Page 17 of Between Periods

Selfishly, I would be relieved to get to spend the day on the ocean alone with Ava. We deserve it after how busy our lives have been. It’s a miracle we could even wrangle this trip together between my preseason training, Ava’s new job at the youth home, and her course load at school. Not to mention we’re still living three hours apart.

I’m so desperate for her to finish school and move in with me that I have a calendar in my Seattle apartment with her graduation date circled over and over. It can’t come soon enough.

I knock on Gracie’s door and blow out a tight breath as I lean against the adjacent wall and wait. Scratching at my jaw, I fall back into my thoughts.

Ava’s dream has always been to help children who are in the position she was for the majority of her youth, and we knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I for one wasn’t expecting a job at a youth home to be this hard on her. I should have known better.

She spends long days at the home with kids who have a nasty relationship with authority and a worse one with affection or even kindness in general. Regardless of the fact that I know it stems from poor childhood experiences and broken hearts, it’s hard watching the toll it all has on her.

Every verbal attack she’s the victim of or obvious flinch and whimper of a child only pushes on the sore parts of her heart.

I blink a few times to clear my head when my phone dings from the pocket of my shorts. After pulling it out, I look at the screen and frown.

Shit Disturber: Just ran into Ava. If ur at my room, leave. I’m not there.

Me: Where are you?

The bubbles pop up in the chat before disappearing. I’m about to double text when they appear again, and another text comes through.

Shit Disturber: Out.

Me: Are you okay?

Shit Disturber: Ya dad. Enjoy ur day with Ava

Huh. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or worried. No, she can take care of herself. As much as she loves to call me dad, I know I can be a tad overbearing at times. This is as much a vacation for her as it is for the rest of us. I have to trust that she’ll make good decisions while we’re here.

I open my conversation with Tyler only to find a message from him waiting for me, having come in at the same time as Gracie’s.

Bateman: Not leaving my room today. Have fun on the mini boats.

There’s a small prick of worry in my stomach. Stop. It’s a coincidence.

Me: Okay. See you at dinner?

Bateman: Just tell me when and where.

Alright. I can always grill them both then. Gracie has never been a good liar; her nose crinkles every time she tries.

Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I head back in the direction of our room, more antsy than before to get to my girl.

* * *

Ava’s armswrap tight around my middle as I press the gas on the Jet Ski and send us shooting through the ocean. The front end lifts when we hit a large wave, and she squeals in my ear.

“Oakley! If I fall off of this thing, I swear to Go—” She’s silenced by a spray of water. I hear her gasp and burst out laughing.

Looking over my shoulder, I laugh even harder, to the point my stomach begins to ache. “A bit wet, sweetheart?”

“You’re an asshole,” she says, wiping her eyes. The mass of brown hair she had tied on the top of her head is sagging, heavy with ocean water.

I release the gas and reach behind me, grabbing her thigh and squeezing. Despite her annoyance, she scootches forward until our life jackets are squished together.

“Mean girl.” My grin is big enough I’m sure they can see it back at the beach. “You want to drive this thing for a bit?”

Ava shakes her head, her lips brushing my neck, igniting a wave of electric shocks from the point of contact. I shiver, and she unlaces her hands from my middle and begins unzipping my life jacket. Once it’s hanging open, she splays her hands on my chest, warm palms to wet abs.

“I’m good back here. As long as you don’t soak me again.”

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