Page 84 of Aussie
“Ava?” he began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.
“What’s on your mind, kiddo?” she asked, giving him her full attention.
He hesitated, shuffling his feet in the snow. “Would you ever think about trying to adopt me? I mean, I love living with you,and you actually care about me. You pay attention, you know? No one’s ever really done that before.”
Ava felt her throat tighten, emotion welling up inside her. His words were so raw, so honest, that they hit her like a wave. Tears pricked her eyes, but she smiled through them.
“Christian,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, “you mean the world to me. I promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to keep you with me. You’re already my family in my heart.”
Christian’s eyes glistened as he hugged her again, and she held him close, her resolve to fight for him stronger than ever.
When Aussie returned, his expression was unreadable, but Ava could sense something wasn’t right. She handed Christian some money. “Why don’t you go find some of that white chocolate cocoa we saw earlier?” she suggested gently.
“Okay,” Christian said, bounding off with a smile.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Ava turned to Aussie. “What’s wrong?” she asked softly.
Aussie exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “It’s what I’ve talked about before—my job. I’m always on call, and sometimes that means leaving at a moment’s notice.”
Her heart sank, but she nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “When do you need to leave?”
“Not until the day after Christmas,” he said. “We’re not deploying for sure, but we need to be ready just in case.”
Reality hit her like a cold gust of wind. She would soon have to return to her real life in Virginia Beach, and Aussie would head off on a mission. The thought of being apart from him weighed heavily on her, but she forced herself to stay strong. The last thing she wanted was to add to his stress.
Aussie must have sensed her unease because he pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her securely. The embrace was warm and comforting, grounding her in the moment.
“Listen,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Until then, we’re going to focus on Christmas. We’re going to enjoy this time together and make it amazing for Christian. Deal?”
Ava nodded against his chest, his words soothing some of her anxiety. “Deal,” she whispered.
He tilted her chin up and kissed her, slow and sweet. The moment felt like a promise, a reassurance that they would face whatever came their way together.
But as they stood there under the falling snow, Ava couldn’t shake the nervous feeling creeping in. Going back home meant returning to uncertainties. She pushed the thoughts aside, determined to enjoy the time they had left. For now, that was all she could do. She would just live in the moment.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Aussie lay in his bed with Ava tucked against his side. Her head rested on his shoulder, and she had one arm draped possessively across his chest. Her body fit perfectly against his.
For a moment, he stayed perfectly still, his heart full as he watched her sleep. There was something profoundly peaceful about waking up beside her, a feeling he hadn’t realized he’d been missing until now. With Ava, everything felt right, as if all the scattered pieces of his life had quietly fallen into place.
She stirred, her lips curving into a sleepy smile before her eyes fluttered open. “Morning,” she murmured, her voice husky with sleep.
“Morning, beautiful,” he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Ava stretched lazily, her hand coming to rest on his chest. “What time is it?”
Aussie glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “A little after seven. Looks like we’re up before Christian.”
She chuckled softly, her laughter warming him from the inside out. “A Christmas miracle.”
“Guess that means we’ve got some time to ourselves,” Aussie said, his tone playful as he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well,” he began, his fingers trailing lightly over her arm, “I was thinking we could start by staying right here a little longer. Maybe talk about how lucky I am to wake up next to you.”
Ava rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. “You’re laying it on thick this morning.”
