Page 35 of Love on the Sidelines

I write a few things on the bottom of the list and then set it on the kitchen counter. Instead of leaving, I sit on a barstool and check my messages. I wouldn't put it past Ava to take the list and leave by herself. The girl is stubborn for sure, but I like that about her.

It's not fifteen minutes later before she walks out, fumbling with a little side purse.

"Hey," I say, smiling as she jumps. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Seems like that happens a lot to me."

"Are you ready to go?" I ask.

"Y-you're coming?"

I nod. "I figured I could help. There's a lot of stuff we need to get for a week here."

"Is your friend okay with a small fee to use his house?" Ava asks.

"He said it was free."

Ava shakes her head, as if that's the last thing she expected to hear. "We can pay. Especially if he rents this place out. We need to compensate him."

"I can check with him again, but he sounded like this would be a pay-it-forward moment. Let's just worry about feeding the girls and we'll figure out payment later."

She gives me a look like she's trying to understand my motives, but I grab the keys to the nearest van and walk toward the front door. We could've parked in the large garage if I didn’t still have a couple of my old cars parked in there.

"Where's Marsha?" I ask.

Ava sighs. "She said she's feeling a migraine coming on, but I wonder..."

"What do you wonder?"

"Never mind." Ava looks at me again once we're in the car and back on the road.

"Care to share?" I ask, more curious now than ever.

"She has this idea that you and I would make a great couple." Ava makes eye contact, her eyes squinting a bit as if she can read the answer on my face.

Inside, I'm ecstatic that someone else is finally putting us in the same realm. But I have to school my expression. Ava looks like a doe about to bolt.

"And you don't agree?" I say, backing the van up down the driveway.

"I'm cursed in relationships. And I always pick the guys who think they can handle my life and then end up leaving two weeks later."

That wasn't a no. I should take that as a sign.

"I get that. Most women don't like that I'm a workaholic."

"Most guys don't like that I'm athletic and so competitive."

I chuckle, surprised we're having this conversation. It's such a little thing, but from how she was putting up walls when we first met, I'd say this is progress.

"I like that about you," I say, giving her a small wink.

"You're just saying that."

Shaking my head, I say, "No, what's better than someone who's willing to try different sports and makes it exciting? I played hockey growing up and that's a tough sport. Watching lacrosse is different but just as intense."

"I've always loved watching hockey. I still don't get what icing means, though. Aren't some people bringing an NHL team to Utah?"

I open my mouth to say more and then nod. "That's what I heard. Sounds like it will be a fun adventure. And don't worry about icing. Most people don't know what it means either."

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