Page 38 of Yes, Love

Fine. I’d engage the twat, but only for Ava. “So, Evan, Ava tells me you were a footballer in Uni. I used to play a bit, too.”

Evan glanced up at me with mild confusion in his expression. “Football?” Recognition filled his eyes. “Oh, soccer! Right, right. Yeah, I’ve played since I was eight years old. I stopped after college, but damn, I miss it. How long did you play?”

“Mostly, I played in the streets with my friends, but I joined a team in secondary. Those are some of the best memories of my life.” Ava squeezed my hand a little tighter. She knew my days in secondary school were like a new beginning for my mum and me. It’d been surprisingly easy to tell her everything about it.

Evan grinned at me. “Hell yes. There’s nothing like a fresh-cut, green field. I’d love to get back out there and play again. I’m probably ridiculously out of shape, but it’d still be a blast.”

I nodded. “I’ve not played for years either.”

“Hey, my buddy Rob plays in this adult indoor league in Tacoma. He keeps inviting me to come and play, but I’ve never had the time. You’re welcome to check it out with me if you’re interested.”

“Brilliant.” Did I want to play football with the guy that broke Ava’s heart? No. Would I be polite during this dinner? Yes.

“Aw, Rob. How is he?” I could still feel the tension in Ava’s body, but it seemed to lessen a bit.

Evan smiled at Ava. This time it reached his eyes. “He’s great. He’s engaged now.”

“Shut up!” Ava laughed. “He didn’t even bring a date to your wedding five months ago! How is he engaged?”

Evan shrugged. “He falls in love quickly.”

Ava shook her head and laughed. “He falls out just as quickly. He loved Sienna for like five minutes before moving on to Cara. Then it was Jessa, then Taylor.”

“You don’t even want to know how many girls he went through in college.” Evan laughed now. “I hope it sticks this time because Jaymie’s really nice.”

Sienna returned to the table, and all of the remaining tension in Ava’s body melted away. “Are we talking about Rob?” Sienna laughed and settled back into her chair.

Evan nodded and slid his arm around her shoulders. “You feeling okay, babe?”

“Yeah, the nausea isn’t so bad today. But enough about me.” Sienna waved it away. “Dominic, do you still hang out with Ezra from Wild Love?”

Ezra and Moll were second-place in my season of Wild Love. They were still together. They should have been the winners. “Ah. He and Moll stayed in London, and they didn’t come to the reunion in Miami. I’ve not seen him since the show ended, but we chat sometimes.” I paused and narrowed my eyes at Sienna. “Have you, er, watched the entire season?” I felt I’d been true to myself as much as possible with cameras in my face 24/7, but there were still moments I wasn’t proud of. The producers still made edits that cast me the way they wanted, and not how it really happened.

“Absolutely.” Sienna laughed. “I keep telling Aves to watch it, but she refuses.”

I glanced over at Ava. “That so?” I’d just assumed she’d watched my season the same way I’d watched her videos before we met.

Ava rolled her eyes and met my questioning look. “I didn’t think it was fair to decide who you were based on a reality TV show.”

“Right. Because the cameras don’t always catch the truth, do they, love?” I slid my arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. I tipped her chin up with my free hand and pressed a soft kiss to her nose, careful not to ruin her makeup look. I’d mess it up later when it was only us.

Ava blinked her gorgeous eyes, looking completely stunned for a moment. Then she bit her lip and gave me the sweetest, shiest smile I’d ever seen. “Right,” she almost whispered, then leaned her head on my shoulder.

Sienna grinned at us across the table as if she could sense that my fake love for Ava was turning real.

Dinner continued for another hour, with the conversation being carried mostly by Ava and Sienna. Despite what had happened between them in the past, it was clear that they cared deeply for each other and would have carried on talking until the restaurant closed if Evan hadn’t interrupted. “Hey, babe, Burke just texted that the bar is getting slammed. I need to go and help.”

Sienna glanced down at her phone to check the time. “Oh wow! It got late! Yeah, let’s head out.”

“We’ll get the check,” Ava volunteered.

Sienna and Evan both started to protest, but Ava rolled her eyes. “We’re getting this one! You guys can grab the next one.”

“Fine.” Sienna sighed. She stood and hugged Ava, whispering something that made them both laugh.

Evan offered me a handshake and then turned to Ava. They paused for a moment before Ava hesitantly held out her arms. He smiled and stepped forward, and they engaged in the most awkward hug of all documented awkward hugs.

Sienna watched them with a grimace and then turned to hug me goodbye. She whispered, “She does her real smile with you.” Sienna gave me a knowing look as she backed away and laced her fingers through Evan’s. They walked out of the restaurant, waving over their shoulders.

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