“Huh?”
“You said boyfriend. I didn’t realize it was that serious between you and Owen.”
Her mind blanked.Did I call Owen my boyfriend? Do I want him to be?Her mind supplied the answer immediately.Yes,I do.
“Old habit. We’re taking it slow, getting Avery used to the idea,” she said in a rush.
“That’s why you’re so stressed. The kid,” Lucas said. His matter-of-fact tone grated on her nerves.
“The kid has a name. Avery,” Ava corrected.
“Right. And you’re worried about screwing things up with Avery,” Lucas said. “And if it doesn't work out with Avery, it won't work out with Owen. Therefore, this whole exercise indatingeach other is moot.”
Ava opened her mouth to respond but then snapped it shut when she didn't know what to say. He wasn't wrong, and she'd rather pull her own teeth out than admit that.
“I know how your brain works, Dodo,” Lucas said.
“Stop calling me that.” She glared at him.
He ignored her.
They returned to silence as they drove around Cedar Lake and approached Owen's house. She stopped fidgeting, but her mind turned over Lucas’s words. If Avery didn't like having her around, that would be the end of Ava and Owen for good. The prospect of losing Owen a second time sent a wave of panic through her. She'd already lost her dad, Summer had cut off contact with her, and she was barely speakingto Morgan after the stunt she’d pulled. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing anyone else.
Lucas pulled up to the curb in front of Owen's two-story house on Cedar Lake. The wraparound porch and blue shutters painted a welcoming sight. A bike lay on its side in the front yard and a trail of haphazardly kicked off shoes littered the ground outside the front door. Standing in the middle of the driveway was a less welcome sight. An uncomfortable Owen stood next to a cherry red SUV she assumed was Tori's.
“Alright, get out,” Lucas said in a flat tone.
“You're not going to get my door for me, like a gentleman? Not sure how your date will appreciate your lack of manners.”
“Good, then maybe the date will end quickly, and we can forget it ever happened.”
Ava got out of the car instead of responding. She walked around to join Lucas, who was adjusting the sleeves of his shirt. He never had a wrinkle out of place. With a resigned sigh, he straightened and gestured for Ava to walk ahead of him to their awaiting dates. If you could call an evening of babysitting Avery and Tori’s son for the night, adate.
The bottoms of Lucas's shoes clicked crisply on the pavement. The door to the SUV opened when they were a few paces away, revealing Tori in a little black dress and sky-high stilettos. Even Ava could admit she looked hot.
She slammed the door shut and shook out her hair before giving Lucas a scrutinizing look. “This is him?”
Owen stepped forward to make introductions. “This is Ava and her brother, Lucas. He’ll be your date tonight. Ava andLucas–this is Tori.”
Ava offered a small wave and tried her best not to shoot daggers at Tori. She wasn’t sure she succeeded when Tori ignored her presence entirely and stepped in front of Lucas as if to inspect him. Ava sidled next to Owen, who greeted her much more warmly with a smile and a quick kiss to her hair when he tucked her to his side. She settled in to watch the show between Lucas and Tori, unsure how the two would get along.
“Should we get going, Tori? From what I understand, we have a statement to make.”
“You’ll do just fine for tonight,” Tori purred. “Let’s go.”
Lucas raised a single eyebrow and offered his arm. “Glad I can meet your expectations,” Lucas said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Tori took his arm, and he led her toward the Subaru.
“Don’t wait up,” she tossed over her shoulder as they walked away.
Lucas glanced back at Ava and Owen and rolled his eyes. Ava gave him a thumbs up and mouthed ‘good luck’, which resulted in a second eye roll before he turned around.
Ava and Owen watched them get in the Subaru and back out of the drive, waiting until they were out of sight.
“Now I can give you a proper hello,” Owen said.
He slid his hand from her shoulder to cup the side of Ava’s neck, pulling her into an all-consuming kiss. The pressure of his hand against her sensitive neck melted Ava on the inside. She returned his kiss, bunching his shirt in her hands, urging him even closer to her.
