Page 4 of More Than a Friend
With sandwiches and sides in hand, we make our way to one of the worn yellow booths next to a window overlooking the busy Salt Lake City street. Ava pulls disinfecting wipes from her bag, wiping the booth before she sits down. Then she grabs hand sanitizer and rubs it over her hands before offering it to me. I take some, letting it dry before I open my sandwich.
“So, David?” I ask, even though I’m not sure I want to know.
Ava groans. “I don’t know. He’s nice and conventionally attractive, but he’s not what I’m looking for. I don’t want another workaholic man who’ll ask me to quit my job or—God forbid—pop out more babies. Plus, I’m pretty sure he’s Mormon, and I’m not interested in backtracking my deconstruction. Not to mention he’s only twenty-four. It feels icky even if it’s only four years.”
“Then you need to nip it in the bud before he starts getting more persistent,” I clip, a little harsher than I intend.
Ava must take it as my typical “no bullshit” attitude because she laughs. “You’re right. Like I said before, he’s not what I’m looking for.” Her eyes meet mine, and maybe I’m imagining it, but Iswearthere’s a flash of heat in them.
As quick as it was there, it’s gone, and she’s back to munching on her mac and cheese and not looking at me. The only indication what I saw actually happened is the slight tint to her cheeks.
Clearing my throat, I scoop up a spoonful of my own pasta before asking, “Are we still on for Saturday?”
Ava nods, but it’s not as enthusiastic as I hoped. “It can’t come soon enough.”
“Zoe still keeping you up?”
She sighs. “Yeah. I think she has anxiety about throwing up, even though the worst of it has passed. Every movement in her tummy makes her nervous, so she’s been waking me up every other hour to tell me she’s going to throw up but never does.”
My lips tilt down in a frown. She should be resting this weekend, not having me drag her out for karaoke.
“Change of plans, Aves. We’re not going out this weekend.”
“What? Why? I was looking forward to hanging out with you!”
Her outraged tone makes me smile. “We’ll still hang out, but you need rest. We’ll order food, make some drinks, and watch a trashy reality TV show.”
Ava’s shoulders slump. “You know me so well. That sounds perfect, thank you. I’m sorry I’m such a killjoy.”
“Aves, you’re not a killjoy. You’re a tired single mom, and I’m more than happy to hang out with you—whatever that looks like.”
Ava thanks me again before we dig back into our lunches, and the conversation shifts. By the end of lunch, I’m onlyslightlyless worried about her than I was this morning, but when I get back to my desk I still can’t focus.
All I can think about is how fucked I am over my best friend.
Chapter 3
Ava
“I can’t get sick,Ava. I can’t afford to miss work! You should keep her. I’ll take August, and you can keep Zoe.”
I’m glad we’re talking on the phone instead of in person because I don’t have to hold back my eyeroll. My ex-husband isn’t a bad man, but he can be selfish. Of course he’s not concerned aboutmyhealth or ifIwould have to skip work ifIgot sick. Only him. I’ve already reassured him Zoe is in the clear, and she’s no longer contagious. She’s just tired and needs to rest for a few more days, but he’s not hearing it.
“Shea, she’s not contagious.Ididn’t get sick, and we were in close quarters during the thick of it. She wants to see you, and it would be unfair of you to take Gus but not her.”
A loud sigh comes from the phone, and he grumbles something unintelligible underneath his breath. “Fine. I was going to introduce them to Alisa this weekend, but I guess I’ll wait. I don’t want her getting sick.”
Thank God.
Alisa is Shea’s new girlfriend. She’s not…bad,butI feel like they’re moving fast. She’s twenty-three and works as a dentalhygienist. It’s how they met. Shea went in for a cleaning, and they hit it off. They’ve been dating for a month, but I guess they’re already serious, especially if she wants to meet the kids. I’m apprehensive to let Zoe and Gus meet her in case they break up, but Shea’s been pushing the topic.
It’s not that I don’t want Shea to get married again or want the kids to have another parental figure to show them love—it’s more like I feel as though I’m falling behind. Why is it so easy for him to date again? He’s dated a few people since our divorce was finalized. None of them were serious until now.
I’ve been on two dates in the entire two years, and both of them sucked. I was anxious the whole time. I guess single dads are more charming than single moms.
Or maybe my heart is hung up on a certain brown eyed best friend of mine, so dating anyone else is unappealing.
Who knows?
