Page 3 of More Than a Friend
But she doesn’t rest. She barely takes any time for herself, even when the kids are with their dad. I’m lucky if I can get her to come out with me for a quick dinner once every three months.
Luckily, she doesn’t mind if I come hang out at her apartment and chat with her while she buzzes around and cleans or organizes. Sometimes, she even lets me help. Stubborn, perfectionist woman.
Ava Greenfell—with her freckled skin and hazel eyes, lush lips, and tinkling laugh—is thelastperson I should be fixating on. But how am I supposed to stop?
I take off my blue-light glasses and pinch the bridge of my nose. I’m so fucked up over a girl who’s not even into women. My bleeding heart has been pining after her since I realized I was gay at fifteen. She was the first girl I ever had a crush on, and I knew I’d either have to live with my feelings or risk losing her if I told her.
Having her as a friend and tucking my feelings into a box is better than not having her in my life at all.
Even if it fucking kills me when she walks around in her little sleep shorts and crop top with her chestnut hair messy and wild and her face makeup free.
She confided in me one night almost two years ago that she has a hard time loving her body because of the stretch marks and the way it’s changed with pregnancy. She told me her ex-husband would make backhanded comments about how she looks different now and how she should find some time to go to the gym.
He may not be theworstman in the world, but he’s not great, either.
I wanted to tell her her body is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. But I couldn’t say it.
So instead, I told her she should be proud she carried two kids and was able to feed them from her own body. She should view her stretch marks as a tale of her strength, a map which tells the story of growing her kids and helping them flourish, not something to be ashamed of.
Watching her confidence grow and seeing her become more comfortable in her own skin is like watching a flower bloom after a harsh winter. I’m honored she’s let me be part of her journey.
I push myself away from my desk, smooth the wrinkles on my pencil skirt, and walk out of my cubicle. I need to see her, even just for a minute. Even if I don’t get to talk to her.
When I round the corner to the executive offices and hear her musical laughter, my belly swoops, and my heart flutters. I love that sound. If I could record it and set it as my ringtone, I would.
But when I see who’s making her laugh, my stomach drops for a different reason. One of the law interns, David, is leaning over her desk, giving her a dazzling smile, and she’s giving him one right back. Ava smiles with her whole face; her eyes crinkle in the corners, and a slight dimple peeks out on one side.
Iknewthis day would come. I knew she’d start dating, and I’d have to watch her move on with someone else, just like I had to watch her go all googly-eyed over Shea. I had to listen to her gush and swoon over him, knowing she’d never talk about me that way.
Can’t blame a girl for hoping I’d have just a little more time.
I approach slowly, hearing the tail end of his sentence.
“—Saturday? We could get some drinks, maybe try the new sushi place over on University?”
When Ava sees me approach, her eyes brighten, and her smile widens before she turns her attention back to David. “Sorry, David. I already have plans this weekend, and my kids are home next weekend.”
David’s brows furrow as he glances over at me, then back to Ava. “Can’t you just get a babysitter next weekend?”
Oof.One thing about Ava: she takes her time with her kids seriously. She only gets a babysitter if she absolutely has to, and she’d never get one for a first date.
Poor David.
It’s only because I know Ava so well I can see the switch from a genuine smile to a fake one.
“I could, but I won’t. I want to spend the weekend with my kids.”
David sighs, clearly a little frustrated. “Well, what about the next weekend you don’t have the kids?”
“I’ll have to check my schedule and get back to you. Skylar and I have lunch plans, so I have to go. Have a good day, David.” Ava stands and grabs her purse, ending the conversation.
“You too, Ava. Skylar.” He nods at me before he heads down the hall to the intern cubicles.
When he’s gone, I raise an eyebrow at Ava. “We have lunch plans?”
Ava nods once, her short hair bouncing with the movement. “Yep. I’m feeling Moochies.”
I grin, of course she is. She’s a sucker for their mac and cheese. “Sounds good to me. Let’s go.”
