by T. L. Quinn
Becca glares over at me like I’m the bad guy here. I shake my head again. “No. You never said that.” It comes out more as a whisper.
Ava looks back up at me. “I thought it was pretty clear.”
“No!” My voice gets loud again. “No. You were drunk. You were drunk, and you tried to kiss me. That's all!”
Ava laughs. “Yeah, key word being 'tried'. You pushed me away!”
I yell back. “Yeah, I was trying to be a gentleman! I wasn't trying to take advantage of a drunk nineteen year old!”
Ava scoffs. “Yeah, well you sure weren’t a gentleman when you just up and left without even saying goodbye. Not to mention you never came to see me when you were visiting. Pretty sure the message was coming through loud and clear how you felt.”
I groan and clench my fists in front of me. “I was scared, okay?”
Ava looks up at me. “Scared of what?”
I look down at the ground again. “That you wouldn’t wait for me.”
Ava steps closer to me. “Wait for you? I don’t understand.”
I shake my head at the ground one more time and take a deep breath. “Because I was in love with you Ava! I always was in love with you. Hell, I’m still in love with you. You were too young. You were just going off to college. I couldn’t ask you to date me while you were away. You barely had experienced anything in life yet. What if you didn’t feel the same way about me as I did about you? What if you met someone closer to your age in school? I had to leave. I couldn’t be around you anymore. Not after you kissed me. It was all I could think about. I had to leave.”
I look into Ava’s eyes, and I hear Becca let out a little happy squeal in the background. My heart is beating so hard in my chest. This is the moment of truth. We are both just staring at each other, and all I can hear is my harsh breaths as my chest rises and falls.
Then Ava is rushing toward me. Her arms fly around my neck, and her lips crash to mine. I immediately wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up. I press my tongue into her mouth and she reciprocates. I hear Becca in the background. “Awww.”
Ava pulls back and looks me in the eyes. “I love you too.”
If I thought yesterday was the best days of my life, it couldn’t even come close to matching this moment. I feel like my heart is soaring. Ava saying those words means everything to me. She means everything to me.
I pull her back to me, and slam my mouth back against hers. I pull away for a second and look over to Doug and Becca who are just grinning at us. I clear my throat. “Uh thanks for having us over. Bye.” I grab Ava’s hand and start heading toward the door. She giggles on the way.
“The game’s not even over yet.”
I wave at Doug and Becca as we walk out the door. They both just laugh. I shut the front door and slam my mouth to Ava’s again. I pull back slightly. “I don’t care. I just want you. I just need you.”
We get in the car, but I can’t stand not touching Ava, so I grab her hand. She giggles again and then looks over to me. “You know we still have to tell my dad.”
I look over to her. “Fuck. Do you think he’ll let me stay in the apartment after he fires me?”
Ava laughs. “I mean it’s my guest apartment, so he can’t really say you have to leave if you are my guest.”
I laugh again and kiss her hand. “We’ll tell him tomorrow at dinner. We’ll figure out the rest after that.” Ava just nods and squeezes my hand. I look over to her, and she gives me the most wonderful Ava smile I’ve ever seen. I can’t help but give her the biggest smile back.
We head back to the apartment, and the sex that followed was like unlike anything I’ve ever experience before. Maybe it’s always that good when you are doing it with someone you love, but I think I just have a really special girl.
Chapter 14
Ava
I wake up the next morning sore in all the right places. Wow. Last night was amazing. I am still smiling the next morning. After Parker’s confession last night, it was like we had to make up for six years of lost time all in one night.
Parker stirs awake beside me and looks over to me and smiles. I still can’t believe he’s mine. I feel like I am living in a dream. He pulls my back close against his chest, and I gladly cuddle into him. He kisses right below my ear.
“Morning beautiful.”
I smile and bite my lip. “Good morning.”
He nuzzles his nose in my neck. “Ready for the big day?”
I look over my shoulder at him. “Big day?’
He just gives a cocky smile. “Yeah, after we tell your dad, I get to tell the whole world you’re my girlfriend.” I just roll my eyes and laugh, but really I really like that he wants to tell people that.
I pull away from him a little so that I can turn and face him. “We have to get you styled for today.”
He just raises an eyebrow at me. “Styled?”
I just grin. “Yes. I am going to style you before you go talk to my dad. This is probably one of the most important events you will ever attend. My dad is very protective of his little girl.”
