Page 9 of Yes, Love

“Don’t think I will.” I slid my phone back into my pocket. “Fancy a coffee or tea?” I gestured toward the shop in front of us.

Ava let out an angry noise and yanked open the door. I rolled my eyes and followed her inside. “Get me a latte!” She snapped over her shoulder and headed straight for the bathroom.

“Right.”

When Ava finally ventured out of the bathroom, her makeup was fixed, and her hair was fashioned into a loose, damp braid. She sat on my lap, pressing her wet clothing into me, and snapped a quick photo, then slid to the other side of the table. Ava typed into her phone with a frown and then let out a sigh of relief. “There. Now Jeanie can get off my fucking back.”

My phone dinged with a notification, and I saw the photo she’d just tagged me in. It was already getting loads of likes and comments. “Aw, isn’t that cute?” I teased and took a sip of the tea I’d ordered. I grimaced. Americans made their tea too damn sweet.

“Fucking adorable.” Ava rolled her eyes, then sat up straighter when a couple walked into the shop. She was always ready to perform, wasn’t she?

As soon as the couple left, she melted back into a tired, almost defeated form and drank her coffee. Ava stared out the window at the rain, and her forlorn expression almost piqued my curiosity. But no, she was probably only upset about her hair. I scrolled through Lucy’s Instagram feed like a stupid twat instead of engaging my fake girlfriend. Lucy had a new photo with Will. She looked happy. Was it real, or was it as staged as the photo Ava just posted?

When I glanced up, Ava was giving me that icy glare that I was becoming so accustomed to. “Is it completely impossible for you to make an effort at conversation here?” Then she switched to a British accent. “You reckon you’ve got something better to do, Dominic? Tea and biscuits with the bloody Queen?”

Her accent wasn’t half bad, and I felt the corners of my mouth tugging upward. A laugh escaped my lips, and Ava blinked at me in genuine surprise. “I’m already having tea with the bloody Queen, Ava.” I raised my cup and nodded in her direction.

Ava’s veneer cracked, and a real laugh slipped through. It was so different from that fake little fairy laugh she did. I liked this one. “Sorry,” Ava mumbled, her voice just a touch lower and more relaxed. “That was rude to mock you with stereotypes. I’m not actually that petty.”

I grinned at her across the table. Right. My curiosity was definitely piqued now. Who was this version of her royal highness? I’d not seen it yet. “No, it was funny. Let’s hear a bit more.”

Ava laughed again and gave me a wicked little smirk. “Very well, Dom.” Her British accent was back. “Does your arse hurt?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Not at the moment. Why?”

She shrugged. “I reckon you’ve got at least ten sticks shoved up there. It must be uncomfortable.”

I snorted into my tea. “I’ve got sticks up my arse? Have you looked in the mirror today?” I smirked at her. “Sorry, stupid question. Course you have.”

Ava threw her head back and laughed. “Shut up. It’s my freaking job to look in the mirror.” She took a sip of her coffee and said, “Let’s hear your American accent.”

I laughed and cleared my throat. “Oh my gawd! This tea is totally lit!”

Ava spat a mouthful of coffee onto the table in front of her. Her real laugh was fantastic. “Oh, shit!” She was still laughing as she gathered a handful of napkins. “That was so gross! I’m so sorry!” She started mopping up her mess and looked up at me with a grin. “Was that supposed to be me?”

I grinned at her and nodded. Then I did my best imitation of her tinkling fairy laugh.

“Ew!” Ava wrinkled her tiny nose. “I do not sound like that!”

“Do, too.”

“God-damn it!”

“You know, you’re not completely terrible when you stop performing for the cameras.”

Ava raised a single eyebrow at me. “And you’re not so bad when… nevermind. You’re always the worst.” She smirked at me to show that she was teasing.

“Thank you.” I grinned at her and took another sip of my tea. “How’s your coffee?” I had never been able to jump on the coffee bandwagon. It tasted like hot puddle water and gave you terrible breath.

“Amazing. Coffee is so addicting.”

“Addictive.”

Ava frowned at me. “Huh?”

“You said addicting, but you mean addictive.”

Ava laughed again and brought back her British accent. “Well, pardon me, good sir! Perhaps I need a proper English lesson.” She sipped her coffee again but held out her pinky.

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