Page 42 of More Than a Friend
Ava’s eyebrows kiss as she furrows her brow. “What? Absolutely not. I didn’t know howyouwanted to go about whatever this is at work. We can go to HR right now and fill out the forms if you want, but I want to have a more in-depth conversation about our relationship before we do that.”
I can’t help the satisfied smile spreading across my face. It was silly of me to think Ava wasn’t serious about us. I was all worked up and worried for nothing. Of course, she wants to be cautious. But to offer to make it official with HR?
“Ava, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?” I tease.
Ava’s cheeks turn even redder. “I wasn’t planning on doing that at—” she looks at the time on her watch, “almost ten on a Monday morning in the office, but yeah, I am.”
She sounds so sure. So concrete in her decision.
My heart thuds in my chest like I’m a teenager who just had her crush ask her on a date. I guess, in a way, I am. I’ve been pining for Ava foryears,and my teenage self is screaming, giggling, and kicking her feet because she just asked me to be her girlfriend.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen.
I’m speechless.
“Did I go too fast? I didn’t mean to move too fast.Shit,” she curses, and it snaps me out of my stupor. I can’t have my girl anxious.
“No, no. You didn’t—I mean—it’s not too fast, Ava. I was planning on sitting down with you at lunch next week to have this conversation. I just wanted to give you time and space to make sure this is really what you want.”
Ava and I both turn our heads towards the low vibration of voices coming down the hall. Cursing under her breath, shegrabs my hand and leads me to an unmarked door I know is a supply closet, pushing it open and shoving me inside.
She flips the lights on, and we both look around at the shelves filled with office supplies.
“Way to shove us both back into the closet,” I mutter, and Ava giggles.
“Sorry, I just… didn’t want to be interrupted.” Her hazel eyes are more green than gold today because of the green sweater she’s wearing.
Her eyes are bright and vulnerable until she realizes how close we are. She looks down and catches my chest heaving against hers, and when her eyes meet mine again, they’re wide with lust.
I watch her throat bob with a harsh swallow. “I already told you I want you, Sky. And I’ll keep saying it until you believe me. This,” she moves her finger between us, “is what I want. I went home and had to stop myself from begging you to come over because I missed you so much.”
I tuck a loose strand of chestnut hair behind her ear and cup her cheek. “I had to do the same. I missed you as soon as you walked out the door.”
“This feels like an alternate reality. Or some kind of fever dream.”
“I feel the same way. But feel this?” I take her hand and place it over my rapidly beating heart. “It’s real.”
Ava rolls her lips into her mouth as she nods, like all of this is overwhelming her.
I can relate.
“Let’s get through this week, okay? Then we’ll go to HR and sign the paperwork. It’ll give us time to breathe and get things in order.”
Ava nods again. “Okay. That sounds good. I um—will you—” She takes a deep breath. “Will you come over for dinnersometime this week? Or this weekend? I know you have the Stokes case, but I want you to spend time with me and the kids.”
“Of course. Can I bring dinner on Friday? The hearing is on Wednesday, so I shouldn’t have to stay late. We can have a movie night.”
“I’d love that. Zo and Gus will too. It’s a date.”
Then, drawn together like magnets, our lips connect in a kiss that feels a lot like a pinky promise. They mold together, and everything buzzing with anxiety inside me settles.
As much as I think both of us want it to go further, the kiss stays gentle and chaste since we’re at work.
“See you for lunch?” Ava asks as she pulls away.
“If I can get this brief finished, then yes.”
“Sounds good. Well, thank you for the coffee. I hope you have a good day. Let me know if you need something.”