Parker laughs. “Okay, and what exactly are you going to style me in to convince your dad I’m the right guy for you?”
I think for a moment. “I’m not sure yet. We’re going to have to try some stuff on. Might take a while, so we should get started as soon as possible. You’ll probably have to get naked a few times.”
Parker reaches for my side and tickles me there. I squeal, and he pulls me close again. “You know if I get naked, then we won’t get any styling done.”
I grin back at him. “Yeah, well maybe that was my plan all along.”
◆◆◆
We pull into my dad’s house like we always have before, but this time I feel really nervous. I am not exactly sure why. I don’t think deep down that my dad would actually fire Parker.
I think I am just more nervous introducing him as my boyfriend. I’ve never really had a serious boyfriend before. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever brought a guy to one of our Sunday dinners before. Jeff has come a couple of times, but that was just as a friend.
The only time my dad has ever seen any of my guys has been at events, and they usually didn’t last more than a couple of dates before or after.
We walk inside and head into the kitchen. Becca sees me and pulls me into a hug. She whispers in my ear, “How’d last night go?”
She pulls back, and I smile. “Good.” My smile grows even bigger. “Really good”
She hugs me again. “Oh, I’m so happy.” She squeezes me tighter, and then I hear her sniffling.
I pull back and look at her. I laugh. “Becca, are you crying?”
She just half laughs, half cries. “I can’t help it. I’m just so happy, and you know pregnancy hormones and all.” We both laugh, and my dad walks in the room.
“What’s so funny?” We both look at eachother and laugh some more.
My dad comes closer and claps his hands together. “Let me guess. This is about Parker taking you home last night to sex you up after you both confessed your love for each other.”
My eyes bug out of my head, and I look frantically over to Parker. He looks just as surprised
I look back over to my dad. “Dad what are-...”
He cuts me off. “You know Becca can’t keep a secret. She blabbed the whole thing the second she walked in the door.”
I look over to Becca. “Oh my god Becca!”
She just shrugs her shoulders. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. It was so cute. I had to tell someone.”
I glare back at her. “And you chose my dad?”
She just laughs. “What? He was the first person I saw.”
Parker panics and tries to be proactive about smoothing things over with my dad. “Peter, you know I have nothing but respect for Ava and I would never-....”
My dad cuts him off too. He pats him on the shoulder. “Relax Parker. I was young and in love once too. I know how it works. Just as long as you don�
�t hurt my Ava here, I couldn’t be happier.”
My mouth is just hanging open. This is not at all how I was expecting things to turn out.
My dad looks back over to me, and I look back at him. “So does this mean you aren’t going to fire Parker?”
My dad just laughs. “Oh honey. Don’t be ridiculous. I only fired those other guys you dated because they were total assholes.” Again my mouth just hangs open. “Dad!”
He just shrugs. “What? It’s true isn’t it?” I guess I can’t argue with that.
My dad turns back to Parker. “Me and Doug do want to discuss a more permanent position for you though. You want to stop by my office this week and we can go over what areas of interest you have?”
Parker just smiles and shakes my dad’s hand. “I’d like that.”
My dad pats him on the shoulder again. “Good, because now that you are going to be a part of the family, you don’t have a choice but to join the family business.”
My eyes widen. “Dad! Getting a little ahead of yourself don’t you think?”
He just smiles back at me and then looks back at Parker. “No, I don’t think I am.”
Parker doesn’t disagree with him and instead just smiles back at me. For some reason that smile warms my heart, and I fall even more in love with him.
The thought of Parker being a part of the family doesn’t scare me at all, and I actually look forward to it. Probably because he has always been a part of this family, but now I just get to take him home after every family dinner. And I am looking forward to every single one of them.
Epilogue
9 Months Later
Ava
I lean down and pick up little George. I can’t help but kiss his little chubby cheeks. This baby has fat rolls for days. I still can’t believe Becca named a little baby George like he is part of the royal family or something, but it somehow oddly fits him perfectly with his little chubby fingers and arms that I am kissing again.
Parker comes up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist. “Are you kissing the baby again?”
I smile back at him. “Yes.”
He rolls his eyes at me. “You’re going to give the kid rashes or something.”
I push my elbow back into his stomach softly. “Hey! No I will not. You are just jealous.”
