I wanted desperately to know how she truly felt, but I was scared to know the truth. She might decide she didn’t like methatmuch— not enough to be her boyfriend.
But at least if we settled this now, I’d know. I could stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. We might as well get it over with.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Howdoyou really feel?”
The seconds seemed to stretch into minutes as I held my breath and awaited her answer. My body turned to stone, but my heart hammered.
Ava reached up to caress the side of my face. Her warm fingers sent tingles across my skin. Ava’s voice sounded like an angel’s as she said, “I love you, Charlie.”
It was the last thing I expected to hear. I didn’t know what to do. At best, I dreamed she might say she liked me... butlovedme? Hell, no one had ever told me they loved me. Not a foster parent, or even a friend.
“L-love?” I slurred, barely present in the moment. I felt like the words had sent me to another dimension, one where I was disconnected from my body and couldn’t decipher how to respond.
“Yes, Charlie,” she chuckled through her tears. “I fucking love you more than I’ve ever loved anything— more than my own freaking element. I. Love. You. Charlie. Wahkin.”
As she repeated the words, they finally started to sink in. I snapped back into my body, fully aware of the way my heart lifted in my chest— and how my dick hardened in my pants. Tears rose to my eyes, and one escaped down my cheek.
“What’s wrong?” she asked in alarm.
She’d left me so starstruck that I couldn’t speak. Instead, I swept her into my arms and crushed her body tightly to my chest. Oberi nearly got squashed between us, but he yelped and jumped out of the way. I buried my face into her hair and inhaled her sweet scent.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I mumbled. “Everything is perfect. I love you, too, pidge.”
I planted a kiss on her lips, and if I thought I left my body a moment ago, it was nothing compared to making out with her. My spirit might as well have transcended to the Ancestral Lands, I felt so free and incredible. I didn’t know what it wasliketo be loved— hell, nobody ever wanted me.
But Ava did. Ava threw her arms around my neck and dragged me even closer. She parted her lips, and my tongue slid inside her mouth. I cradled the back of her head and placed my other hand on her hip, pulling her into my hardness.
“I love you, Charlie,” she gasped through the endless kisses I left on her lips.
“I love you, too, Ava-Marie,” I breathed.
Her whole body began to shake in elated sobs, like shelovedthe sound of her full name coming off my lips. I began trailing kisses down her jaw and to her neck. She tilted her head back to welcome me in.
“I love you,” she repeated.
“I love you,” I muttered into her skin. Her perfect, angelic skin.
She must’ve really loved that, because she squeezed me so tight I couldn’t drag her off me even if I tried. She wrapped her legs around my waist, and I grabbed her ass to keep her on me. I swayed on my feet as all my blood left my head, and I backed her against the wall to steady us. Ava drew in shallow breaths, like she liked it.
I sucked on her neck for a brief moment, just enough to tease her but not to give her a hickey. I drew away beaming. “So, is that it, pidge? Are you my girlfriend now?”
She giggled with happiness and ran her hands through my hair. “Yes, Charlie. I’m your girlfriend now. You’re my boyfriend.”
I never knew I could be so happy. Nothing beyond this balcony mattered, because right now it was just Ava and me— one couple, one being…
One soul.
Chapter Fourteen
Ava-Marie
“Ava, this isperfect!” Ivy gushed.
Ivy strutted around The Devil’s Playground, wearing the red dress I’d made him. He’d already done a lot of work down here— there was a bar built at the head of the secret room, and a couple tables and chairs were scattered around the area. There was a stage built around a couple of the poles that went to the ceiling, and a half-finished dance floor in the middle of the space.
Ivy placed his hands on his hips and turned in place. The glittering red fabric fanned out around him, and he cooed, “This dress is going to beamazingat the nightclub’s opening.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “I was sure the slit would show off your legs.”
