I will.
I absolutely will call him—I’m not sure when, but soon.
ELEVEN
Kai
“Itold you she doesn’t stay in one place too long,” Logan says as he shakes his head. He looks at me with sympathy, like he knew this would be the result of my time with Ava.
She’s left an imprint deep in my heart. It aches when I think about her.How is that possible?We just met. I was ready to see where things would go, and she said she would be staying around for a bit.
“I obviously didn’t listen to you,” I say, shaking my head and running my hand down my face as I let out a sigh.
“You might need to let her go.” He doesn’t even look at me as he flips through the papers on the table.
I rub the ache in my chest that keeps growing.
“Can I do that? Won’t she at least be back for the baby shower?” I ask with hope laced in my voice.
It’s been a week since she ran from me and said she’d call. I dig into my pocket and grab my phone.
Kai:
…
I want to say, I miss you. We had fun and shared moments together. Now, it feels different, desperate. Maybe I am?! I settle on…
Kai:
I hope you are doingwell.
Ava:
Thank you for checking in. Things are great here, super busy.
There’s this dull ache settling in my chest. I rub it a few times. When I focus on work and house renovations, it distracts me. Hopefully, all these feelings I have for Ava will subside. The last thing I need in my life is for my heart to be stomped on.
The bachelor life isn’t so bad. I chuckle at myself. There was this glimmer of light and hope when Ava was around. The light inside me is a little dimmer with her not here. From the minute I laid eyes on her until she walked away, she was this unexpected woman who tumbled into my life.
The days dragged on through the week, and by Friday, I walked through my door at 6:30 p.m. My shoulders slump, defeated and ready for the hot tub. I strip down at the doorway and hop in.
With the evening sky above, I stare out onto the water. Doubt raging inside of me.
I sure know how to fucking pick them. Again, alone, wondering how I end up here every time.
It all feels too familiar. After Katrina, she decided the almost three-year relationship was over and left without another word. I moved on and focused on the house projects. And so that’s exactly what I did this weekend to block out the reality of what was abandoned.
I asked my brother, Blake, to come over and help lay some flooring in my soon-to-be office today. I could have installed it myself, but I need some big brother advice. Unfortunately, I don’t think he has figured anything out either. So, not sure how much help he will be.
As a single dad, he focuses on Olivia rather than his love life. His wife up and left him without a word.Gone.It’s only been recently that she’sbeen calling, he told me. She said parenting was too hard and Olivia would be better off without her.
She always rubbed me the wrong way, but Blake loved her. So, I tolerated her. But after what she did to Olivia, I’m not sure I could face her again. Blake allowing her back into their lives upset me. Not that I don’t want Olivia’s mom around; I want her to be a good influence. What she did to them, I’d never forgive her for, and to be honest, I’m not sure she’s capable of bringing any good into their lives either.
Blake strolls in my front door. “Honey, I’m home.”
“Babycakes, I’m in the office waiting for you.” I chuckle to myself.
Tool belt on, he holds his coffee in one hand and his toolbox in the other. He brings that thing everywhere.
