Page 50 of War

Brooks: What the hell are you giving a speech for?

Aiden: My best man speech, obviously.

Hall: Wait, who’s getting married?

Hall: I kid, I kid. All of you motherfuckers are. Even Fitz had to go and get coupled up.

Aiden: Is it called coupled up when there are three of them?

Hall: He’s got a couple to himself. Pretty fucking impressive.

Fitz: I’m right here, guys. I’m not sure how I ended up in this text chain, but I’m right fucking here.

Hall: My bad!

Brooks: LOL. See you on theplane tomorrow, Coach.

Aiden: Okay, back to my question. War?

With a sigh,I drop my phone onto the mattress beside me. After the slew of messages that Hannah fucking read out loud in front of Ava and the girls, I could use a break from my so-called friends.

Why the fuck does everyone think I’ve been pining for Ava? For two years, I literally lived to taunt her. To ignore her. To piss her off.

Sure, things have changed over the last couple of days. I know she isn’t the person I thought she was. Or maybe she is, but I can see now that she’s so much more than that.

One thing that hasn’t changed? She’s still quick to judge me. If not for the kids, I guarantee she’d be repulsed by the idea of marrying me.

Doesn’t mean I don’t like her. Or think about her far too damn often. Doesn’t mean that her presence beside me every night doesn’t keep me up for half of it. Wondering if we’ll ever share the intimacy of a real marriage. Wondering what she’d do if I made a move on her. Would she kiss me back? Would her body come alive for me? Would she pant out my name when she came?

I scrub a hand down my face, irritated by this train of thought. I’m fucking hard beneath the covers just thinking of the possibility of a moment with her. Meanwhile, she’s been in Josie’s room for over an hour. Wouldn’t be surprised if she stays in there all night to avoid me and the conversation we need to have.

Maybe it’s better this way. I could set up a separate room for her. The girls could share a room. Hell, they’d probably love it. Ava and I don’thaveto sleep together.

It’s better to keep things the way they are. Making a move will probably only scare her off. And I need her to do this with me. Even if she sticks around, there’s no way our marriage will ever be real.

Staying the course is a more realistic long-term approach.

Not thirty seconds after I’ve convinced myself of this, the door opens and the redhead who is the star of all of my fantasies lately appears in nothing but sleep shorts and another one of my long-sleeveshirts, her hair a mess and her eyes tired. “Hey, sorry. I fell asleep in Josie’s room.”

I shake my head. Hopefully she takes the gesture as a silent way of saying it’s no big deal, when in reality, I’m working hard not to saycome lie with me. I’ll hold you while you fall asleep.

“You still want to talk?” Ava asks as she disappears into the bathroom. She’s looking for a hair tie so she can braid her hair like she does every night. It’s always a loose one and done to the side. She reappears, stepping into the bedroom, her fingers already forming the braid as she watches me expectantly.

It’s just another thing that throws me. Reminds me of the past. Confuses me just enough to have me questioning it all again.

I shake the confusion off and focus on her question. “Sure. It was just about the wedding.”

Ava gives me a full once-over, smirking. “No shirt? Getting awfully comfortable there.”

My blood heats as I get lost in her expression. In the way her green eyes challenge me. I love this version of her. The one she saves just for me. This is the ballerina I fell for in the gym.

“You keep stealing ’em, so I figured you needed them more.”

Cheeks pink, she ducks her head and loops the elastic around her hair. Then, grasping the bottom of my T-shirt, she pulls it up a smidge, giving me a peek of her freckled skin. “I could take it off if you need it.”

That flirtatious tone of hers is new. And I really fucking like it.

My swallow is heavy. So is the sensation low in my gut. “Maybe we should talk first?”

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