Page 78 of Falling in Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings 1)

Her smile widened and she laughed. The sound permeated his entire being. He’d known that he’d missed her eyes, her smile, her smell, her touch, and her voice. But he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her laugh. Hearing it again was like sitting by a warm fire after being out in the snow. It was that first gulp of water after a run. It was like falling into bed after being awake for two days on assignment.

It was comfort. It was nourishment. It was home.

“No, I was um... I was working out.”

He stared down at her and wasn’t sure if he was missing something because his brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Maybe being this close to Ava had short-circuited his synapses or something. But he still wasn’t following what she was saying.

“Working out?” he repeated.

“It was something my mom always did. If she ate pizza or if we were going to have a movie night with junk food then she’d turn up the radio and we’d have a dance party or she’d throw on a Tae Bo tape. She was all about balance.”

“Smart.” He had a feeling he would have really liked Ava’s mom. She sounded like a really unique lady, and from what he’d seen she’d raised amazing women. One of which he couldn’t seem to stay away from, even though he tried. He still wasn’t sure what he was doing here. “So, are you busy or—?”

“No!” she blurted out. “Oh my gosh, sorry, come in.”

She stepped back and Asher entered the room that they’d first made love in. The door shut behind him and memories of having her up against the wall, and on the couch filled his mind. He looked over at her and saw she was biting her lower lip and thought she might be thinking the same thing.

“Do you want to sit down?” she offered and he lowered onto the couch.

She started to sit, but then sprang back up. “Did you want something to drink? I have soda, wine, coffee.”

He couldn’t help but grin since that was what she’d offered him a week ago when she’d invited him inside. “I’m okay, thanks.”

She nodded and sank into the corner of the sofa. He could tell that she was nervous. He just didn’t know if it was a good nervous and she was happy to see him or if it was an awkward nervous because he’d just shown up on her doorstep.

He really hoped it was a good nervous. But there was only one way to find out. He needed to put his cards on the table and have a real conversation with her. The problem was, he had no clue how to broach the subject and not be cringy.

Living with a teenager had definitely gotten in his head.

* * *

Ava’s heartwas beating so hard in her chest she feared it would break through her sports bra. The room felt so spacious when it was just her, or even her and her sisters but with Asher it felt much smaller. Much more intimate. It didn’t help that they’d been intimate on the exact place that they were sitting and that was all she could think about. She wasn’t sure if she should make a joke about the night they’d shared just to address the huge sex-elephant in the room, or just casually ask him why he’d stopped by.

She was still deciding which way to go when there was a knock at the door.

“Pizza’s here.” Ava popped up like a Jack-in-the-Box and started toward the door, half grateful and half frustrated for the interruption.

The two of them obviously had some things to talk about. But the way things had progressed so far, she didn’t see talking on the agenda since they were both just sitting there in silence. So, she decided it was a good thing.

Using the reprieve to gather her thoughts, she opened the door to Noah who was standing outside of it holding the pizza wearing a Slice of Heaven ball cap and polo shirt. “Hey, Dr. A.”

“You deliver pizzas, too?!”

Ava hadn’t meant her question to come out as an accusation. It was just that she was shocked. She knew Noah worked at Mountain Ridge and volunteered at the community center where he reffed youth basketball, and he also played baseball and was apparently really good. She just had no idea that he worked for a pizza parlor, too, or when he’d have the time to have another part-time job.

“Only one night a week.” He said as if it was no big deal. “I’m saving up to get a car when I turn sixteen.”

His answer just created more questions in her head. “How do you deliver pizzas without a car?”

He stepped to the side and she saw that there was a motorized scooter.

Ava knew that Asher wasn’t a fan of Noah, but this kid impressed her at every turn. He was always in a great mood, he had an incredible work ethic, and she’d spoken to Amy Maguire-Kellan, who taught at the high school and apparently the kid was taking AP classes, which were weighted and was carrying a 4.3 GPA.

Whether Asher knew it or not, Blake had hit the first boyfriend lotto.

She handed Noah two twenties in exchange for the pizza box. “Keep the change.”

“Thanks, Dr. A. Enjoy your pizza.” Noah was turning to leave when he did a double take and looked over Ava’s shoulder. “Oh, hi Mr. Ford.”

---