Parker chuckles behind me. “Hell yeah I’m jealous. Those kisses are supposed to be exclusively for me.”
Becca walks back into the living room. “Hey, no cursing in front of the baby!”
Parker laughs. “Becca he’s like a couple months old. I don’t think he knows what curse words are.’
Becca just stares back at him, and he raises his hands up in defeat. “Okay geez. Sorry.”
Becca smiles back at him. “You’re going to be a good dad Parker. When are you two going to start having kids?”
I stare back at her. “Goodness Becca. We just got engaged!” She gives me a suspicious smile.
I roll my eyes at her. “Oh my gosh. You’re already picking out baby names aren’t you?”
She doesn’t answer, but I can tell by the smile on her face that she is.
Parker popped the question last week when I was getting ready for the gala. Even though he now works at corporate as one of the leads on the finance team, he still sometimes assists me on projects for old times sake.
I know my dad is grooming him for the CFO position once Hank retires in the next few years. I think it’s good to have top management work on different projects here and there though. It helps keep them in touch with what’s going on within the company, and it doesn't hurt to get to work along side my sexy fiance every now and then.
Parker told me he had someone contact us about a special jewelry piece they wanted to have worn at our event for publicity. I can never pass up on a free jewelry piece, so of course I agreed to go look with him.
When we got to the jeweler, there was a small jewelry box waiting to be looked at. I figured it was earrings by the size of the box, but when I opened the box, there sat the most beautiful diamond ring. Seriously gorgeous. I turned to look at Parker. “Wow. This is breathtaking” I picked it up and showed Parker. “A little strange for a publicity piece though. What am I supposed to do? Pretend we got engaged?” I laughed.
Parker leaned close behind me and whispered in my ear. “Or don’t pretend.”
I was confused at first, but when I turned around, there Parker was down on one knee. And you know what they say, the rest was history.
I glance down to the custom diamond ring on my finger and smile. Parker worked with some of my favorite jewelry designers from past projects to make the one of a kind piece. I told him he should expense the ring to the company since it will definitely be a conversation piece. Of course, he said no.
Doug walks in with my dad, and he and Becca come over and we all sit on the ground playing with George. My dad is just standing nearby watching us all. I look over to him, and he just has the biggest smile on his face. “You coming over dad?”
He smiles at me. “I was just thinking how much your mother would have loved to see this. All of us here together for Sunday dinner. All the new families starting but still always here together on Sundays. She would have loved it.”
He looks teary eyed, so, of course, I start crying and Becca follows. The boys try to get us to stop, but you know that doesn’t work.
After a couple minutes, we are all back to laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Parker hugs me to his chest and whispers in my ear. “I’ll never let you lose that beautiful Ava smile.” I look back at him and give him my best smile yet.
The End
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Chapter 1
I yawn again as I take another sip of my coffee. It really is hard coming back to work on a Monday after a three week tropical vacation. That was the longest vacation I’ve taken probably since I was fifteen years old during summer break if you count that as a vacation. I’ve been working for my dad’s construction company since the day I turned sixteen, but really my dad has been showing me how to build and fix things for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a little girl.
I started out at the company just answering phones and helping him file paperwork, but after a while, I started taking on more important tasks like managing the contractors and purchasing materials. I’d help out with office duties as well such as scheduling the guys and making sure payroll goes smoothly.
My dad trusts me now to manage job sites, and I am put in charge whenever he is away on another job. I am his number two man. Have been for the past five years.
I’ve never taken a vacation longer than five days before, and it was amazing. Except now that I am back, I have so much work to catch up on, I am almost regretting it. Almost.
My best friend Angela actually won a radio contest, which is how we ended up spending the last three weeks sipping mimosas by the pool getting a tan while overlooking the ocean. The all inclusive resort was so beautiful. Our room overlooked the ocean, and it opened up right to a walk out pool. Not to mention all the hot local islanders. I swear me and Angela danced with at least 10 different guys every night.
I sigh as I look at all my unread emails I have to get through yet. I take another sip of my coffee and get started. After I’ve contacted our contractors about unpaid bills, ordered more material and supplies, and sorted out all the payroll issues since I’ve been gone, I finally close my email and open up my monthly meeting agenda. Once a month, I sit down with each employee to discuss any concerns or suggestions they have. I have a feeling this month there will be more concerns than usual with all the problems I’ve been emailed about already this morning.
