“I forgot today was Fourth of July. Do you guys mind?”
Lucas waved her off. “Don't worry about us. Sounds like you have bigger problems to face. Like the fact yourtemporarystay just got more complicated.”
Ava let Noah lead her back into the cabin, her mind racing. Lucas was right. Every time she was around Owen, being in Cedar Falls felt a little less temporary. And she didn't know what that meant for her life and career in New York.
Chapter 25
The Date
Owen walked through the house, checking for anything out of place before grabbing the picnic basket and blanket on his way out the door. If everything went well, he planned on having Ava in his home, and more importantly in his bed, tonight. Cleaning the house from top to bottom had the added benefit of distracting Owen from overthinking what was going on between him and Ava. Last night meant something to him, and he was sure it meant something to Ava, too. What that was, he would find out tonight.
He climbed in the truck, swiping some dirt off the bench seat where Ava would sit. Then he rolled up his sleeves a few times for good measure. She thought he didn’t notice when she stared at his arms, but he knew her weakness, and he wasn’t above exploiting it tonight. With a glance in the rear-view mirror at his appearance, he cranked on the truck and left to pick up Ava.
He’d picked Ava up countless times in this very truck. From the airport, from the cabin, from the lake. And yet, nervousness strummedthrough his chest. This time was different. This time, there was more at stake.
He resisted fidgeting with his hair and focused on driving around the lake and navigating through the many people milling about downtown for the holiday. The fireworks over the lake drew a significant crowd of visitors each year, who often stayed the week and brought a much-welcome economic boost to Cedar Falls. His café included.
And soon the bed-and-breakfast.
A weight had shifted off his shoulders when Ava had learned the truth about the building. He had no more secrets to hide from her, but he had Avery to consider. He couldn’t take things any further with her until they were on the same page about Avery. The nervousness renewed at the thought.
I can’t screw this up. Avery can’t have another person in and out of his life.
He approached the cabin and drove more calmly down the gravel than he had this morning. Bringing the truck to a stop, he parked and checked his reflection a final time in the mirror before exiting. He pulled his phone out to check the time, his stomach sinking at the awaiting message.
Tori:Don’t forget our date. My ex arrives this weekend. I want to make a spectacle.
Tori:Enjoy the new pipes in the building. Hope those aren’t the only pipes I should expect.
Tori had been the furthest person from his mind since last night. He’d forgotten about the date he’d agreed to in his anger toward Ava.
He shoved the phone back in his pocket and knocked on the cabin door. He'd deal with Tori later and find a way out of their agreement. Maybe he could offer someone else in his place.
The door swung open to reveal Lucas on the other side. “Remembered to use the door this time, I see.”
“Sorry about that earlier.” Owen scratched the back of his neck.
“Don’t worry about it. Ava can piss off the best of us.” Lucas stepped back to let Owen inside the cabin. Except something seemed off. Owen glanced around the doorway, trying to figure out what it was. The space above the door frame clued him in.
“What happened to the loon alarm?”
Lucas led him to the dining table a few feet away. Scotch tape poorly held together the loon and it nowhere resembled its normal shape.
“It fell and broke yesterday. Ava and Noah were trying to fit it back together. You can see how well that turned out.”
Owen picked up the misshapen loon and turned it over in his hands. Nostalgia washed over him. Walking into the cabin felt weird without its welcoming croon.
“Something tells me they were still high when they attempted this,” Owen said.
“You would be right,” Noah answered, joining them at the table. “Not one of our better ideas.”
“Mind if I try to fix it? I've got better tools at my place,” Owen asked the brothers. He knew how much Ava loved that alarm. It was a piece of her dad's memory.
Noah gave him a big smile, so similar to Ava's. “That'd be great. Thanks, Owen.” Noah clapped his shoulder and walked away to the kitchen.
Lucas stared at him and gave a nod after a moment. “We'd appreciate it.” Lucas looked down at the Rolex on his wrist, then walked tothe foot of the stairs. “Dodo, get your ass in gear,” he yelled upstairs to where she was getting ready.
“She always hated that nickname,” Owen laughed.
