Page 45 of The Charming Checklist
Nothing.
“Ava,” he said louder. “Wake up, baby.”
Nothing. Just as he began to wonder if he should check for a pulse, she moaned a little and opened one eye. She jerked then, as if a little confused as to where she was. When he skimmed his hand from her back to her behind, she seemed to remember, and relaxed.
“Mmm,” she said, stretching.
“Are you busy today?”
She blinked. “Huh?”
“Busy. Do you have any plans?”
“I...um...wha?”
So, apparently, his extremely talkative, animated girlfriend couldn’t talk in complete sentences when she first woke.
“Coffee,” she finally said.
Ah. “Be right back.”
When he returned several minutes later, she was sitting up in bed, the sheet barely covering those sumptuous rosy-pink nipples. She smiled at him, or the coffee. He wasn’t sure which but either way he’d take that soft curve of her lips.
Rubbing her back, he waited for her to resume her natural ability to talk a hundred words a minute. While sipping coffee, she seemed to study the prints on his wall. He saw the room through her eyes. Originally, he’d hired an interior designer because he didn’t know anything about decorating nor did he care to take the time to learn. Cole had been fortunate in that the lighthouse he rented had come practically decorated for him, or at least mostly. But Max had purchased a small home three blocks from the beach and had to start from the ground up. Furniture, drapes, appliances. He hadn’t wanted to skimp on quality.
He figured the rest of the house could be nondescript, but his bedroom should have saidsomethingabout him. Right now, it said he lived in the great state of Texas, and that black was his favorite color. At least he had his favorite surfboard standing in a corner, reflecting some of who he was and what he loved to do.
“I need some more photos in here. Or something.”
On the bookcase the designer had talked him into buying—she was a Marie Kondo enthusiast—he had been permitted three books and two framed photos. One of him, Cole and Adam, out of uniform and at the wedding of one of Max’s sisters. Another of his large family at a wedding a few years ago. There were more of them now.
He’d almost laughed when the decorator had asked him,Are these reallyallfamily members?
Sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins. Yep, all his family. Loud and large.
Ava leaned her head against his shoulder. “Definitely.”
“Still with the one-word sentences?”
“Sleepy.”
“How long is this going to last?” He chuckled.
She held up a half-finished mug of coffee as her answer.
Later, after they’d finished showering, involving a little making out, they dressed. She only had her dress from last night, making him feel guilty that he hadn’t just taken her back to her place. She’d have been more comfortable there.
But at least Ava had reverted back to her usual chatty self, a surprisingly welcome relief.
“Is this Adam? Is this your mother and father? Whose wedding?” She pointed to the photos and asked questions. “Wait. How many sisters do you have again? Any brothers? How many cousins again? Do they come visit a lot? I’d love to meet them.”
When he wanted to take her to breakfast, she offered to cook for him.
“Oh jeez, Max, how old are these eggs?” She pulled out a carton and open the lid.
“Do they have an expiration date? They can’t be too old, I guess.”
“You don’t eat at home much, do you?”
