Page 19 of Falling for the Enemy

She huffed and shook her head. “It’s probably for the best. I like to be in charge.”

“So I’ve heard.”

Ava shook her head again. “I don’t know what your buddy, Zach, said—by the way, I’m not the least bit surprised that the two of you are friends—everything Zach has told you comes from his very biased view of me.”

I stared at her. She had the lightest spray of freckles across her nose. “You broke his heart. That was what I heard between the lines as he spoke about you, and I know Zach can be arrogant and pig-headed.”

“Hence my theory that the two of you would make splendid friends. Peas of the same arrogant man-pod, I’d say.”

“Zach and I have little in common. We worked together at a community college for five years, and we exchange the occasional text.” I took a drink of vodka. “Are you seeing anyone now?” I had no idea why I asked it. I blamed the liquor going straight to my jet-lagged head. And now there was no way to take it back without that damn time travel machine.

“Not sure if that’s your business.”

I nodded. “Agreed. That was the booze talking.”

“Rico, could I get a glass of sparkling water with a wedge of lime?” she asked. Rico practically jumped into the air to serve her. And he did it all with a big smile.

“I’m not seeing anyone, and now, I get to ask you one. You talked about your little girl, but how did your wife feel about you traveling far from home for two weeks?”

“My wife? Gwen and I are divorced.”

Rico returned with the sparkling water and an expression that bordered on adoration.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. If not for Holly, that divorce would have been the best decision I’ve made in a long time. Part-time dad is probably better than no dad at all, but I’m not kidding myself. I won’t be as big a part of her life as I would have been if I’d stayed with Gwen.”

“I wish I could tell you that wasn’t true, but my dad traveled for work. After my mom died, he left us with our grandmother. Eventually, he even got married, but our stepmother, Helen, didn’t have the first clue how to be a mother to five young girls. We saw Dad whenever he came back from a trip, but I have to say, we’re almost strangers now. We hardly see or talk to him.”

“Way to boost a guy’s mood,” I said. If not for the rafting adventure and hike awaiting us early in the morning, I would have considered a third drink.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Ava looked truly contrite as she reached over and grabbed my hand. We both stared down at our clasped hands. She let go abruptly, like she’d done on the plane.

“Let me guess—you would have grabbed anyone’s hand but mine just happened to be sitting right there?”

Her cheeks darkened slightly. “No, that one was on purpose. I saw your face and heard your tone, and there was this whole pity party thing happening.”

I stood up. “Well, always a delight talking to you, Lo.”

She grabbed my arm, and this time she left her hand there. “I’m teasing.”

I turned back to look at her. She still held my arm.

“My dad, our dad, he didn’t try—you know? After my mom died—honestly—I think it was painful to see the five of us. He was suddenly left with five young girls. Without Nonna, it’s hard to know what would have happened to all of us. But it’s different with you and Holly. I saw you that day—the day you had to tell her you couldn’t take her on your special weekend. You were devastated. You’re different than my dad. I love him, but he—he just didn’t know how to do the father thing without my mom at his side.”

Our gazes stuck together for a few, long seconds. I smiled weakly. Her words had made me feel better. “See you in the morning, Lo.”

“Yep. Sweet dreams … hopefully.” Her smile sent me off. I was feeling just heavy-limbed enough from the vodka that I was sure I’d be out as soon as I hit the pillow.

Chapter Thirteen

AVA

“It seems like we’re always waiting for Norman.” Robyn was standing next to me. “We used to tease my mom because we’d go on a camping trip, and she’d spend an hour in the tent getting all done up for a day out on the lake. We were always waiting for her.”

The sun was already smacking the sidewalk with a steady flow of heat, and as that same heat reflected off the cement, the thick layer of humidity in the air grabbed hold of it to make sure we felt the full brunt of the sun’s power.

Pam was busy smoothing suntan lotion on her legs. She had the undivided attention of Milo and Ian, but they weren’t her intended audience. Jack was sitting in the shade of a tulip tree reading something on his phone.

---