by Nova Rain
“No, and I’d appreciate it if you would cut it out,” I groaned, pressing the “on” button on the coffeemaker.
“That same someone is in a crappy mood,” she remarked, halting beside me. “Why?”
“Because I know how this conversation is going to play out,” I stated, shifting my gaze up to hers. “You’ll tell me to start dating Michael, and I’ll tell you I’m not ready to date anybody yet.”
“That sounds about right,” she agreed, shaking her head. “Michael is a great guy, Ava. You’d be lucky to have him.”
“Oh God…” I whispered, tipping my head back. I took in a deep breath, deciding to maintain my composure. An argument with my friend wouldn’t avail either of us. “Penny…” I started, easing my head back down. “How did you feel when you thought Jake had died in that accident?”
“Broken.” Her answer came fast. “What’s your point?”
“That is exactly my point,” I emphasized, raising my tone. “I feel the same way.”
“Ava, I thought Jake was dead. Curtis cheated on you and you broke up with him.” Her voice picked up speed and volume. “I don’t see the resemblance here.”
“Then let me help you see it,” I suggested. “A part of me died when I broke up with that idiot. I wake up in the morning, feeling a hole in my heart. My pain is just too fresh. I need time to pick up the pieces. So, please, respect that and don’t mention Michael again.”
“Okay, but first, I have got to say this,” she claimed, her tone firm. “You should have fucked him up in Ontario. In fact, I thought you would, because of all the texts you sent me on Sunday. ‘Michael this,’ and ‘Michael that…’ Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about you dating him. I mean a one-night stand.”
“I left that last part of Sunday out of those texts,” I informed her, my voice deepening. “There was this pier close to our hotel. I went over there, ready to cry my eyes out again. Michael joined me. He was funny, he was…” I exhaled hard. “Funny. He paid me compliments. I asked him to be my friend. He said he wanted more, so…”
“You shot him down,” Penny ventured a guess, an expression of disapproval tightening her face.
“You knew that already, but what you don’t know, is that he didn’t seem to mind,” I continued. “He was in high spirits all day yesterday. He kept joking around and teased Jake a lot.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but he was putting on a brave face,” she declared, the confidence in her tone puzzling me. “When his cousin Caitlyn died, he kept Jake from snapping. Jake wanted to quit his job at United to mourn her. Michael convinced him not to. Then, they both took some time off, but instead of mourning Caitlyn together, Michael suggested a trip to Jamaica. He tried to distract Jake in every way possible. They went hiking, swimming, visited Bob Marley’s house…”
“He didn’t want to mourn his cousin?” I asked, surprised by her short speech.
“Actually, he was mourning his cousin,” Penny countered. “They were very close. They grew up together. He just hid his sadness from everyone, including Jake. And judging by his reaction back then, he hid his sadness from you, too.”
“That’s all the more reason to not get into a relationship with him,” I commented, grabbing my mug from the counter. “I mean, why should I date someone who doesn’t want to communicate his feelings?”
“Oh, he communicates his good feelings alright,” Penny responded. “It’s the bad feelings he tries to hide.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Ask him,” Penny advised, shrugging her shoulders.
“I need to ask him something else first,” I maintained, my voice returning to its normal standards. “You must have seen that strange plane he and Jake are flying. I thought it would make a good story. What about you?”
“It would make a funny story, that’s for sure.” She giggled. “Yeah, why not? Just tell him his name won’t come out in the interview. He’s pretty weird about his anonymity.”
“Thanks, Penny,” I gave a nod of appreciation.
“Anytime, girl.” She winked up at me. “Anytime.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have finally gotten my point across. Penny had not forced the issue. She had understood my need for time and space. Now, I was faced with another challenge: convincing Michael to do an interview. I had no illusions. I knew the odds of him agreeing to this were slim. It was a selfish request, by all means. Still, taking some pictures and researching the plane that had given me a memorable experience was worth it. That way, I would always remember my trip to Ontario,
Chapter Six
Michael
“I know I don’t have the right to make any requests, but I’d like to do a story on the Airbus Beluga. There’s no one better to let people in on its secrets than its pilot. You needn’t worry about your anonymity. I will keep your name out of the interview. Please, think about it. If you say ‘no,’ I’ll understand.
Ava.”
Where the hell did that come from? Is this genuine? Or is it just an excuse to show me what I’m missing?
Staring at the screen of my cell phone in a coffee shop near Montauk Airport, I struggled to wrap my head around what I had just read. At least she was polite. Still, I didn’t have much use for her politeness. She needed to be realistic, because it was crystal-clear to me that she wasn’t. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sent me that text.
“Are there naked women on your screen again?” Jake teased, lifting his coffee cup to his mouth.
“No, man,” I muttered under my breath, tearing my gaze away from the device.
“You only stare so hard at your phone when you browse naked models,” he explained, leaning across the table. “You’re not considering this, are you?”
“Why? Because I crashed and burned in Ontario, or because I could get compromised?” I wondered, a touch of discomfort in my tone.
“We could get compromised,” Jake corrected me. “I don’t need to remind you what could happen if United found out I’m still alive. And Ava is still crying over her lost fiancée. It’s all Penny’s been talking about these days. You didn’t stand a chance.”
