Page 10 of Aussie
“No,” Ava interrupted, her voice low but firm. She’d had enough. She wasn’t going to sit there and listen to someone belittle everything she believed in, everything she stood for. “I know exactly what you meant. And if that’s how you really feel about kids like Christian—kids like me—then I think we’re done here.”
Jarod reached across the table toward her hand, trying to salvage the moment, but Ava had already made up her mind. “Come on, Ava, let’s not make a scene. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It’s not about making a scene,” Ava said, pushing her chair back and standing. “It’s about realizing that I don’t want to be with someone who looks down on the very people I’m trying to help. Or someone that I used to be. Let’s just stick to being colleagues at the courthouse.”
“Ava, wait,” Jarod started, but she was already moving past him, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.
She paused just before exiting and gave him a sarcastic smile. “By the way, your people skills? They could use some work.”
The door shut behind her with a satisfying click, but as soon as the cool night air hit her, Ava realized she'd left her coat in Jarod’s car. Not that she was about to go back inside and ask him for it. She wrapped her arms around herself, pulling her bag closer for warmth, and sighed.Perfect.Now, she needed to call an Uber.
She pulled out her phone and started walking down the sidewalk when she heard a familiar voice that was smooth and rich with that slight Australian accent that made her stomach flip.
“Ava!”
As she turned, her breath caught, and she saw Aussie standing just a few feet away, looking concerned. He was dressed in black slacks, a crisp white shirt, and a matching black sports coat, looking like he’d just stepped out of a magazine. The sight of him sent a shiver down her spine, though the chilly air might’ve also caused that.
She smiled. “Hi,” she managed, though her voice wavered slightly with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I was having dinner inside,” he said, stepping closer, his eyes searching her face. “I saw you storm out, and I was concerned.”
Her heart swelled at the fact that he’d noticed that he cared enough to check on her, even though they had only met days ago.What kind of man does that?She barely knew him, and yet here he was, looking at her like she mattered.
“Oh, I’m fine,” she said, brushing it off, though she couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through her chest at his concern.
Aussie glanced at her bare arms, and without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. The warmth enveloped her instantly, and the gesture nearly made her melt.
“Better?” he asked, his voice soft.
Ava looked up at him, her heart racing for reasons she didn’t entirely understand. “Much better,” she said her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled, and the sight of it made her forget all about Jarod. “Want to take a walk?”
Ava nibbled her lip nervously. “Don’t you have someone waiting for you in the restaurant?”Oh, God. Had he been on a date?
He smiled. “It is just my sister and brother-in-law. We were almost finished anyway.”
Hearing he was just with family made her feel a little better.
She looked up at him and nodded. “A walk sounds nice.”
As they started walking, Ava felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. The night, which had begun with frustration, now felt full of possibilities.
Sometimes, the universe had a way of clearing the path for something new. And as she walked beside Aussie, she couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, something good was about to begin.
???
Aussie had been sitting at a round table in the corner of the elegant restaurant, savoring the rare opportunity to spendtime with his sister, Wren, and her husband, Ben. With the chaos of being a Navy SEAL, Aussie never knew when the next mission would pull him away. It could be tomorrow, next week, or months from now. Their deployments weren’t the same as typical military rotations; missions dictated them—some lasting days, others stretching into months or even over a year. Still, he loved the life, loved serving his country, and every time he was home, he made the most of it.
Wren and Ben were passing through Virginia Beach, and this dinner was a welcome chance to catch up.It was also a reminder of just how important his family was to him. Aussie came from a big family. He had three older sisters, all married, with kids of their own. Angie and Rachel had already given him two nieces and nephews each, and they all lived close to each other back in Indiana. The whole family was tight-knit, but Aussie had always been the odd one out, the one who chose to join the Navy and make a life elsewhere. Even so, they supported him in every decision, never holding his career choice against him.
“So, we have a little surprise for you,” Wren said, glancing at Ben with a smile. Aussie’s fork hovered in the air as he looked between them.
Ben grinned, leaning back in his chair. “We’re expecting.”
Aussie’s face lit up, his chest filling with excitement. “What? That’s awesome!” He stood, hugging Wren, then gave Ben a firm pat on the back. “I’m gonna be an uncle again!”
Wren laughed, her eyes sparkling with joy. “We wanted to tell you in person, and since we were passing through, the timing was perfect.”
