Personally, Wes was planning on ordering the most expensive plate on the menu, “Who wants an appetizer? You drink, Vale? We could share a bottle of wine?” Or two.
Vale raised a brow, “Are you even old enough to drink?”
“As of last month. Are you?” Wes challenged, interested in knowing his age.
“Five years ago. You like red?”
“Yup.” He didn’t give a shit what they drank.
“Goodie,” Dakota cheered. “You can sneak me some.”
They placed their orders, Ava having to repeat hers because the waitress was unable to hear her soft voice.
“So, Wes,” Vale handed off his menu. “Dakota tells me you play college basketball?”
“He’s good too,” Dakota answered for him. “I bet he’ll be picked up like that,” she snapped her fingers. “Pretty soon he’ll be buying dinner for everyone!”
“I’m not going pro.” Wes had never planned on it.
“What? But you’re so good. The crowd always loves you.”
“I only do it for the scholarship.”
Dakota was taken back, “Don’t you want to be rich and famous?”
Wes almost laughed, “No.”
“Oh, please. Everyone wants to be.”
“I don’t,” Ava and Wes said at the same time.
Dakota huffed, waving a dismissive hand, “That’s ridiculous.”
Vale took back the conversation, “What are you planning on doing?”
Wes reached for a fresh breadstick that was just brought over, “I’m not really sure. My major’s accounting, so that narrows it down.”
Dakota perked up after being disappointed from his news of not going pro, “Well, that’s good. Accountants can make lots of money.”
Vale ignored his sister, his attention aimed at the innocent sex appeal next to him, “What about you, Ava?”
“I work at a bakery. I love to bake cupcakes.”
“Mm,” he leered at her in such a way one knew he was imagining her as the cupcake, wanting to lick all the frosting off. “I’d like to try one.”
Ava was oblivious, “We’re open every day.”
“Or maybe you could bring some to my place…”
“Appetizers are here!” Wes announced a little too loudly, interrupting the two.
Wes was aware of every move Vale made throughout dinner, not liking that his chair kept getting closer and closer to Ava’s.
“You have soft skin,” Vale admired, their forearms now touching, rubbing together every time they moved.
“It’s called moisturizing,” Wes sneered, offering over the bread. “Breadstick?”
Dinner was unbearable. Vale took every opportunity to flirt with Ava, who fortunately didn’t flirt back, too shy.
“This is so much fun!” Dakota proclaimed halfway through.
“Best night ever,” Wes sarcastically bit out.
Dakota squeezed his thigh, smiling, not cluing in to his sarcastic tone.
Ava snorted into her napkin, trying to conceal her laughter.
“You okay?” Vale patted her back like she was choking.
“Fine, wrong pipe,” she coughed, hiding a smirk behind the white cloth, meeting Wes’s eyes for the first time since they had sat down.
He winked at her and the flush of red on her cheeks made him far too happy. This dinner made it clear that Ava Stone would always be his greatest weakness.
Vale’s phone chirped and he excused himself, stepping outside.
“I need to use the ladies room.” Dakota pointed to her plate, “I’m done, if the waiter comes by.”
“What do you think of Vale?” Wes asked when she was out of earshot, leaning onto the table with his forearms.
Ava moved pasta around with her fork, “Are you and her together?”
“I asked you first.”
Ava half-shrugged, still playing with her damn food, “He’s alright.”
“What, cocky not your thing?”
“He’s not cocky,” she defended.
Wes’s jaw clenched, biting back a nasty remark. His jealousy was about to erupt.
“Don’t date Dakota, okay?” She uttered under her breath.
“She’s hot.” Wes was purposely trying to get a reaction.
The wince he caught under her shield of hair almost made him feel better. Almost.
“You can do better.”
“I thought you two were friends?”
“This isn’t the first blind date she set me up on,” Ava revealed, setting the fork down and brushing the hair from her face.
Wes took the glass of wine he hadn’t planned on drinking and finished it in one swallow.
“The first guy was in his late-twenties,” Ava giggled at the memory. “He was already balding with a beer gut. The second guy wore about twenty gold chains around his neck, with pants sagging to his kneecaps.”
