by Siera London
"He's the one with the three adult children and five grandkids living in the house." A vestige of humor at Ava's expense shone in her eyes.
"That's the one." Ava curled her fingers against her temples forcing a breath through her pursed lips. A high definition image of the aged, wide girthed man danced a gig across her mental LCD screen and she cringed.
"Save tomorrow's worries for tomorrow. Tonight is about us having fun. This isn't a matchmaking attempt by Granny Lou Incorporated. Come on, Ava please." Lina flashed her million-dollar smile. Ava was unmoved. The queen of improvisation, her friend switched tactics.
Lina's pout heaped on another layer of ever-present guilt, but she couldn't give her family or friend what they wanted. They wanted her to be open, welcome a date with a nice man, and be social. But being social led to meeting new people. Meeting new people, led to making connections. Connecting to new people, especially men, made you vulnerable. She didn't want to be vulnerable. Not ever again.
"Argh, stop making me feel bad, Lina."
"So let me get this straight," Lina stepped closer, their shoulders near touching. "At the tender age of twenty-six you prefer to be alone on Saturday night with thoughts of a dreadful Sunday dinner looming rather than walk into a fundraising gala with me?" As the reality of Lina's words settled between them Ava felt the sadness reflected in Lina's gaze.
"You'll be with Jace." Ava stated matter of fact. "I'll spend the night watching the two of you doing the humpty dance."
"Ewe, I am so not into watchers," Lina said, crinkling her nose. Her best friend always kept the mood light.
"You know what I mean. Besides, I think I forgot my ticket." She diverted her eyes to heaven offering a silent forgive me Lord but desperate times required desperate measures.
"Excuse deferred. It's your work anniversary. The Shell Cove Medical Foundation covered your ticket price. Now apologize to the Lord for lying," Lina countered with a snap of her fingers. "The ticket is a formality. Your name is on the attendee list."
Ava quickly scanned her mental Rolodex for any plausible excuse that would get her back to the safety of home.
"You can meet some new people tonight. There are other nurses here. They're our peeps, waiting behind these doors." More people entered the foyer, bubbly voices talking one over the other, eager to join the festivities. The rhythmic beat drawing them into the ballroom like a pied piper.
Ava raised a brow in doubt. She wasn't likely to meet a single person. She knew it, so did Lina.
"Stop worrying about everything. It's a party packed to capacity with gray suit wearing administrators. A few pocket protector wearing clinical researchers and a truckload of fashion deficit doctors." Lina fashioned a mock pocket protector in the middle of her leather bustier, then mimicked stuffing it with pens. Ava released a snort of laughter at her friend's antics.
"Nothing is going to happen. Do this as a gift to me."
A gift. She had little reserve left in her emotional tank to offer anyone. Ava needed to gift herself a box of hope. One big enough to drown out the self doubt, the emptiness that plagued most aspects of her life.
Some days the emptiness weighed so heavy on her chest that emotional collapse seemed better than to greet another day of nothingness. The loneliness abated with work. Tending her garden helped, but the emptiness was a stealth army slowly advancing through her existence. It threatened to devour the fragile threads of a new beginning she desperately clung to.
Relationships and connections were out of the question, but the truth couldn't be denied. She was lonely. Tonight was a beacon cast in a sea of endless night. She was all dressed up with somewhere to go. Heck, she was here lingering in the foyer, on the outside catching glimpses of life through the cracks.
She had reason to celebrate. Her Navy nurse commissioning application was complete except for the employer endorsement. The unsuspecting, navy blue, file folder containing her future had been hand delivered to Kathryn Quest, the pediatric nurse manager this morning. Perhaps, one night of fun to capstone the budding joy she felt at having taken this uncertain step would fuel her emotional tank. Only two people knew what she had done. Lina wasn't one of them.
Ava proffered her elbow in acceptance. This was an evening dedicated to goodwill, and she had her best friend to share it with. She worked side by side with several of the attendees. Her safe zones were home and work-everything would be fine. Lina interlocked their elbows, gently guiding Ava to the ballroom doors.
"Okay, I'll take the plunge."
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Note from Siera London
Thank you for reading the Men of Endurance Limited Edition Collection. The people and places in Endurance were birthed through the collaborative creativity of Olivia Gaines and yours truly. So if you loved this escape to Endurance, please do us a solid by leaving a review.
Just in case you’re wondering, the Men of Endurance will be back this holiday season with more small town heartwarming stories.
Siera London’s Enduring Christmas
Christmas brings the magic of everlasting love to another single father this holiday season.
Xenobia Yardell can smile through hurt, pain, and disappointment. In fact, the school teacher has been wearing a cheery facade since arriving in the small town of Endurance. That is, until Luke Cole kisses her. His touch pushes all the right buttons, and Xenobia’s spitting mad over the undeniable attraction.
Luke Cole doesn’t suffer fools or indecisive women. X wants him-end of story. He has no idea why she’s angry about their one kiss, but he has no intention of enduring another Christmas alone.
Enduring Christmas
Also by Siera London
The Bachelors of Shell Cove Series
Chasing Ava
Convincing Lina
Catching Rebecca
Claiming Janna
Second Chance Christmas
Blindsided: A Lady Guardians Crossover Novella
The Fiery Fairy Tales Series
Chasing Flames
Concealing Fire
Commanding Heat
The Kelvinian Warrior Series
Cindra: A Paranormal Cinderella Tale
Detective MaKenzie Young Series
The Last File
The Men of Endurance Series
Staying The Course
Going The Distance
All Out of Love
About the Author
Siera London is the USA Today Bestselling & Award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and crime fiction. She crafts stories of diverse characters navigating the challenges and triumphs to find lasting love. Intelligence, wit, emotion, drama, and romance are between the covers of every Siera London novel. Siera lives in California with her husband, and a color patch tabby named Frie.
Siera’s Contact Information
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