Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
"I lied," I say, shrugging. "He was annoying me."
Seraphina giggles.
"The point is, he really didn't like hearing about my non-existent hot neighbor." I recount how I found him in my bedroom and lost my towel, which they find hysterical, naturally. "And then things happened. Last night, after dinner, we slept together."
"Go back to these things that happened. Are you talking about sex things or talking things?" Nova asks.
My face heats, which seems to be all the answer she needs because she high-fives Seraphina.
"So…what now?" Emelia asks.
"He said we don't have to tell anyone."
"What the fuck?" Nova and Emelia both growl at the same time.
"It's not like that," I hurry to say, before they decide to kill him. I know them. They would absolutely drive to the stadium and kick his ass. "Um, the whole reason he hasn't made a move is that he knows that I don't want people to know. He assumed I wouldn't want to be with him at all because of what everyone would say." I feel like a jerk. "He said that he's okay with us not telling anyone to make me happy. But then he told me that if it were up to him, he'd have a ring on my finger already."
"Oh." Seraphina's eyes go wide. "Oh, wow."
Emelia and Nova are looking at me roughly the same way.
"I don't know what to do!" I cry softly.
"What do you want to do, Ava?" Nova asks. "Because whatever that is, that's what you do. Fuck what anyone else has to say, you do what'll make you happy."
Seraphina and Emelia nod their agreement.
"What if…" I lick my lips. "What if what I want to do might ruin both of our lives? And our parents' lives?"
"Fuck that noise," Nova growls. "You two are grown adults. You didn't even know each other until a year ago. You can't help that you fell in love, just like your parents can't help that they fell in love. Anyone who holds that against you needs to get their goddamn heads on straight, because there is absolutely nothing wrong with it."
"Hard agree," Seraphina says, nodding firmly.
"What she said," Emelia agrees. "You aren't related by blood. Your parents have been married for what? Five weeks? Anyone who wants to judge the two of you can go kick rocks."
They're right. I know they are, but…
"What if our parents freak out? I don't want this to ruin their relationship. I'll never be able to forgive myself if I'm the reason my mom ends up alone."
Emelia reaches for my hand, squeezing my fingers. "The only way you'll ever know for sure is if you talk to them, hon. I know your mom, and I know that, more than anything, she just wants you happy. If Dawson makes you happy, she's going to be on your side."
She makes it sound so easy. They make it sound so damn logical. But it feels the exact opposite. This is a mountain, and I'm seriously fucking worried that dragons live at the top.
I have to find out, though. For Dawson's sake, I have to face that fear and just…climb. If I don't, I'm going to ruin us before we ever had a chance. Out of all the possible ways this could end, I think that one is the worst.
Chapter Eight
Ava
I'm so nervous that I'm shaking when I knock on my mom's front door a little after noon. But I plant my feet, refusing to turn and flee back to the safety of my car. I have to do this. I need to do this.
I see her face light up through the glass pane before she flings the door open for me, dressed like she's on her way out.
"Ava, sweetheart!" she cries softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Um, better. Are you…were you going somewhere?"
"Nope." She smiles, looping her arm through mine. "I just got home from running errands. We needed a few things for the cruise."
"Oh." I step into the house, clocking their luggage at the bottom of the staircase. There's an entire mountain of it. "You're taking all of that?"
She laughs, her gaze running over the bags. "You know I like to be prepared."
"Clearly." I fidget nervously. "Can we talk?"
She turns back to me, something in her gaze that I can't quite read. "Is this about you and Dawson?"
My mind goes blank. Every thought in it just…flees.
When I was little and did something wrong, I used to run and hide in my pile of stuffed animals. I guess, in my mind, I thought if she couldn't find me, she couldn't be upset with me. Part of me wants to do that again right now. Just run and hide so she can't be disappointed.
"What?" I squeak instead.
"Oh, don't give me that," she says, her lips pursed. "I'm not blind, you know. I see the way the two of you look at each other. I've seen it since you met."