Wes laughed, “I bet those were fun.”
Ava grinned, “Best nights of my life.”
Wes grinned back.
“What are you two smiling about?” Dakota joined them, ruffling Wes’s hair.
He didn’t like it.
“I was telling Wes all about the blind dates you set me up on.”
“Well somebody had to do something,” Dakota drawled, believing she was doing Ava a favor. “She hasn’t dated anyone since you.”
Wes’s stomach flipped, his happiness reaching euphoria.
“I knew it was because of her self-esteem.” Dakota drank the rest of her brother’s wine, wiping the corners of her mouth with her cloth napkin. “She needed to see that it was possible for guys to be interested in her.”
“And that was the best you could come up with?” Ava twisted her hair around her shoulder, playing with the ends, face growing red. “What do I keep telling you? I’m not interested in dating.”
“What are you planning on doing then? Getting some cats?” Dakota provoked, pouring the rest of the wine into her brother’s glass.
“That’s a great idea,” Ava pronounced, leaning back into her chair with crossed arms.
Wes had never heard her talk back. He was proud.
“I think so too,” Wes couldn’t help but agree.
Dakota turned her head to him, “What?”
“That she should just get some cats,” Wes stated, thinking it was an excellent plan.
Dakota sighed, drinking more of her brother’s wine, “Yeah, I guess it will be hard for someone like her to find somebody.”
That wasn’t what Wes had meant, and he was about to clarify when Ava spoke up first, surprising them all.
“I’m really getting tired of the way you treat me. So I’m fat and ugly. A true friend wouldn’t care.”
Wes sat up straighter, “You called her fat?”
Dakota took out lip gloss from her clutch, “Not exactly.”
At the same time Ava answered, “Yes.”
Why the hell would someone say that? Ava had curves. Sexy, sinful curves.
Don’t even get him started on the ugly part.
Dakota and Ava glared at one another.
Vale came back, touching Ava’s bare shoulder, “Sorry that took so long. Minor emergency at the office. All better now.”
Dakota pointed her finger at her brother, still glaring at Ava, “My brother’s hot and I fixed you up with him!”
“I never asked you to!” Ava shouted (in all fairness, it was her version of a shout, which would only register as a raised voice to others). Ava got up, the chair scraping behind her. “Thank you for the dinner Vale, but I’ve suddenly had a wakeup call and need to leave.”
The table fell silent, all three of them stunned; more so Wes and Dakota, who had never seen Ava stand up for herself.
“Excuse me,” Wes said over his shoulder as he went after her.
Ava must have sprinted to her car. She was already pulling away from the curb when he caught up.
Dakota had followed behind him, anger flaring in her eyes, “Well that was
rude. I can’t believe you ditched me to go after her! I won’t put up with that in a boyfriend.”
“Dakota, let me make something clear.” Wes was fuming over not catching Ava, Dakota insulting Ava, and being on a surprise double-fucking-date with Ava. “I’ve been trying to be nice. You seemed lonelier than me. I’m not interested in becoming your boyfriend, nor am I interested in you.”
The tears forming in her eyes would have made him feel bad if she hadn’t been such a bitch to his girl.
Wes left her there to go to his own car.
Vale stopped him on his way out of the restaurant, “Where’d she go? Dakota said all I had to do was be nice to her and she’d be an easy lay.”
Wes couldn’t hold it back anymore. He swung his fist and punched the guy.
He got in his car and drove, passing by Ava’s street more than once. To keep himself from going to Ava’s door, he showed up at Ryder’s unannounced. Ryder was reading. Wes took a seat on the couch, turned on the television, and watched silently next to him, crashing on his couch when it got too late.
Ryder never questioned him, only threw him a blanket.
Chapter 57
Brave
Ava was still on a high from the previous night, humming while she wiped off a dirty table. She had never stood up for herself before. It was exhilarating.
She didn’t know why it had been that moment, but she didn’t care. All she knew was she was tired of the way Dakota treated her. She deserved better than that. She vowed from then on to only surround herself with those who uplifted her, those she admired. Like the Baxters.
