Page 5 of We Never Kissed

I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. He liked Mark, and I knew both my parents wanted their children to have long and happy marriages like they did. My parents had married right out of high school, and yet they waited ten years to have kids so they could spend time just lovingeach other. “I’ll go back and get my stuff at some point after your party.” I hugged my parents. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Before I got in, I checked my phone, which I hadn’t realized had died sometime last night. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a missed call from Alex. Could he have known I was back home? I hadn’t even told Sammy. I checked my voicemails and texts.Nothing. Disappointment filled my gut. At least I’d see him Saturday night at my parents’ anniversary party in San Diego. We had a lot to talk about, but some of it I wasn’t sure when I’d be ready to tell him. Most of all, I hoped he didn’t hate me for what I’d done.

***

Walking into The Cozy Crumb, the first thing I saw was Sammy and little Dax at a table in the corner with a full-on setup of coloring books, toys, and snacks. My four-year-old nephew did a double take when he saw me, even though I visited often, and we face-timed regularly. When he realized it was his Auntie Ava, he dashed from his chair, sprinted over to me, and took a flying leap into my arms.

“Auntie Ava!”

What magic little ones had to put things intoperspective and lift you up when you needed it. “Hey, little man! How are you?” I swung him around, then carried him back over to his dad.

Sammy stood when I set Dax down and gave me his usual side hug. Sammy was your typical overprotective brother but minus any affection. He showed his feelings with humor and sarcasm. “Hey, Sis.”

“Looks like you’ve got your own little day care set up here.”

“Pretty much.”

Just then Cass came from behind the counter. She and Sammy owned the bakery and split work and child care duties. “Ava! My favorite sister…”

I laughed when she hugged me because Cass had four sisters of her own, but she always told me I was her favorite and never used the term sister-in-law. I was sure she loved them just as much if not more, but she was the type of person to make everyone feel special. “Great to see you, Cass.”

When she pulled back, she gave a look similar to the one my dad had given me that morning.I will kill them.

“Listen,” Cass said when the bell for the door dinged and someone walked in. “Everything your mom wanted is boxed up in the back and ready to go.” She waved in that direction as she and the customer headed to the counter, with Dax following. Cass was also craftyand offered to make the party-favors for my parents’ fortieth anniversary party.

“Great,” I said, relieved I didn’t have to talk about the elephant in the room. I couldn’t believe my parents told Sammy that Mark was going to propose.Unless Mark had told Sammy? Either way, it put me in another uncomfortable situation. Then again, it wasn’t like I could avoid telling people we broke up, considering he wouldn’t be at the party on Saturday.

I set my purse and phone down on the table and was about to head to the back when the bell rang again. Instinctively, my gaze went to the door, and I locked eyes with the man coming through it. Just like every damn time, he took my breath away. Light blue eyes against a backdrop of honey-colored skin and jet-black hair, thick and wavy. I knew I’d see Alex at the party, but I wasn’t prepared for this so soon.

Walking toward me, he never pulled his gaze away—not even when he stopped right in front of me. “Ava…”

That one word—in his deep silky tone—paralyzed me. We just stared at each other for what felt like way too long for the audience of people who knew us. Snapping out of it, I steeled myself and managed to offer an awkward hug. “Alex… I didn’t expect to see you here.”

One side of his mouth curled up, as if he were delighted that my voice shook. “I’m here all the time.”Though Sammy and Alex lived very different lives, nothing ever touched their bond. And the biggest thing they had in common was me. Those two were like a little mafia, Sammy being the head and Alex the muscle. If a guy had even looked at me sideways, well… Dating wasn’t easy.

“Uncle Alex!” Dax screamed from across the room. Then he proceeded to give Alex the same greeting he gave me.

Traitor.

When Alex set him down, Dax asked, “Are you here to play wiff me, Uncle Alex?”

His eyes darted to mine for only a beat before he looked away, allowing Dax to take him by the hand to the table. “No, I just stopped by to see if I can do anything for the party.”

“I want to go!” Dax whined.

“I’m sorry, buddy. It’s a grownup party. You’re going to stay in the hotel room with Aunt Sadie and her kids.”

Sadie was probably the only sister of Cass’s that Alex hadn’t slept with, and that thought sat in my gut like a ton of bricks. Everyone knew Alex was a player, so why was it I couldn’t function like a normal person around him? Why the hell would I want to be another cog in the machine that kept Alex’s bed warm? The truth was there was a side to Alex most didn’t see. A side that spoke to meand made me feel like I was the only one who truly knew him.

“Why don’t you help Ava?” Sammy said. “There’s a couple boxes in the back you can both carry to her car.”

“Sure thing,” Alex said before giving me a head nod and then taking off toward the back.

Wordlessly, I followed in his wake, admiring the slight stretch of his dark-gray business jacket across his broad shoulders. We each grabbed a box and made our way out to the street where I’d parked Dad’s SUV.

As we loaded the boxes into the back, I filled the silence. “I got a missed call from you last night…”

We faced each other, and my pulse quickened at what I saw in his eyes. I couldn’t exactly place it but it wasn’t anything pleasant. I could always tell when something was wrong, though.

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