“Yes. I’m fine. Really. I’m just tired after last night,” I say again, hoping that sounds convincing. He eyes me suspiciously but slowly releases my wrist.
“Alright. Maybe you should go take a nap after lunch. I’m fine, and I can play with Ava before we have the rehearsal dinner,” he offers.
“Maybe. Let’s see how I feel once I eat some food,” I say.
He gives me another look that’s too intense, and I glance away as we walk toward the kitchen. I have no idea what’s happening between us, but things feel…different.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Bray
I follow Ava as she walks around the garden looking for the key. Carly went to take a quick nap before she helps set up the rehearsal dinner. Apparently, Vito and Drew are in charge of it even though Cam’s and Fletcher’s families offered to pay for it.
Either way, I’m staying out of it and just showing up for the food.
As Ava looks under literal rocks, I contemplate whether Carly felt my erection against her leg this morning. I woke when she moved. My hand was practically in her crotch, and her leg was over mine at some point, right against my dick. I know I claimed it was morning wood, but it was more than that. It was her.
Ever since I saw Carly naked, she’s all I think about. It’s her body that is burned in my mind when I jerk off. It’s her perfect tits I see when I come. Jesus, I’m so screwed.
Some of the other kids who are here for the wedding run out into the nearby field with a ball. Vito’s cousin yells over to see if Ava wants to play with them.
“You want to play?” I ask her.
She purses her lips. And I swear she’s going to say no until a little girl a few years older than her comes over and talks her into joining. Gray’s walking my way, so I lean down to Ava.
“You go have fun. Mr. Gray and I are going to be right here, OK?” I say.
“OK, Unca Bray,” she whispers as she runs off to join the other kids. I watch her go, a feeling of pride swelling in my chest. Our little peanut is growing up too fast.
“She likes it here,” Gray says as he steps to my side, his gaze also on the kids.
“Yeah. She’s having fun and eating her weight in pasta,” I say with a laugh.
“How about you?” Gray asks.
I glance over at my friend, who has directed his attention to me. “Well, aside from finding out Carly is dating, to waking up half naked with a boner next to her in bed this morning after she swore there was an intruder, to half considering telling her how I feel even though I think it’ll ruin everything between us…not bad,” I say.
Gray laughs and claps me on the back. “Man, you have it bad. It’s about time you admit that to yourself. Why do you think you’ll ruin things?”
He motions to a stone bench, and we follow a path and sit.
“You know about my childhood friend who had leukemia, right?” I start.
He nods. “Lanie? Right?”
“Yep. Anyhow, ever since, I sort of swore off close relationships. I was always afraid to get too close and then have it all disappear. I guess…I never really got over that,” I admit.
“That’s understandable. But have you ever considered that all of us are here for a limited time, and if we like someone, we should try to spend as much time as we can with them because it’s better to have felt that connection for a little bit rather than not at all?” Gray says as if he’s some world-renowned therapist.
“Thanks, Dr. Freud. And yes, I have. But it’s easier said than done,” I mutter as I look back at the kids who are playing soccer. Ava assists in a goal, and the other kids surround her, giving her high fives. She looks back in my direction and gives me a big thumbs up. I return it with a grin. I love that fucking kid so much.
Gray motions to her. “What about Ava?”
“I’d kill the Grim Reaper before I’d let anything happen to her,” I hiss, a deep feeling of protection welling in my chest.
Gray laughs again. “Damn, good to know you’ll combat death itself for the ones you love.”
I glare at him, which only makes him laugh more.
