On Dry Land (Swimming Upstream #3)

by Rebecca Barber

  “Pick up dinner while you’re out,” Tyler called as Ava passed through the kitchen, swiping his keys from the bench.

  As soon as she sunk into the leather seats of the Jeep, Ava rested her head against the steering wheel and sucked in deep breaths. The truth was she needed to go home and get some clothes but more than that, she needed a moment to breathe. Just some space to take in everything that had just happened. As much as she loved Tyler, and there was no doubt in her mind that she did, right now she just needed some room.

  When she arrived home she couldn’t remember how she got there. She’d driven in a daze. The moment she burst through the front door, dropped her hand bag, and kicked off her shoes, she let out the breath she’d been holding. Slipping into her computer chair, Ava started typing furiously. She wasn’t sure the last time she’d felt a compulsion this strong to block out the world and just write.

  Page after page she typed.

  When the room fell dark, she barely noticed and just kept typing.

  When her phone buzzed in her bag, Ava’s wide red eyes struggled to adjust to the dark as she moved away from the computer. Tripping over her own shoes as she groped about, it took a minute before her fingers wrapped around the vibrating silver phone.

  “Shit! Shit! Shit!”

  “No, Ava, you’re supposed to say hello when you answer the phone, not shit!”

  “I’m sorry, Tyler!”

  Tyler didn’t respond. At least not with words. He didn’t need to, though. His snorting laughter said it all.

  “Shit! What time is it?”

  Ava ran her fingers through her hair aggressively before she bent backwards, stretching out her spine, earning her a loud crick. The pressure it relieved made Ava sigh satisfactorily.

  “Just after eight.”

  “Shit!”

  “It’s cool. I was hungry, so thought I’d see how far away you were.”

  “Shit, Tyler. I’m so sorry. I completely lost track of time. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be on my way.” Flicking on lights, Ava was darting around her apartment, throwing clothes and underwear in her navy sports bag.

  “Don’t stress, Short Stack. It’s no issue at all. Why don’t I order in and it will be here when you get here?” Tyler’s voice was so steady, calming, it soothed Ava’s racing heart.

  “Th-thanks, Tyler.”

  “No troubles, Ava. None at all. But I gotta ask, what have you been up to?”

  Ava sucked in a deep breath and held it. There weren’t many secrets between her and Tyler, but right now she had a confession to make, one she wasn’t ready to make or was completely convinced she should make.

  “Nothing much. Hey, I should let you go so you can order us some dinner and I can grab my stuff and come home.”

  The pause that fell between them felt like it would never end.

  “Sounds good. See you in a bit.”

  Chapter 13

  Tyler

  Home.

  Tyler replayed Ava’s word over and over and over again. Home. Whether or not she’d meant to say it, the word had slipped out and Tyler was damned if he was going to let her take it back.

  Ordering dinner, Tyler went for Ava’s favourite. A welcome home present for her. Turkish with all the extras. Way too much bread and too many different dips for anyone to possibly consume, but Tyler didn’t give shit. Setting the table, Tyler found silverware, linen napkins, and dug the candles out of the bottom of the drawer. He wasn’t trying to be a sappy shit, but right now he was filled with more emotions than a hormonal teenage girl. Something he should have been embarrassed about, but had never been happier.

  Standing on the balcony, Tyler looked out across the city. Up here in his ivory tower, he was cut off from the real world. Standing out there, with the cool breeze ruffling his chair and evoking tiny goose pimples all over his tanned, bare chest, he felt in touch.

  “That’s what I like to see.”

  Tyler heard Ava’s voice and couldn’t restrain the shit-eating grin that swallowed his face. Spinning around, he folded his arms across his chest, “See something you like?”

  “Always.”

  “Good!”

  “Wanna give me a hand with these bags?”

  Ava didn’t have to ask twice. Within seconds Tyler had dragged her bags through the door. He had to force himself to hide the surprise when he realized how many bags and suitcases she’d carted across town. Not to mention hauling them upstairs on her own.

