Page 26 of Words I Couldn't Say
According to the studio, filming wasn’t supposed to start for another two weeks. I’d assumed I still had some time, but no. There she was, and instead of embracing her, I’d acted like a complete jackass.
It was a sucker-punch to the gut, seeing her again for the first time. I’d just dropped off James, one of my most trusted foremen, who was catching a flight to Chicago to spend the weekend at his sister’s wedding. I’d been about to leave when I’d gotten a text from Tanner, telling me all was well at the site and to take it easy for the night. I’d laughed because, if I hadn’t known better, Tanner was ready to push me aside and take the business right out from under me.
Which was precisely what he was doing, but he wouldn’t get the chance for another few years, not until he was done with business school. Our parents had wanted that for both of us, and even though I’d once wanted a journalism degree, going back to school wasn’t in the cards for me. That didn’t mean Tanner wasn’t going to go. We both knew that eventually I did want him to take over the business. Instead of going to school, I’d spent my free time craftingThose Three Words. I never, in a million years, had thought it would become a number-oneNew York Timesbest-seller. I sure as hell had never thought it’d be made into a major motion picture, one of which I was the screenwriter and had been given control over casting and certain elements of direction.
The windfall from the book and selling the film rights was more than I’d ever need, so being set for life meant I could pass the business onto Tanner and pursue my new dream of storytelling. He just wasn’t ready for it.
After typing out a quick response, I’d pocketed my phone and glanced up to see if James had made it through security yet. But it wasn’t James I saw.
Nope. Instead, I was gut-punched by a breathtaking ghost from my past.
For the first time in five years, Ava Banks was standing in front of me, and she was prettier than she’d been at eighteen. She was more beautiful than all her pictures in magazines or in the commercials. And she was home, standing less than ten feet away from me, clearly as stunned as I was.
I should’ve crossed the room, taken her into my arms, and begged her never to leave me again. I should’ve kissed those pouty, pink lips senseless and poured every ounce of longing and regret into it until she knew just how much I’d missed her. I should’ve done anything except act like an indifferent ass.
But that’s what I had done, and I was still kicking myself for it, even as I walked away from her at baggage claim.
Seeing her at the airport completely caught me off guard, and in turn, I was a prick. I knew she was set to return soon and I thought I’d prepared myself. Obviously, I hadn’t, even if I’d been the one to set this whole thing up. It should have gone differently. I’d envisioned our reunion going entirely different, possibly in the treehouse where we spent so much time as kids where I could hopefully plead my case and win her back.
Instead, the moment our eyes had locked, I was transported back in my house, five years earlier, a heartbroken eighteen-year-old kid, watching her walk away from me. The pain of her loss hadn’t faded even in the slightest bit, and while I stood there, seeing her face-to-face for the first time in so long, it slammed back into me with a force I hadn’t expected.
I’d brought Ava back, and suddenly, I was scared. Scared to let her back in so easily. Yet utterly terrified of what would happen if I didn’t. It was confliction at its finest.
I was leaning against the wall outside the terminal when she came out, rolling a suitcase behind her. She avoided my gaze and scrambled past me, making a beeline for the first available cab. I didn’t blame her, but there was no way I was letting her get away from me again. Not this time.
She cursed when I darted across the sidewalk. Then I yanked her suitcase from the cab driver’s hand, grabbed Ava’s, and led her to the parking garage.
“Hey!” she yelled, squirming to get out of my grasp.
I simply held her tighter, not letting go until we were at the back of my truck. I tossed her luggage in the bed, rounded the cab, and yanked the door before lifting her up. I didn’t take my hand off her while I buckled her in. Without a word, I closed the door and jogged around the truck. Then I locked her in and pulled out of the parking space before she could protest.
“Jesus, Tucker, what’s gotten into you?” she huffed. “Since when did you start manhandling women and kidnapping them from airports?”
“Since about five minutes ago,” I told her.
She scoffed, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw the tiniest hint of a smile on her face. It was enough to get me to turn and face her, drinking in the sight of her. Her golden blonde hair was long enough to cover the swell of breasts that had blossomed since she’d been gone. The sight creamy skin hadn’t tanned in the California sun, and the sight of a rosy flush on her cheeks sent a jolt of arousal straight to my groin.
With one hand on the steering wheel, I used my other brush a lock of hair behind her ears. Her warm skin reminded me of my mom’s favorite lamb wool blanket, soft and inviting in such a way I wanted to wrap myself up in it. If we weren’t sitting at a stoplight that could’ve switched to green anytime, I would’ve probably been across the truck and kissing it. But, instead, I removed my hand and sighed, not wanting to come on too strong, too quickly.
“Look, that was a dick move back there.”
That earned me an eyebrow raise and a small twitch of her lips, almost as if she were fighting a smile. God, what I wouldn’t have given for a heartwarming—and dick-hardening—Ava Banks cheeky grin right about then.
“What was?” she asked sweetly, though we both knew damn well what I was talking about. “Oh, the redhead, you mean?”
She tried to hide it, but I didn’t miss the way her nostrils flared a little. Which meant she was jealous. Which meant there had to still be something there, right?
“So, it does matter?” I asked, unable to help myself. I had to know if there was still a chance, and while I’d wanted to play it cool, I couldn’t wait any longer.
“Maybe.”
It was all she gave me. It was all I needed.
We settled into comfortable silence. It was surreal that Ava was in my truck and we were driving along the familiar highway that led back into the city just like we’d done so many times before. She was finally there. Finally with me. And I had no clue how I was going to play this. I’d told myself that, if she came back, I’d be cool. I wouldn’t go in guns blazing and tell her how I felt. I hadn’t wanted to put myself out there again, not when I’d been the one who’d wanted us to be together all along. No, I wanted Ava to pursue me, to be the one chasing. It was cowardly, not wanting to risk heartbreak all over again, but it’s what I’d told myself I needed to do. But then I saw her again and all of that went out the window.
I was on the verge of saying something stupid when I glanced over. Her eyes widened at the sight of Cincinnati before us. The Reds were playing a home game, and Great American Ball Park was lit up, creating a beautiful sight on the city skyline.
“God, I’ve missed this,” she breathed. A tear trickled down her cheek, emphasizing her sentiment.