“Ava!” Dick barked from the kitchen entryway. “Get over here.”
What now? She thought, tossing the rag into the dirty bin behind the counters.
He thrust an envelope into her hands, retreating back to his father’s office.
Payday. She had forgotten. Out of curiosity she opened it, her jaw hitting the ground. It was next to nothing! She pulled it all the way out. The jerk had taken out expenses he felt she was responsible for. This wasn’t the first time he had done this, but it would be the last.
Ava barged into his office. Her stomach was a knotted mess of nerves but she careened forward, slapping the paper on the desk, “The coffeemaker breaking wasn’t my fault.”
Dick didn’t even glance at it, “You were the last to use it.”
“I’m the only one who uses it!” That was mostly true.
“There you go.” Dick handed it back to her.
“I’m tired of being fined for things that are out of my control. That thing was ancient. I’m surprised it lasted this long. Even your dad went on and on about needing to get a new one, but he was loyal and didn’t want to give up on it just yet!”
Ava didn’t know why she’d told him all of that. She was fired up and couldn’t hold it in, “And another thing! If you don’t give me the time to experiment, then I won’t be coming up with any new flavors. Also, I want a percentage of the sales they make.”
Her mouth threw the last one in, but she stood her ground, liking the idea. No, loving it. Her cupcakes were the bakery’s number one sellers.
“Darlin’ you don’t get to make demands. Now get back to work.”
“Great idea, thanks for thinking of it,”
Puzzled, he looked up, “Idea?”
She nodded, “Yes. I’m taking the rest of the day off. I need to take care of something.”
She left him in a state of bewilderment.
On the way out she grabbed her purse, halted at the door, turned back (ignoring Dick, who was standing at the kitchen entryway, hands on his hips), and retrieved a peanut butter and honey cupcake.
The drive was short, which Ava was thankful for. She wanted to do this before the adrenaline wore off.
She knocked on the front door.
Mrs. Denlow answered the door, “Ava, what a wonderful surprise!”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Denlow,” she wiped her feet on the welcome mat before stepping in.
“Will you ever call me by my first name?”
Ava avoided the question, hearing it every time they saw one another, “I came with something important to discuss with your husband. Is he available?”
Trying not to chuckle at how serious Ava was being, Mrs. Denlow led her to the living room, where Mr. Denlow was doing a puzzle.
“Look who’s here!” Mrs. Denlow announced.
Mr. Denlow glanced up, a bright smile when he saw her, “Ava! I was wondering when you’d come visit me again. It’s been over a week! I still need to finish teaching you your poker face.”
“I know, I’m sorry, but today I didn’t come to visit.” Ava took in a deep breath, letting the words out with her exhale, “Your son doesn’t love the bakery the way we do, and I don’t want to see it go under. Let me run it. I know I have problems with numbers and words, but I swear to you I’ll work triple time to keep everything running.”
Mrs. Denlow guided her to the couch, “Dear, sit down before you pass out.”
Ava did what she was told, ready to faint after she had just made the offer. She could do it though. She knew she could. The bakery was like home to her.
A glass of over-sweetened lemonade was handed to her.
Mr. Denlow waited to speak until she had taken a large gulp, “A bakery takes a lot of work.”
“Yes, sir,” she confirmed around the glass.
Talking more to himself, he stared at a painting above her head, “You basically already do it all. Have been for some time.” He slammed his fist on the card table, tiny puzzle pieces spilling over the side. Both women jumped. “Should have thought of this sooner!” He extended his hand out to Ava, “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Really?” Was her lame response.
“Won’t happen overnight. I’ll have to train you, but yes. I think it’s a fine idea. Wasn’t really wanting to go back to working so many hours anyway. Ready to be home with the love of my life, woo her in all the ways I’ve been too busy for in the past few decades. Now, you gonna shake my hand or what?”
“Oh, yes,” Ava accepted with a firm shake. “I won’t disappoint you.”
Mr. Denlow patted the top of her hand, “I know. Ready for more poker?”
