Page 13 of Too Little Too Soon
“Explain,” Maria demanded, crossing her arms.
“Are we going to be late?”
“We have plenty of time. Spill the tea.”
Ava sighed. “Apparently, it’s been a long time coming. Since Grandmother’s funeral.”
“Why?”
“Because for the last thirteen years, I’ve given Demetri 300 percent, and since the funeral it’s been more like 150 percent, and that is not good enough, as it turns out.”
“That’s absolutely ridiculous. You should sue him for wrongful dismissal or something.”
“Honestly, I’m okay with it. They have to buy me out, so I’ll end up with a plenty big enough nest egg to get me by until I figure out what I want to do next. In the meantime, I’ve also decided to learn how to have fun and enjoy life.”
It felt good to say it out loud. Like that made the idea more real.
Hell, she was already well on her way to enjoying life. An image of Travis, crouched over her, naked, his muscles glistening and damp with sweat, popped into her head. And he’d said he wanted to see her again after the show.
Squee!That was an appropriate internal response, right?
“Seeing both Panic Station and Demigoddess Revival live is definitely a step in that direction. They are fantastic bands, and I’m not just saying that because our sister is in one of them and I’m in love with the guitarist from the other.”
“Or that both bands now pay you to make sure they stay in the headlines.”
“That too.” Maria laughed and hooked her arm through the crook of Ava’s elbow, and they finally started walking again.
“So all’s well in the land of love?” Ava asked. “Started wedding planning yet?”
She hadn’t gone to their other sister’s wedding, an action she’d regretted the moment the day came. She’d have to figure out a way to make it up to Holly. And she’d definitely go to Maria’s nuptials. No matter what.
“Not quite,” Maria said with a laugh. “Although I’m pretty sure Oz would be all for it if I suggested we get married.”
“Do you want to? Is he the one?”
“Considering at one time I believed Vic was the one, I feel like I should take this one a little slower.”
“You knew Vic wasn’t the one,” Ava argued. She hadn’t been close with her sister back when she met her ex-husband, but it hadn’t been hard to figure out that Maria had been trying to emulate their mother by marrying Vic.
“You’re right,” Maria said with a sigh.
“So when’s the wedding?” Ava teased again.
Maria laughed. “Let’s get through this tour first. Although Holly already suggested we do it at her place in the Ozarks.”
Travis had mentioned how much he loved that area and may want to settle down there someday.
Ava had never thought about settling down. Hell, she’d been renting a tiny one-bedroom apartment for more than a decade. Maybe it was time for her to start thinking long-term. What did she want for her future?
That was too broad. Where did she want to live? How about starting there?
She had no clue. She’d never been anywhere, so she had no perspective.
That needed to change, effective immediately. Well, maybe in the next few weeks. Once Demetri’s lawyer gave her a decent enough offer to buy her out, she’d book her first trip.
“It may be kismet,” Maria continued. “Demigoddess Revival decided they are going to record their next album at Panic Station’s new studio in the Ozarks. So we could just have a quiet wedding while they are working out which songs to record. Or maybe right after. Practically everyone we’d want at the wedding would already be there.”
Sounded like Ava’s first travel experience was going to be to the Ozarks.
