Page 80 of Words I Couldn't Say
“That’s what you said last time.” Before anyone at the table could respond, he dropped his fork and was out the room. A door slam echoed a few moments later.
Flynn threw his napkin down and pushed his chair back. “I’ll go talk to him.”
“Wait.” Ava’s voice stopped him. “Let me, okay?”
I rose and gave her quick kiss the cheek, glancing at Jeremy to make sure that wasn’t going against the rules. Luckily, he wasn’t even paying attention, as he was too distracted trying to get sugar from his own woman.
“Why don’t you spend some more time with your family and meet me at the tree house when you’re done.”
Her eyes found mine. “Are you sure?”
I nodded.
She rose onto her tiptoes and gave me a light kiss on the lips. Naturally, that got a throat clearing.
“Thank you,” she said.
“No problem, baby. I’ll see you soon.”
I left the house, hoping she could alleviate Eli’s worries and get some quality time with her family before she left us all.
I was done making my preparations well before Ava was finished with her family, so I decided to wait on the Bankses’ back deck. Jeremy joined me a short while later, handing me a glass of whiskey.
“Pacey’s reading her a bedtime story. As soon as he nods off, she’ll be out.”
I raised an eyebrow. “He’s readinghera bedtime story?”
“Oh yeah. That boy is so tired of being called a baby that he’s become entirely too independent. It’s like Sierra needs another baby around here…”
Whiskey shot out of my nose, no doubt burning all the hair inside.
“Are you suggesting I make you a grandpa?” I asked.
Jeremy’s widening smile answered my question. “Well, you know. First things first—you have to put a ring on it.”
“She’s leaving tomorrow.”
“And?”
I grinned. Leave it to Jeremy to put it all into perspective with one simple word.
“Tucker, it’s beautiful,” Ava gushed as I helped her climb into our special place.
Glancing around, I was proud of my handiwork. The tree house had been transformed. I’d set luminaries all along the floor, which created a soft glow that danced along the walls around us. The room was cleared out except for the couch on the wall and the small table next to it, where my phone and its docking system were. Quiet music played around us while we swayed to the music. I wanted to keep her there forever, never letting her go, but our time that night was limited and I needed to get the show on the road.
Ava gasped when I took the box from my pocket. Her hands covered her mouth, and I quickly crossed the room and pulled her to the couch before sitting us both down. Her eyes were darting back and forth between mine, and with the way she nibbled on her bottom lip, I could tell she’d gotten the wrong impression. And with the flush that painted her cheeks, I could also tell she wasn’t sure how to react.
I chuckled and pressed a light kiss on her lips. “It’s not what you think. This isn’t me proposing. As much as I can’t wait to put my ring on your finger and call you my wife, we aren’t there yet. We have so much to figure out, but I have faith that, as long as we do it together, we will get through anything. Because I love you, Ava, and no matter how much distance separates us, that will never, ever change. My love for you hasn’t wavered for a single second since the first moment your lips met mine, and it never will.”
“Tucker, I already know that. You don’t have to convince me otherwise. I trust you explicitly. Without question. I love you, more than life itself, and if I’m honest, if that was a ring, I would have said yes. When you do finally ask, my answer will be yes. I’m so grateful for this second chance with you. I promise you won’t regret letting me back in.”
“I know I won’t. I will love you until my dying day, Ava.”
“That’s morbid,” she teased.
I wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her toward me. After pressing a light kiss just behind her ear, I whispered, “No, baby. It’s romantic.”
She giggled. The sentiment wasn’t any less true.
