Page 61 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

If waking up with Ava every morning meant I would have to agree to having a stiff neck for the rest of my life, I would gladly endure the pain.

Leaning over, I gently kiss the top of her head and feel her snuggle into my side while making the cutest little protest.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I whisper hoarsely in her hair, loving the feel of it against my lips. “I have to get up and start getting ready.”

Tightening her arms around my waist, my heart stops before skittering back to life a bit faster than normal. “Nooo. Stay here with me a bit longer,” she grumbles.

“I can’t,” I groan. Having her beg me to stay with her when I have to get moving is pure agony. “I have a game. You, however, can lay here for as long as you want. Well, until I have to leave and drop you off at David’s.”

“It’s too early,” she mumbles, and my grin expands as she tries to convince me to stay.

“Actually, it’s later than I normally get up on game days.” I give her a squeeze, my chest rumbling. Feeling her arms tighten around me again, my stomach tightens and I grouse. “But I’d like nothing better than to stay here with you.”

“Then stay.” Ava looks up at me, her eyes are bright and her skin is radiant. I start to shake my head. “Just ten minutes more. Please.”

Gazing into her eyes, I feel every ounce of me resisting getting up from the couch, away from her. “You’re killing me,” I gripe, kissing her forehead. Grudgingly I untangle myself from her.

“Fine, be that way,” she whines, dramatically flinging herself on the couch where I was sitting and pulling a throw pillow under her head. Blowing out a breath, her splayed out hair flows up and I catch a glimpse of the smile lining her lips.

Watching her like this has my stomach doing funny things. This is not the put together version of Ava I’ve always known.

This version of her is irresistible and my heart tugs. I want nothing more than to forget that I have things to do and stay entangled in her arms, but I need to start my day. Leaning over her, I pull one of the throw blankets from the back and tuck it around her.

Eyes still closed she reaches out and grabs my hand just as I go to turn away. “Duncan?” she says softly.

The corner of my mouth lifts. “Yes?”

“I had a great time yesterday.” Her voice runs over me like a soft summer breeze and I melt a little inside.

“I did too,” I say gruffly. I hear her soft breathing, and her grip on my hand loosens.

A lopsided grin crosses my face at the fact that she fell back asleep. Tucking her hand next to her body, I gently push her hair out of her face and run a finger over her cheek. Her skin is soft against my rough finger.

Suddenly feeling stuck in quicksand, I realize I don’t want this moment to end. So instead of walking away, I allow myself some extra time to indulge in watching her sleep a bit longer.

My heart beats in a firm, steady rhythm against my ribcage. For the first time since I saw her at David’s, I let myself admire her with the eyes of a man in love.

Everything about her is perfect, and there’s no point denying my feelings to myself anymore.

My stomach twists as old fear grips me. If she rejects me again, the devastation I’ll feel this time will be astronomical. The first time I fell in love with her, I was a boy, and I bounced back, but I’m not sure this man's heart will be able to do that.

Who am I kidding? My heart never really bounced back.

This situation came about because Ava needed help. But the feelings I have, and I think she has, aren’t fake. Right?

But what if I’m wrong? What if I’m still not the person she wants? What if…

Stop!

Running a hand through my hair, I blow out abreath. Finn was right. I need to find out how Ava feels and what she wants. And I need to do it soon.

Things with Nathan are dying down, meaning we could probably put a deadline on when ‘we’re’ done.

If that’s what she wants.

Me? I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but if that’s not what she wants, I need to get out now. Before my shattered heart will be beyond repair.

Glancing down at her one last time, I feel my chest expand. The shock I felt at learning she was single floats around me. Never in my mind's remotest recesses did I dream I’d be here with her.

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