  Five minutes later, Tyler sat at the foot of his bed and watched as Ava paced back and forth, her bags between them.

  “What are you going to do with all this stuff?” Tyler asked, trying to bury his insecurities. Although it had been his idea for Ava to move some stuff in, now it was happening he didn’t trust himself to believe it. “How can I help?”

  “Grab a bag, rip it open, and find somewhere to put it.” When Ava hauled a suitcase out of the pile, the others toppled over, knocking her off her feet.

  Landing on her butt with a thump, Ava cracked up into a fit of laughter. She looked happy. Complete unadulterated joy flooded her face

  “Stop laughing at me and start unpacking!” she pouted, kicking a bag towards him.

  With a deep chuckle, Tyler grabbed the bag and upended it onto the bed. It took his eyes a couple of seconds to take in what was laid out in front of him and when Tyler’s rough fingers touched the fine black lace, he felt his whole body burn.

  “Umm…Ava?”

  “What?”

  “How long have you had these?”

  “Had what?” Ava spun around and as soon as she spotted the lace panties dangling from Tyler’s fingers, she hid her face behind the sweater she was holding.

  “But more importantly, why the hell haven’t I seen them?”

  “Tyler, please,” Ava said, her voice muffled by the sweater.

  He didn’t wait for Ava to drop her hands before he swept her off her feet and tossed her on the bed amongst the pile of underwear. Surrounded by bras and panties and even a black garter belt, Ava looked up at him with hooded eyes.

  One by one, Tyler held the up the offending items and asked when, where, and why she had them. He wasn’t trying to be nosy and get in Ava’s business, but his mind was too busy dreaming up images of Ava wearing nothing but the underwear and a pair of sky high heels that the blood flow to his brain was somewhat limited. Momentarily he’d forgotten about Ava’s fears and her aversion to being put on the spot and just started dreaming away.

  The doorbell rang and shook them back to earth with a thud.

  “Who the fuck?” Tyler half snarled, rolling off her.

  “Dinner?”

  “Shit! Forgot about that. Well, come on, Short Stack, let’s eat. You can model this for me later.”

  With a final swat on her butt, Tyler leapt from the bed, pulled a shirt over his head, tucked a satin red g-string into his back pocket, and stomped grumpily from the room.

  “Keep dreaming!” Ava muttered under her breath.

  “Believe me, I am,” he retorted as he stuck his head back through the door and winked mischievously.

  Later, curled up on the couch in his oldest, most comfortable sweats, Tyler played with Ava’s hair absentmindedly. “So, you ready to tell me what took so long getting your stuff?”

  Sitting up, Ava put distance between them before turning to lock eyes with Tyler. Pulling himself upright, Tyler felt the distance, not just in physical sense. He saw the fear in her eyes and the shiver that went through her body.

  “I was writing.”

  “Writing?”

  “Yeah, I heard from the publisher last week and they’re chasing the follow up to Perfection.”

  “Ava! That’s great news. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Tyler took both her hands in his and kissed her palm. He was happy for her. He was proud of her. But he couldn’t understand her hesitation to share the good news with him nor could he wrap his head around her obvious discomfort right now.
r />   “I…I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t ready.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “Either do I.”

  Ava staggered to her feet and walked over to the closed, glass doors. Tyler watched as she wrestled with her truth. Even from his vantage point on the lounge he could tell she was struggling. Her whole body was shaking. Although he couldn’t hear the sobbing, Tyler was willing to bet that the tears were filling her eyes.

  “Hey! Talk to me, Short Stack.” Tyler’s voice was thick with desperation and sadness. He could hear it. He only hoped that Ava could too. “What exactly did the publishers say?”

  Ava hiccupped and it shot through her body. Turning her attention back to Tyler, Ava’s watery eyes settled on him. “They asked when the sequel would be ready.”

  “That’s not so bad, is it?”

  “Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know.”

  “Come. Sit. Talk to me. We’ll figure it out. No point you worrying your pretty little head about it for nothing.”

