Page 56 of Pretty Relentless

But Ava picked. She may have said she didn’t care, but when I asked her to pick anyway, she did. It wasn’t a fight. It wasn’t a game. She chose something she enjoyed eating, despite worrying if I’d like it or not.

She’s a breath of fresh air.

One I can definitely get used to.

We find the restaurant and park. As soon as we’re out of the truck, the scent of fresh seafood fills the air, making my mouth water. I wasn’t super hungry until just now, with the delicious aroma of buttery fish and savory shrimp filling the air.

I take her hand and lead her to the front entrance. It’s an old building, one you’d probably not give a second glance at if you were to pass it on the street, but by the way the seats are mostly filled in the middle of the afternoon, I can tell this place is a hidden gem. One known by the locals and probably not frequented by many out-of-towners.

“Have a seat wherever,” a server hollers the moment we step inside the building.

My eyes start to scan the walls, taking in the nautical décor and old boat pieces. “There’s a booth available,” I state.

“Let’s grab it,” Ava replies, heading in that direction.

We claim the booth and sit side by side after taking off coats and laying them across the unused bench. Warmth spreadsthrough my veins as our arms brush against each other, despite the fact it’s not skin on skin. Ava’s wearing a pair of blue jeans, comfortable ankle boots, and a souvenir sweatshirt from Bluff Preserves.

Scanning the menu, I ask, “What looks good?”

“I can’t decide between the butterfly shrimp and scampi meal or the fish and shrimp combo,” she replies, giving some serious consideration to both options.

“How about you get one and I’ll get the other, and we’ll share.”

Her eyes twinkle with happiness. “Okay.”

When our server stops by the table, we order drinks and both meals. “So, tell me about your family. I think your sister, Analise, and my sister, Ginger, were in the same class.”

She nods. “They were. I remember going to watch Analise’s basketball games and seeing your sister. She had the most beautiful curly brown hair. I always wished mine was like hers.”

“I bet most girls said the same about yours. Still do.”

Shaking her head, she takes a sip of water when it’s delivered to the table. “No way. Growing up with red hair, freckles,andglasses wasn’t any fun. Kids always made fun of the kids with red hair and freckles.”

“Three of my favorite features,” I assure her. Her hair is a darker red color and her freckles are a light dusting over her nose and cheeks.

She blushes, just as I predicted. “Well, thank you. Now, everyone loves redheads, but back in school, it wasn’t the case. Anyway, your sister had the best curls. I envied them.”

“She gets them from my mom,” I tell her. “But she hated them back then. Curls aren’t easy to tame, that’s for sure, so Ging keeps her hair shorter now. Her youngest, Bethany, has them.”

Ava gives me a gentle smile. “I remember her from Christmas Eve. She’s adorable. How many nieces and nephews?”

“Five. My brother, Paul, has two and Ginger has three. Your sister has the twins, right?”

“She does. They’re almost fourteen and in eighth grade.”

“I bet it’s nice having your sister here,” I state, referring to the fact Analise is still in town.

“It is.” Something passes through her gaze as she adds, “Especially when Mom got sick. She was able to be here and help as much as possible.”

My hand is covering hers before she’s even done talking. “I’m sorry for your loss. I remember your mom from the pharmacy. She was incredibly kind and friendly.”

She visibly swallows. “Thank you. We all miss her every day.”

“I’m sure you do.” I squeeze her hand before bringing it to my mouth and kissing her knuckle. She turns to face me, her eyes holding so much sadness and pain, and all I want to do is take it away from her. Even if I can’t, I want to try. I’d much rather see her smile than what’s on her face now.

She clears her throat as our food is brought to the table, and while I’d love to get to know more about her childhood and her mom, the moment has passed. We dive into the meals, sharing what’s in both baskets.

“I think the hushpuppies are my favorite,” she tells me between bites.

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