley answers.
“Bear with me, I had a stroke of genius and came up with a new proposal for The Historical Society. Lachlan’s on board, and I have a meeting with Reese on Tuesday.”
“Go on,” he says softly.
“I know I could wait until then to present it to her or even fax it over, but what if her Monday is swamped and she doesn’t get time to go over it?”
“It could happen,” he agrees.
“I was thinking of dropping it off to her.” I hesitate. “Today. Like, now.”
“Why are you waiting? I think it’s a great idea. Give her time to read over it.”
“I can’t. I just saw her at the gas station. Half-shaven, of course,” I spit at him, shaking my head.
“Oh, shit. So she saw you?” He snickers.
“Oh, yeah. Pointed out the obvious.”
“Doesn’t she have a boyfriend? Maybe today’s not a good idea.” He’s fucking confusing.
“It’s work related. I’m not at all interested in her, not like that. I mean, yeah, she’s gorgeous, but I’m not going over to bust up her relationship.” If she wanted me too, that would be a different story.
“For fuck’s sake, get your ass over there,” Ava yells through the phone. “And wear your blue Henley.”
“I was thinking my black dress shirt.”
“No, you look better in blue and black dress shirt says business,” she answers flatly.
“It is business, Ava.”
“Uh, huh. Get your ass over there and be charming, like your brother. Sweep her off her fucking feet,” Ava directs.
“It’s business. She has a boyfriend.”
“Well, change that.” Fucking Ava.
“I’m not that kind of man,” I argue.
“Maybe not, but you’re also not a chicken shit. Get your ass over there.” How in the hell does Riley stand her?
“I’m going. Later.” I hang up the phone and head over to my closet, grabbing my black dress shirt from the hanger. “She has a boyfriend, and I’m not interested in her anyway,” I growl out loud.