Page 52 of More Than a Friend
Forever isn’t long enough.
“Yeah, baby. Forever.”
Ava bites her lip and sighs. “I love you, Skylar.”
“I love you, too, Aves.”
“No—like, Iloveyou.”
“You mean?—”
“Not in a platonic way. In an all-consuming, burns-me-from-the-inside-out, I-want-to-live-in-your-skin kind of way.” Her cheeks flush with her admission, and my heart rate picks up speed.
I’m speechless. We haven’t even made our relationship official at work, and Ava’s just made a love confession.
When I remain silent, Ava groans and tries to stand, but I pull her by her wrist so she can’t get away. “I have such poor timing, don’t I? I didn’t want to confess it in my bedroom after venting about my parents, but how was I supposed to keep it in? I’ve been in love with you for almost two years, Sky, and you’ve shown up for me in every way. You fit into my life and with the kids so seamlessly, and you know them so well. They love you so much, and I just—I didn’t want you to leave without knowing I love you.”
“Your timing is perfect. I love that you can’t seem to hold things in when they’re trying to burst out of you.” I tilt her chin so she has to look me in the eyes. “I’m in love with you, too, Ava. Have been for thirteen years. I never thought I’d hear thosethree words come out of you in a romantic way, so I’m happy you couldn’t hold them in.”
“You’re not scared off?” she teases.
“Not even a little bit,” I whisper, leaning in and sealing our mouths together. This kiss seals our declarations and nearly brings tears to my eyes.
A soft knock on the door has us breaking apart, and Ava wipes her tears away. “Come in.”
Gus pokes his head in and looks between us, his little brow furrowing. “Are you okay, Mommy?”
Ava opens her arms, and he wraps himself around her in a hug. “Yeah, buddy, I’m okay. Thank you for checking. Everything good out there?”
“Yeah. I wanted to make sure you were okay, though.”
“Thank you. Auntie Sky and I will be out in a minute, all right? What should we have for dinner?”
“Hmmm. Maybe we can make ramen noodles?” He looks up at me. “Can you stay for dinner, Auntie Sky?”
“Yeah, munchkin, I can stay.”
Someday, hopefully I won’t ever have to leave.
Chapter 25
Ava
It’s beena week since the fiasco with my mom, and I haven’t heard from her since.
I figured it’d take some time, but I’d hoped she’d come around.
I guess I have to get used to the idea she might not contact me ever again.
I shake my head and focus on applying my eyeliner.
Skylar came over last night after Shea picked up the kids. Things were stilted and awkward between me and my ex-husband. I feel like thus far, we’ve had a pretty good co-parenting relationship, but he barely said a word to me yesterday, and every time he looked at me, it was like he was trying to shoot daggers my way.
A slight sense that something’s wrong tickles the back of my brain, but tonight is my first official date with Skylar, and I don’t want to ruin it with my anxiety.
Last night, we spent the night trading orgasms until almost one in the morning, then we woke up and traded some more before getting up for the day.
We made breakfast together, and she helped me finish the laundry and compile my grocery list with the promise of going shopping with me tomorrow.
