Page 36 of Here Be Dragons
She didn't have them this time though, but that was OK. She had Shane, here, in her apartment. Everything else would work out.
Ava leaned forward and kissed his broad shoulder. "So this is a nice surprise."
"Sorry I didn't call," he said. "I just decided today that I had moped around enough. So I packed my bags, threw them in the car, and drove up here." He gave her a small sheepish grin. "I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind."
She put her arms around his neck and pulled herself up, kissing him warmly. He responded with a small moan, his arm snaking around her waist as his other hand threaded through her hair. Oh, there were definitely things she was going to do to this man tonight to make him forget about his team's loss. If she was really good, she would probably make him forget his name too, but she knew he wouldn't complain about that.
"I should probably move my suitcases, shouldn't I?" Shane said as he gently let go of her.
"No rush. But you did bring quite a lot this time though."
"Yeah." The small smile on his face slipped a bit as he turned to look at the big bags still sitting there. "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"
His tone had changed. He sounded more gruff and serious. Humble even, maybe? Shane was rarely humble.
"Sure."
He gave her an awkward smile and grabbed her hand, leading her over to the couch in her living room. He sat down on the plush cushions and pulled her down next to him. She loved seeing him on that couch. He always looked like he just belonged there, even if he did seem a little nervous and wouldn't make eye contact with her. She was starting to get worried about what was really going on.
"I didn't think all this through when I did it today so just bear with me."
"OK," she replied apprehensively.
He took a deep breath and looked up at her. "I want to move in with you."
She was stunned, absolutely stunned, and couldn't figure out how to respond. She had only started to think out her own speech for Shane. She wasn't expecting this from him.
"I know this is a last-minute thing and I just sprung it on you. You can totally say no if you want," he stammered. "It would just be for the summer anyway and then we could do the long-distance thing when the season started, even though that wouldn't be my first choice, but we could make--"
"I'm moving to Cleveland."
Shane stopped and stared at her. "You're what?"
She could tell he wasn't expecting that answer. And frankly, she wasn't expecting it either -- at least she hadn't until after that meeting with her boss.
"I talked to my boss and they're going to let me work remotely," she said. "I have to spend the summer wrapping up my work at the office and I would need to come back to Detroit every few months to check in. But I could do most of my work in Cleveland and stay with you. You know, if you would let me stay with you."
A smile began to spread across Shane's face, slowing getting bigger and bigger as Ava's news sunk in. Ava felt the same way. Was this really happening? Was it really going to work out that easily? Things had been tough for them. The long-distance traveling. Being discreet with their relationship. Ava took her brother to a local bar before she finally told him the news that she was dating Shane Taylor from the Cleveland Dragons. It took Jack a few weeks to warm up to the idea and not make biting comments about Ava's new boyfriend, but he finally seemed to accept it.
But after all those challenges, was it really going to be this easy? Ava hoped so, she really did. Because it wasn't just going to be this summer in Detroit or moving into Shane's apartment as a tryout or something. She wanted this to be it. She wanted this to last forever. It didn't matter who lived in what condo. As long as she was with Shane, that would be all she needed.
"Are we really going to do this?" Shane asked her. "I mean, move in together. Like, really move in together."
"Yeah, I think we are."
She smiled and leaned forward, putting her hand on Shane's chest. But instead of pushing towards her, he sunk back into the cushions of the couch and gave her a perplexed look.
"Is something wrong?" Ava asked.
"I just uh... I was expecting more of a negotiation," he admitted.
Ava gave him a seductive smile and climbed onto his lap, letting him push her pencil skirt higher with his broad hands. Then she kissed him, hard this time to make sure he knew exactly what she was asking for. And judging by the way his body was reacting, she knew she was having an effect on him.
"We can negotiate," she whispered in his ear. "I want two shelves in your closet for my Louboutins, not one."
"Only if you wear them around my place when we have nowhere to go."
