Page 48 of Aussie
“I’ll walk you out,” he offered, his voice steady.
Ava gave him a small nod, and her expression softened. “Thanks.”
“Go on,” Snow called from the counter, waving him off. “I’ll grab the food.”
With Ava by his side, Aussie led her toward the door. Even as they walked away, he could feel Jarod’s eyes boring into his back, but he didn’t care. The world could fall apart around them, but right now, his focus was on the woman next to him.
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As Ava stepped outside the deli with Aussie, a wave of relief washed over her. She couldn’t help but be thankful he’d shown up when he did. Jarod had been grating on her nerves, not taking a hint that their dating stint was over.She’d been seconds away from saying something she’d regret, and Aussie had saved her from it. Now, having him by her side brought back a flurry of emotions she’d been trying to bury. Seeing him again felt a little overwhelming.
Once they stopped on the sidewalk, Ava turned to face him. She caught her breath, hesitating, before softly saying, “Thank you, Aussie. Really.”
He chuckled. That familiar, warm sound made her chest ache. “Anytime, Ava. You looked like you needed the rescue,” he teased, a grin lifting the corners of his mouth.
They both went quiet, the air between them thick with things unsaid. It was as if both of them were weighing what to say, and both were afraid to be the first to speak. Finally, Aussie cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.
“Do you have a few minutes?” he asked, his voice low. “I’d like to talk.”
Ava nodded, even as a pang of nerves stirred in her stomach. “Yeah, of course.”
Aussie took a deep breath, glancing away before meeting her gaze with a look so earnest it almost hurt to see. “I’ve missed you, Ava,” he began, his voice rough around the edges. “I’ve missed you and Christian more than I thought was possible. If I could go back to the night of the Snowball, I would’ve followed you out right then and told you the truth.” He paused for a moment and then continued. “I can’t go into detail because it’s classified. But I swear to you, Ava, I would never betray you or Christian. I was there that night because of my job—nothing more, nothing less. And these last two weeks…” He shook his head as if searching for the right words. “I’ve been miserable without you.”
Ava felt her throat tighten, her heart dipping as she realized that Christian and Clover were right. She hadn’t even given him the chance to explain. All the missed calls, the messages she’d ignored, letting her past fears get the best of her.
He laughed softly. “Even Clover showed up at my place to give me hell about it all.”
Ava managed a small smile, feeling foolish for shutting him out so completely. “I’m sorry, Aussie. I should’ve taken your calls and given you a chance to explain.”
But before she could continue, Aussie gently shook his head and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a hug so comforting, so steady, that she melted against him. She could feel the tension from the last two weeks slip away, the hurt and confusion fading in the warmth of his embrace. She let herself relax, breathing in his familiar scent, allowing herself a moment of peace she’d been denying for days.
When she finally looked up at him, their eyes met, and a quiet happiness bloomed inside her. Aussie’s gaze softened, his hands resting at her waist, and without a second thought, she leaned up and kissed him, letting all the feelings she’d been holding back pour into that single, gentle moment.
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Jarod clenched his fists, watching through the deli’s front window as Ava walked away with that man. She’d barely glanced back, leaving him in the middle of the deli like he was nothing.
His jaw clenched as he seethed, eyes fixed on the two of them, now standing close on the sidewalk. Of course, he couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but Jarod didn’t need to know what they were saying to feel the betrayal burn.
Jarod wondered if this was the guy Ava said she was seeing. Judging from the uniform, Jarod knew he was in the military. That surprised him. He never saw Ava as someone who was interested in military men. Though the guy probably used his charm and muscles to make her turn her head. Jarod bristled as his lips curled in disdain. Ava deserved more than that. She deserved someone with power and influence. She needed someone who could actually protect her and who knew how to move in her world.
And yet, here she was, leaning into this stranger. It was infuriating to watch. Every little laugh, every glance theyexchanged twisted something deep inside him. But then he saw her turn toward the guy, her hand resting gently on his shoulder as she looked up at him, and a spark of anger jolted through him. They were too close, far too close. He could see the softness in her expression, the warmth she was giving this man that she should have been giving him.
Then, he saw her tip her face toward the man’s, and his stomach dropped. She was kissing him. Right there on the street.
A flash of red clouded his vision as he watched them, his fists clenching harder until his nails bit into his palms. He was barely aware of the people passing him, their curious glances as he stood like a statue in the deli, his eyes fixed on Ava and that man.
Ava is mine,he thought fiercely.She’s always been mine.
The military guy was nothing. He was just a passing phase, someone who’d vanish when he had to ship out for duty again. Meanwhile, Jarod was stable, someone she could actually count on. He had a reputation, respect, and a place in this town that would last. What did this man have that Jarod didn’t? Sure, he had the good looks and the swagger, but that was just surface stuff. Eventually, Ava would see through that. She would realize what she was missing with him, and by then, this man would be long gone.
But even so, the sight of them together felt like a slap. He could almost hear her laughing at him, dismissing him as if he were no one. His blood simmered.No. No one was going to stand in his way. Not this guy. Not anyone.
When Ava and the man finally broke apart and turned to walk down the sidewalk together, Jarod’s eyes tracked them, his mind spinning with a new determination. He’d have to find out more about this military guy. He needed to figure out his weaknesses, how he’d gotten so close to Ava so quickly. This wasn’t over. He wasn’t about to lose Ava to anyone, least of all a man who wouldn’t last.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Christian had a bad feeling when he entered school that morning and saw Barrett and Chase lingering in the hallway. He hadn’t spoken to them since the last encounter he had with them. Throughout the day, he managed to avoid running into them between classes because he took a different way to his classes.
