Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Laughing, I wiggle to hop down from his hold. “Yes. Let’s get a Thanksgiving meal into you. And I’ll love you forever too.”
CHAPTER 31
Cannon
Sitting on the sofa armrest, my fingers play absently with Ava’s hair as she and my sister, Belle, jabber about some new show on Netflix. My brother, Connor, is giving horsey rides to our nieces, and everyone else is in the kitchen, drinking wine and talking. I glance around my condo, Christmas music playing in the background and the smell of spruce in the air from the tree we finally decorated this morning. It feels like Ava and I have been going nonstop since we made up—i.e., she decided to forgive my foolishness—almost a month ago.
She indeed came back to Pittsburgh with me, moved into my condo, and works remotely for Shelley’s agency with an office we set up in the spare bedroom. Ava comes to some of the away games, usually the extended road trips, but she is at every single home game in a seat just two rows back from the Titans’ bench. I know I should feel guilty looking over my shoulder at her sometimes, and never during live play, but she’s always there to give me an encouraging smile, a thumbs-up, or an air kiss.
Last night was our last home game before the Christmas break, which consists of basically today—Christmas Eve, and tomorrow, Christmas Day. I surprised the hell out of her during the third period by turning around during a TV timeout, pulling a rose from inside my suit jacket, and tossing it over the glass at her. The season ticket holders in that general vicinity have come to know who Ava is and what she is to me. We’ve made some news columns, but we’re nowhere near the big news item that Drake and Brienne are.
When she caught the rose, the fans sitting all around her went nuts, and her cheeks flushed beet red. When her eyes came to mine, I mouthed the words, “I love you.”
She mouthed them right back.
This morning we woke up early because we had a lot to do. I set the alarm for half an hour earlier than we really needed to be up so I could make love to Ava, and we both had smiles on our faces as we decorated our Christmas tree. It’s been set up for two weeks, but we literally haven’t had the time to put the ornaments on until this morning.
We probably wouldn’t have had the families not been coming in. My family and Ava’s met tonight for the first time over an amazing meal she made of beef tenderloin, au gratin potatoes, and charred Broccolini. At first, I thought she’d burned it by mistake, but she assured me it was a recipe, and holy fuck was it good.
Now as I look around at two families coming together, getting to know one another, I can’t help but think I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. Her family adores me, and they’ve been here once before to visit. My family adores Ava, and while they’d only met over FaceTime, it was immediate hugs from my clan as soon as they stepped through the door today.
Ava and Belle hit it off, and both sets of parents are enjoying telling stories of their respective kids, trying to embarrass us.
I glance down at my watch and lean to whisper in Ava’s ear. “Be right back.”
She looks up at me, smiles, and nods. “Good luck.”
Can’t help myself when I take the time to kiss her and ignore my sister giggling.
I head back to our bedroom and shut the door—closing off the evidence of my new life. The music, the laughter, the happiness.
Pulling out my phone, I call Connie.
“Hi,” she says as she answers.
“Merry Christmas,” I say.
“Merry Christmas.” There’s a tiny pause, then she asks, “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. It’s been so busy, but I’m glad to have a few days’ break. How about you? You and Andrew doing anything special?”
“His sister and her husband are spending the holidays with us. And you know how crazy she is.” Connie launches into a story about Sybil, who is indeed a little crazy but in a fun way, and I settle back on my bed to listen.
My relationship with Connie has changed, hopefully for the better. After our blowup last month, which sent me into a tailspin and almost caused me to lose Ava, I had to have a heart-to-heart with her. Unfortunately, it had to be over the phone, and I initiated it the week after Thanksgiving. With Ava being a part of my future, I knew I had to shed the last vestiges of my old life.
And I don’t mean forgetting about Melissa and her family.
No, I mean I had to stop letting Connie use me as a crutch to keep herself rooted in grief. I told her those very words, and I asked her to please continue to be my friend, but only with healthy boundaries. I thought she’d hang up on me, but surprisingly, she listened.