“What else is new?” I groaned, pursing my lips.
“It bothers you a lot,” he remarked, his face twisting into an expression of surprise. “It’s strange. Usually, you’re like: ‘The chick didn’t budge? Fine. Some other chick will.’”
“Because I happen to want this particular chick for something more than a one-night stand,” I explained, my tone serious. “I blame you for this, you know.”
“Me?” He pointed to his chest. “Why? What did I do?”
“You told me to go over to her apartment last week,” I added, glaring at him. “I caught her at the worst time imaginable. You know how I get when I see women crying.”
“Yeah, they awaken the overprotective beast in you,” he teased again, flashing me a smile.
“I’m not laughing, Jake,” I spoke in a deeper voice, leaning forward as a young waitress strode past our table.
“You could insist,” he suggested, raising his eyes up to her.
“What?” I pitched my voice higher, wondering why he had focused on that stranger.
“She’s young, she’s attractive…” Jake murmured, watching her walk in our direction. “I’m telling you, she’s perfect.”
“Are you high or something?” I squinted, still clueless as to what he meant. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“One of the oldest tricks in the book,” he implied, a cunning smile forming on his face.
“Ohhhhh….” My brows shot up as I finally figured out what he was getting at. “Waitress!” I raised my hand in the air. “Could you come here for a second?”
The smiling girl indulged me, while I started to plan my next course of action. Jake had a point. This trick was old indeed, but most of the time, it worked. It was simple and a bit mean, but the direct approach hadn’t yielded any results. Romancing her and demonstrating thoughtfuln
ess had both failed. In the coming days though, I would know for sure if I had a chance at dating Ava, or if this would remain wishful thinking.
Chapter Seven
Ava
Forty-eight hours went by after I sent that text to Michael, and, for some reason, I had received no response.
Nah, who was I kidding? I knew exactly why he had ignored me. My rejection was too hard to stomach. His ego couldn’t—or wouldn’t—accept the fact that he and I didn’t have a future together. I could understand his frustration. A handsome man like him wasn’t used to women saying “no” to him. Still, I did have a small complaint. Michael could have texted me back with his answer. It was the professional thing to do, instead of giving me the silent treatment. I would move on to another story and leave him alone.
At the end of the week, Penny and I decided to go out for dinner at “Luigi’s,” the restaurant where “she saw the light” as she used to say. She loved that place, because her relationship with Jake started there. I didn’t object. “Luigi’s” was on the edge of Brooklyn Park, and the food there was fantastic. Whenever I recalled their pizzas and their spaghetti recipes, I felt my mouth filling up with saliva.
With Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore” playing from the speakers, my friend and I strolled into the restaurant. Plates and silverware alike were sparkling in the strong illumination. Tantalizing smells tickled my nose, adding fuel to my anticipation: bacon, molten cheese, sausage and ham to name a few. Both of us wanted a view of the ash trees, so, we selected the table nearest to the glass façade. I flipped the menu cover open, wishing all dilemmas were as pleasant as the one I was in: pasta or pizza?
But, as I was going over meal pictures and prices, I caught movement outside out of the corner of my eye. A couple was strolling down the path, heading for a bench to the left. They seated themselves amid chatter and laughs. Despite the small amount of light, I recognized the man’s face in an instant. It had been just days since the last time I laid eyes on his trimmed beard. The short, black hair around his temples was the second and most definitive clue. Michael Compton… The couple ceased talking altogether and preferred to look into each other’s eyes, still smiling at each other.
As he leaned in, a nasty sensation spread through my insides. Disappointment and anger caused me to cringe. The man I had been pushing away had forgotten all about his failed attempt to convince me into dating him. He had moved on. Then, another feeling was thrown into the mix.
Surprise.
Why on earth was this affecting me? Wasn’t I the one who passed on the opportunity to date him? Wasn’t I the one who wanted to be friends with him and nothing more?
“Earth to Ava. Earth to Ava.” Penny’s voice and her hand being waved in my face snapped me out of my thoughts. My friend was staring at me, a young waitress standing beside her. “We’re waiting for you. What are you having?”
“Excuse me…” I told her, shutting the menu. My mind was a blur when I left the table. All those feelings were thrown together, holding me in a state of indecision. Eating anything was the least of my concerns.
I was striding down the path, without knowing what to do or say for that matter. Part of me wished to complain to him for finding it so easy to forget Ontario. Another part wanted to tell him off for never responding to my last text. Last—and least—I wanted to tell him how healthy it was to date someone else.
Seeing that blonde snuggled up against him sent those last two thoughts into oblivion. What dominated my heart and mind, was the desire to put an end to their tender moment and indeed their night together. I halted ten feet from them and folded my arms across my chest, my gaze on Michael.
“Ava!” He exclaimed, his brows popping up. “What are you doing here? How have you been?”
“I need a word with you, Captain. In private,” I requested, my tone stiff.
“I’ll be right back, Dani,” he said to his girlfriend and rose up from the bench.
“So…” I flashed him a smile of irony. “I guess this is why you’ve been ignoring me. You found yourself a treat.”