“Not today. I’ll come by on my day off.” Ava hugged them both, giving them a kiss on the cheek.
Ava stood on their front porch, eyes closed, sunshine beating down on her. She had done it, she was going after her dream. She wanted to celebrate. She drove to the one person her mind kept thinking of since the second she’d decided to stand up to Dick.
The adrenaline in her veins kept her from doubting her decision. The endorphins had her believing she was ready to conquer the world; a new feeling that was almost as good as being in love.
For the second time that day she knocked on a door.
Mrs. Baxter opened it, “Ava!”
For the third time that day she got straight to the point, afraid any moment now her newfound boldness would disappear, “Is Wes home?”
“He’s in his room.”
Mrs. Baxter called after her as she ascended the stairs, “I think he’s changing. He just got out of the shower after finishing at the gym with his dad.”
Sure enough, when Ava entered Wes was in his room, pulling boxer briefs on over his naked body.
“Knock much…” Wes faded out when he saw who it was. He lifted the briefs up the rest of the way, eyes never wavering from hers.
For the second time that day, she exhaled and the words expelled from her mouth, “I did it! I stood up to my boss, or rather my boss’s son. It was amazing.” She began walking the length of his room, talking with her hands, words rapidly flowing from her with no filter, “Then I went to his house. My boss’s, not his son’s. I asked to be in charge. Me! How crazy is that?! What’s even crazier is he said yes. Yes!” Her hands slapped her thighs, still not believing it to be true.
Wes was observing her like she had lost her mind. Maybe she had.
>
“The whole time it was happening I kept thinking of you. I’m always thinking of you. Then when he accepted my offer you were the first person I wanted to tell. You’re always the first person I want to share things with.” She stopped her pacing. “I never stopped loving you. You are the one person I was meant to love. The only person I want to love. I needed you to know that.”
Wes ran a hand through his wet hair, “I think you and I have different versions of love.”
“I think you’re right. You have the kind that never doubts or has insecurities. Mine is the kind that never felt worthy,” Ava spoke from the heart, revealing everything. “They’re the same in their strength, though. I should have never let you believe Erick kissed me or that I didn’t want you anymore. I thought you deserved better. I believed I was holding you back. Maybe I was, maybe I will, I don’t know. I still have all these insecurities to work out, but I’m done holding back from you.”
Her breathing was fast, her chest rising heavily.
Wes tugged the ends of his hair, a dazed expression on his face as he looked down at the carpet, “Are you telling me you only broke up with me because you didn’t think you were good enough?”
“Yes.” Her adrenaline was beginning to fade.
“You didn’t think I deserved a say in this, on what I thought was good for me? What I wanted?!” He lifted his head, his body red with anger. “You practically destroyed me. Fuck, Ava. And now you’re here, wanting me back?”
“No, I just needed you to know.”
“No? You don’t want me back?”
“I do, but I don’t expect you to want me.”
“So, what? All that fucking pain you put me through was for my own good?”
All earlier happiness vanished, “I thought–”
“No, you didn’t think. If you cared about what was good for me you never would have left me. You never would have broken my fucking heart.”
“I thought I was setting you free.”
“That’s bullshit. Such fucking bullshit. God!” He roared, beginning his own pacing, “You need to leave. I can’t look at you right now.”
“Can we talk about this?”
“What’s there to talk about, huh?”
She headed towards the door, “You’re right.”
“No, you’re right,” Wes blocked her way, arms crossed over his chest, towering over her. “Let’s talk about this, shall we? Let’s talk about how the first year we were apart I can hardly remember it, in a fog and so fucking depressed I couldn’t eat or sleep. Or maybe this past year where I was determined to find a new life for myself that didn’t include you. I actually started to feel happy again. I even went on a few dates, slept with a few of them too.” His biting laugh had her flinching. “Oh, did that hurt? Couldn’t have matched the guilt I felt right after. Decided I was more of a commitment kind of guy, decided not to sleep with a girl until I was sure I cared for her. This year I was ready to see if I could find a girl like that. You want me to keep going? You want to keep talking about this?”
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