When they broke apart, they were both out of breath.
“So that went well,” Ava said.
“Every time we kiss goes well.”
Ava laughed at the offended look on his face. “Not that, Lucas and Tori.”
“Right. Already forgot about them,” Owen said. “Who knows, maybe they’ll hit it off.”
“Guess we’ll see.”
Owen guided them toward the house, and Ava’s stomach erupted with nerves. She hadn’t seen Avery since he went to camp, and the very real pressure of the situation hit her. This was her first time around Owen and Avery since they’d becomemore.
They walked into the house and were met with Avery and Zach’s laughter. The sound brought a smile to Ava’s face, and the riot of nerves calmed down to a simmer.
She followed Owen into the kitchen and hung back while he called out to the boys.
“Who wants pizza?”
Moments later, thundering footsteps came down the stairs. Avery appeared in the kitchen with Zach on his heels. The other kid took after Tori’s red hair, though several shades lighter.
“Hi, Ava!” Avery threw his arms around her in a hug when he saw her.
The unexpected affection caught her by surprise. She returned his hug and tried to ignore the slight pang in her heart that happened whenever regret caught up to her.
“Hey there, you loon.”
Avery released her and pointed to his friend. “This is my friend, Zach. He went to camp with me. Oh, did you get my postcard?” His words came out in an excited rush.
“I sure did. Stuck it on the refrigerator and everything,” she said.
Avery grinned at her and then jumped into voicing his preferred pizza topping with his dad and Zach. Ava took a seat on a stool at the island countertop and left the boys to figure things out.
Hours later, she found herself sitting on the same stool, this time with a glass of white wine in hand and the sound of the boys’ hushed whispers and laughter carrying downstairs well after lights out. She’d offered to help Owen with the dishes, but he’d refused, setting her up at the island instead.
She admired the view. An evening of Mario Kart, a movie, and herding two kids to bed who were way too hyped up on sugar had left his hair more undone than usual. Strands coiled around his ears that’d escaped his bun, brushing the collar of his white t-shirt. An overwhelming urge to run her hands over his back came over Ava as she watched him work. She gave into the feeling and slid off the stool with her glass of wine in hand.
She perched on the countertop next to him so she could see his face. Owen’s lip curved into a smile at the sight of her.
“Tonight was nice. You’re so hot when you’re in dad mode,” Ava said.
Owen laughed. “It was nice having you here tonight. I like having you in my home. And in my bed.”
Ava shoved at his shoulder at the last part. “Someone’s getting ahead of themselves.”
“A man can dream, can’t he?”
Owen loaded the last dish into the dishwasher and washed his hands. Ava gulped down her wine, transfixed by the way his forearms flexed. He dried his hands, then turned to face her, leaning a hip against the sink.
“Come here,” he said. Without giving her a chance to move, Owen gripped the side of her neck and pulled her into a kiss. His thumb gently caressed her jawline, and she opened her mouth further, letting him take whatever he wanted.
They broke apart when the laughter coming from upstairs grew even louder, the boys clearly not going to sleep soon.
“I should probably tell them to settle down,” Owen said.
Ava shrugged and ran a hand down the front of his t-shirt, relishing in the fact she could touch him whenever she wanted. “Or we can ignore it and let them have their fun,” Ava said.
Owen shook his head at her and captured her wandering hand in his. Ava threaded her fingers through his.