“Dani’s got nothing to do with me ignoring you,” Michael claimed. “I just think an interview is a bad idea.”
“Why? Because I turned you down back in Ontario?” I asked, tension speeding up my tone.
“Because it could expose me and Jake, that’s why!” His loud voice and his angry expression should have scared me. After all, he was a big man. It didn’t, though. It just intensified my frustration. “I didn’t like getting shot down, but, believe it or not, the world doesn’t revolve around you, Ava.”
“It definitely didn’t take you long to find someone new,” I remarked, my ironic smile coming back. “How old is she? Twenty-three? Twenty-four?”
“Does it matter?” He answered my question with a question of his own. “And why do you even bother asking? Are you jealous?”
“Have a good night, Michael,” I retorted, unwilling to reply to that. I turned on my heels and rushed back inside, feeling my heart sink. I didn’t want to believe it, but the sweet man in Canada was fake. It was just a façade to hide the rough guy he had been hiding. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been dating that blonde or talking to me like that. I returned to my table with tears in my eyes. I kept my eyes down, because I didn’t want Penny to suspect my turmoil.
“I don’t know what you guys said to each other out there, but now you know,” Penny addressed me in a calm tone.
“What do you mean?” I wondered, grabbing a napkin from the napkin holder.
“That you’re attracted to him,” she explained, leaning forward. “Look at you, girl. You’re a mess, because you saw him with someone else.”
“I’m a mess because he’s fake,” I disagreed, lifting my head to look at her. “The trip to Canada, the romantic hotel, everything was just a trick to get me into bed. And when all that failed, he settled for someone else.”
“Oh boy…” Penny sighed, placing her hands over either cheek. “Let’s take a breath here,” she suggested and rested her forearms on the table. “Quick question: What were you thinking of right before you and Michal started talking?”
“That I wanted to ruin their night together,” I told her, wiping my tears off my face.
“And why is that?” She posed another question, a devilish smile bursting upon her lips.
“Because I didn’t like seeing him with her,” I admitted, my voice but a whisper.
“Then there you have it,” Penny added, her tone slightly louder.
“Maybe, but that’s not the point anymore,” I argued, running my hand through my hair. “Michael is a completely different person to me now. I used to think of him as a sweet, funny, loving man. I didn’t see that man out there. He was rough, he glared at me, he…”
“Wow…” Penny interjected, her eyes wide in mock surprise. “A guy was rough? He glared at you, too? God, that’s shocking!” She put her hand over her chest. “Over the past week, you rejected him and interrupted his date with his new girlfriend. Seriously, what did you expect him to do? Thank you?”
I parted my lips, ready to offer her a rebuttal, but, before I could do so, the view at the entrance prevented me from uttering a word. Michael and the blond walked in, a waiter heading over to them.
“Okay, I’m out of here,” I murmured, leaving my seat once again.
“Hmm…” Penny hummed, cocking an eyebrow as she looked back at them. “Tonight just got a little more interesting.”
“Enjoy,” I continued, hanging my purse over my shoulder.
“Ava, do you want Michael? Prove it. Claim him,” she advised, assuming a more serious expression. “Don’t let her have him.”
“Those two can live happily ever after with my blessings,” I spoke in a sarcastic tone, strutting past our table. Making my way out of that restaurant, there was just one thing on my mind: The company of the trees. They didn’t speak or judge. They just stood there, making this world more beautiful and smelling nicer.
I bypassed the bench where I had found Michael and his girlfriend earlier, settling my gaze on a tall ash tree a few yards down the path. Reaching it, I pulled my purse off my shoulder and slid my back down its trunk, my eyes shut. I felt the hardness of the wood, my mind roaming back to that pier on Lake Huron.
I should have kissed you that night. If I’d done that, there would be no blonde.
The realization brought more tears to my eyes. I could have had him, and none of this would have happened. But that was easier said than done. My broken heart was screaming “stay away or you’ll get hurt again.” I chose to listen to it, and now, I was paying the price for that mistake. I had missed the chance of being with a handsome, caring man. That ship had sailed. He was with someone else now, and, to my dismay, those two seemed to be getting along very well.
“Tonight, I discovered I had to fight two more enemies, other than your ex.” Michael’s stentorian voice shook me to my core. My eyelids snapped open, giving me the view of his large stature in the path in front of me. “Your narrow-mindedness and your cowardice.”
“How long have you been standing there?” I spoke in a low voice, my heart hammering in my chest as he helped me back up.
“Long enough,” he uttered in a relaxed tone. “I’m curious, Ava. What does it take for someone to change your views on something? And what is it that can prompt you into action?”
“Compelling arguments,” I stated, stepping into the path. “Call me a coward again, and I will slap you. I kid you not.”
“Let me remind you what you did tonight, in case you forgot,” he suggested, his jaw hardening. “You came out here, you used the interview as an excuse to hide your anger, you got all ironic because I’m going out with someone else, and you didn’t say whether you were jealous or not. Then, you went back in, you spent ten minutes crying and ditched Penny, probably because you can’t stand seeing me with Dani. Admit it.”