Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“I like Erik, but I really like you, too.” She risks another touch, this time letting the tips of her fingers rest on the back of my hand.
Erik has been quiet through all of this, sitting there drinking his beer while he sizes me up. Now he says, “What about Gray?”
Ava bites her lip.
I narrow my eyes at Ava’s so-called friend. “Gray what?”
“My friend Gray is interested in Ava, and the feeling is mutual.”
Again: What. The fuck.
Ava drops her head into her hands, and when she comes up, her cheeks are flushed even brighter than they’d been. “For someone with no experience, I’m coming across like a massive flirt. And I’m really not.”
She pushes her chair back and looks like she wants to flee, but Erik takes her hand. “Relax. You don’t need to stress about this. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
I watch her chest lift with an inhale and her shoulders relax as she lets out the breath. Turning back to me, she speaks in a rush. “It feels like I’m suddenly interested in everyone, but that’s not the case. I’ve turned down dates over the past couple of years because no one appealed to me, and I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. Now, I’ve met you, and I think you’re wonderful, and there’s Erik, and I just met Gray. It’s all so confusing.”
“We’re not talking about marriage here,” Erik says, putting a hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine to date several people and find out who and what you like.”
The caveman inside me wants to fling Ava over my shoulder, carry her out of here, and keep her far, far away from Erik and whoever the fuck Gray is, but the more modern-day part of me appreciates the fact that the man is encouraging her to be comfortable with her desires.
With the upbringing she described, I’m sure she’s dealt with a lot of shame, and I can’t even imagine how much bravery it’s requiring for her to come in here and admit that she’s attracted to three men.
“He’s right.” I meet Erik’s eyes before putting my attention fully on Ava. “There’s no pressure in this situation. Not from me, anyway. You can’t be expected to choose someone before you’ve even gone on dates.”
Her bright eyes go big. “You’d be willing to date me, even if I’m also seeing Erik? I have no idea about Gray,” she adds, turning to Erik, who gives her an indulgent smile.
When she looks back at me, I say, “I typically prefer to be all in on one woman and have her be all in for me, but yeah. You need an opportunity to explore your options.”
“It would only be the three of you I want to date. No one else.”
“We’ll take it slow and figure things out as we go,” I tell her.
Erik’s looking at me differently now. He didn’t come here to try to get between us, and it’s clear he has Ava’s best interests at heart. I can respect that.
“When can I take you out?” I ask her.
Before she can answer, Erik moves to stand. “Stay and have dinner tonight. If that’s okay with you?” he asks Ava. “I can pick you up later.”
As she nods, I say, “I’ll make sure she gets home safely.”
Giving me a single nod, he extends his hand again. “Good to meet you, Brax.”
“Same.” It’s an odd situation. We’re adversaries of a sort, but we’re also on the same side when it comes to wanting Ava to be happy.
When all three of us are standing, Ava gives Erik a hug goodbye, one that I’m happy to see is brief.
AVA
After some touch-and-go moments, tonight is turning out better than I let myself imagine, and it’s such a relief to have everything out in the open.
Which is an ironic observation, considering I chose an out-of-the-way restaurant, and am hoping no one from my family or church ever finds out what I’m doing and who I’m spending time with.
But I push all of that aside right now, because Brax is looking at me in that way Brax does. The way that makes me feel like the only woman in the world.
“What are you ordering?” he asks again with an incredulous laugh.
I turn my menu toward him and point. “Togarashi spiced ahi. I’ll pay for my meal, though. It’s a pricey item.”
“You absolutely will not. That’s not how dates work. Not with me, anyway.”
“The chicken looks good, too.”
“Ava, I don’t have much of a temper, but if you change your order based on the cost of the food, I will get ticked off.”
Is it normal that the flare of heat in his eyes makes me feel excited instead of scared? Scared too, though, like a good kind of scared.
It’s something I’ve never seen from him before, and I think I like it.