  As slowly as she possibly could, Ava shuffled towards Tyler before being yanked down into his lap. Tyler’s fingers smoothed back her hair from her face as he settled her in his arms.

  “So, talk to me. Please.”

  Ava’s eyes fell closed and a tear trickled over her cheek but it didn’t stay there for long before Tyler swept it away with his thumb. “A week ago I hadn’t even started writing it. I didn’t want to write it. I’d never planned on a sequel. Never given it any thought. And then, then they asked and I…I started thinking maybe. Maybe I could do this. Maybe there was more that needed to be said. Maybe there was something there that I could say.”

  “But?”

  “But then there’s you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, Tyler. You.” Tyler quirked his eyebrow and pressed a kiss to Ava’s neck, encouraging her to continue. “Don’t make me say this, please…”

  He knew she was embarrassed. She didn’t have to say anything. There were no words needed. When she burrowed against his chest and held on for dear life, he felt her body tremble when she sucked in a deep breath and held it before sighing heavily.

  “Ava Jacobs. I love you. Nothing you say is going to make that go away. I promise. Now come on. Time to fess up. It doesn’t matter. Don’t be embarrassed. I’m here and I’m not letting go! Not today. Not ever.”

  “This is so humiliating.”

  “No more stalling out with it.”

  Ava gulped. Loudly. “Well, the first…the first book, it was…it was loosely based on you.”

  Chapter 14

  Ava

  Ava said the words and watched Tyler’s bemused face. He wasn’t laughing. He wasn’t making fun of her. Instead he remained silent while Ava’s head and heart soared. Feeling her confidence growing slightly, Ava continued. “And that book didn’t end up so well. I mean, you were so pissed…”

  “Yeah, I was.”

  “I don’t want you angry at me again. I don’t want to lose you just cause of some stupid book. But the ideas, they wouldn’t stop coming. And early this morning, while you were snoring, I just got up and started writing. The words came so thick and so fast I couldn’t stop them.”

  “That’s a good thing. Isn’t it?”

  “Yeah it is. But…”

  “No, Ava. No buts…you write whatever it is you need to write. Yeah, I won’t lie. When I first got your book I was furious. And I wanted to strangle you. Make you pay for exposing my life like that. Obviously that didn’t go according to plan and I’m thankful for that. ’Cause here we are now. Right where you’re supposed to be. I wouldn’t change that for the world.”

  “You’re so sweet.”

  “Nah, I’m really not. Just telling it how it is.”

  “Thank you. So what are you trying to say?”

  “What I’m saying, Ava, is write whatever it is you want. I’ll support you no matter what. Just don’t give them my name or get too personal and I’m good. So, now we’ve covered that, what else is going on? ’Cause I’ve seen you under pressure before and it’s never been like this. Tell me the rest.”

  “The rest? They want me to do some more promotion.”

  “That’s great!” Tyler’s voice brimmed with enthusiasm.

  “You’d think so.”

  “You don’t?”

  “You know me. I hate being in public. I hate people looking at me. Judging me. And they want me to go on the morning show and put myself out there. Can you imagine anything worse? Me on TV?”

  “When?”

  “Thursday.”

  Tyler stood up, not letting Ava go. Clamping her legs around his waist, Ava kissed behind his ear and felt his flesh heat up beneath her lips. “Well then, tomorrow we’re going shopping to find you something to wear. Something sensational. You’ll do great. You always do.”

  “Your faith in me is…it’s…”

  “Deserved. Now, enough of the heavy! If I recall, Short Stack, you owe me a fashion parade. And if I remember correctly, there was quite a bit of lingerie to model.”

  The next day Ava’s nightmares continued. Tyler took her shopping. Between trying on dress after dress, Tyler yanking out his shiny, silver credit card more than once, insisting that only buying one dress wasn’t enough, there was the people. The shopping centre, even on a Sunday it was packed. After ten minutes of circling the car park, they’d fought their way inside and almost immediately Tyler had been recognized. He just seemed to take it in his stride. Smiling and posing for photos, but not once did he let go of her hand.

