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)
Jerking away from Aaron, I fling the door open, burst outside and race to my car, jumping in and locking the doors. I’m shaking so hard I can barely get the engine started.
I drive straight back home and hurry up to my apartment. I’ve never been more grateful for my complex’s security measures. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I wouldn’t put it past my father and Aaron to try to force me into marriage. For my own good, of course.
After a few minutes of deep breathing, I start to feel calmer. My first impulse is to tell my men what’s happened, so I go into the four-way chat.
BRAX
I’m in my kitchen when my phone pings. I check it to see a message from Ava. “My parents just informed me that they’ve chosen a husband for me.”
Fuck. I understood that Ava’s church was conservative, but this still shocks me. No wonder she’s been hiding her dating life.
Erik responds, “Oh no. Are you okay? Are you still with them?”
Ava says, “No, I left. My dad got really mad when I said no, and I was scared.”
Beyond a flare of anger, relief makes me weak in the knees. The thought of her being forced to marry someone she doesn’t love is bad enough, but I have to admit that the thought of losing her twists me up inside. Seeing her is the highlight of my day, my week … my life.
If I didn’t know it would upset her and make things worse, I’d find her parents and give them a piece of my mind.
Gray says, “Good for you standing up to them. Are you safe now?”
I finally get my head out of my ass and join in the conversation. “Are you at home? We can come over. Or you can come here. I just made a big pot of spaghetti sauce.”
Gray: “I’m a pasta fan.”
Erik: “Sounds good. Ava, I’ll drive you.”
“I’m ready when you are,” she answers.
I set the phone down and get to work boiling water for the noodles. It’s good that Ava has all three of us to lean on. I can focus on this because I know Erik’s there to look after her and get her here, and Gray will step up as needed.
Teamwork has its advantages.
My mind goes right back to last weekend, and I get hard standing in my kitchen. It was amazing, all of us together like that, making sure her first time was as good as it could be. It was also good that the three of us agreed to give her a break this week and let her body heal and adjust, but I won’t be sorry if she’s ready for more this weekend.
AVA
I’m glad Erik’s giving me a ride over to Brax’s house. I don’t want to be alone tonight, and I’d rather not be in my own vehicle, just in case my family tries to track me down.
We leave a few minutes later. While we’re on the way, my phone rings. “Who is it?” Erik asks.
“I don’t know. It’s a local number, but they’re not in my contacts.”
“Maybe it’s a telemarketer.”
That sounds almost relaxing compared to some of the other possibilities. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I take the call.
“Ava.”
My stomach is instantly tense. “Pastor Williams.” Erik reaches over and gives my hand a comforting squeeze.
I brace myself for more pious-sounding denunciations, like the ones from my brother, and the pastor delivers. “Your parents tell me that you are dating a man from outside the church and disobeying their commands.”
“Yes, that’s true.” I’m pleased that my tone is matter-of-fact.
“I’m saddened to hear it. Salvation is not available to the disobedient, Ava.”
I’m not going to get into a theological discussion with him. “There are many versions of the truth, Pastor. I’m following mine.”
“I am shocked to hear you say such a thing. It may seem right to you now, what you’re doing, but the wages of sin is always death.”
The hand that’s not holding my phone curls into a fist. “My God is more merciful than yours.”
“Then you are worshiping a false god. Come to church tomorrow and repent, before the whole congregation. Let us pray for you, that your heart may be softened before it’s too late.”
“Good night, Pastor.” I end the call without waiting for more and resist the urge to throw my phone right through the windshield.
“Bad?” Erik says.
“About what you’d expect.” I fill him in on the other side of the conversation.
He sighs. “I’m sorry, Ava. I guess you can’t really expect anything else from them, but I know it’s tough.”
“He’s right about my heart getting hard, but not the way he thinks. I’ve had to toughen it up to protect myself from men like him and my brother.”
He gives my hand another squeeze. “You have us now. We’ve got your back.”