  Three hours and four dresses later, Tyler insisted on lunch, leading her into an overflowing café. Feeling run down and generally blah, Ava had splurged and stuffed herself on brioche French toast with crispy bacon and covered in a thick drizzle of maple syrup. But even the delicious meal couldn’t make this shopping adventure enjoyable.

  By the time Tyler had carried the bags through the front door of his apartment Ava was ready to collapse. Without a word, Tyler walked straight past her and hung her dresses in his wardrobe right next to his suits. It looked so domestic. So couple-y. So normal.

  Grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge, Ava pushed open the balcony doors and sunk into the seat, settling her sunglasses over her eyes as she tilted her head in the direction of the sun, basking in its warmth.

  “What’s on your mind, pretty girl?” Tyler asked as he sunk down beside her, accepting the water.

  “Nothing,” Ava lied easily. She didn’t want to admit her fears and frustrations. She didn’t want to be that girl. The needy drama queen that annoyed her so much.

  “I know you’re lying.”

  “How?”

  “I know you.”

  Rolling her eyes hidden beneath her oversized glasses, with a huff Ava reminded him, “I hate you.”

  With a hearty chuckle, “No, you don’t. You just wish you did.”

  “Grrr!”

  “Gonna tell me what’s got your panties twist?”

  “You…you didn’t have to spend that much money on me…”

  “I didn’t mind, Short Stack.”

  “I know. I know you don’t, but…it just makes me feel uncomfortable, you buying me stuff. I can buy my own clothes.”

  “I don’t doubt it! Not for a second. But I like spending money on you. So don’t give it another thought. Now, after hours of shopping I need to go do something manly.”

  “Manly?”

  “Yep. I’m going to head down to the gym for a bit and punch something. Want to join me?”

  “Thanks, but no. Hell no. I might spend some time writing.”

  “So, I’m not even out the door and already you’re thinking about another guy?” Tyler teased.

  “Not just any guy. Another swimmer! There’s something sexy about James Thompson,” Ava countered, the heaviness lifting.

  Tyler was right, though. Physically she was still sitting on the balcony playing with him, but mentally she’d already been swept away in the world of
make believe where James and Anna continued to face and overcome insurmountable obstacles.

  “Fine! I know when I’m not wanted.” Tyler winked as he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and Ava felt his breath on her face. “Be back in a bit,” he added before he vanished through the door, leaving Ava alone with her thoughts.

  For a couple of minutes Ava sat outside enjoying the sunshine while Tyler bustled about. He wasn’t quiet at all. When the door slammed and quiet settled in, Ava knew she was alone. Knowing she needed to escape for a while, Ava darted into the bedroom, seized her laptop, and was back outside and lost in another world within minutes.

  Strangely enough, Ava was relieved when they settled into a normal, boring routine. While Tyler was training or in the gym, Ava was writing. And every moment in between, they spent together. Watching movies, cooking, doing laundry, and even sitting in silence reading. Life was normal. And it scared the shit out of Ava. The only black cloud hanging over her head was the insurance situation with her car. After a dozen phone calls all she’d managed to establish was that it would take time. In the mean time, she’d need to hire a replacement. But that was next week’s problem. Future Ava could deal with that.

  When Monday night came around, the long weekend was over. Real life was knocking and neither Ava nor Tyler were ready for it to intrude. After she washed the dishes and tidied the kitchen, Ava found herself standing in the wardrobe trying to find everything. Once again she was packing a bag, getting ready to relocate her life, even if it was only temporarily.

  “Which dress are you going to wear on Thursday morning?” Tyler asked, strutting into the room.

  “No idea,” Ava sighed heavily.

  It was part of the reason she only wanted to buy one outfit. It would alleviate the pressure of having to make a decision. Tyler didn’t understand. He couldn’t. On the verge of bursting into tears, Ava flopped on the bed and threw her hands up in defeat.