Age of Ava by Melanie Moreland

Chapter 21

Hunter

Three weeks later, I walked into Ava’s house, my gait back to normal. Her car was in the driveway, so I knew she was home. She was sitting at her desk, mumbling to herself.

“The doctor said six to eight weeks. It’s been three. Most normal men who fall off a roof and break their ribs stay down. But not when you’re the invincible Hunter Owens. No, you go back to the jobsite. Right back to where you got hurt. It doesn’t matter if it’s his house or his job. I don’t care what he says. Stubborn, pigheaded idiot.”

She was so deep into trashing me she didn’t even hear me come in. I leaned on the doorway, listening to more of her muttered rant.

“See if I run to the hospital when he gets hurt again. I’m not taking him any damned iced tea either. He can stay thirsty.”

“Now, Little Dragon, I know you wouldn’t let that happen.”

Her beautiful eyes went wide. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Just before pigheaded idiot.”

She lifted her chin and tossed her hair. “Well, you are.”

I crossed the room and sat in the chair by her desk. “Ava, I was going stir-crazy. I was driving you stir-crazy.”

She didn’t say anything but tapped her fingers on the desk. I noticed it was a thing with the women here. They did it to make their partner nervous, make them confess some great sin. Start spewing confessions just to stop the eternal silence and narrowed gaze directed at them. I wasn’t falling for that shit.

Except the room seemed a little hotter and the back of my neck prickled.

“Really, I’m fine. I’m not doing anything. I swear. I can’t. Sitting hurts—I certainly can’t shift drywall or use the nail gun. I’m just there for advice. Guidance.” I took her hand, stopping the tapping. “I’m not putting myself at risk.” Bravely, I met her gaze. “Honest, baby. You can call Van.”

Shit. I caved.

After two weeks of being a patient, I became impatient. I could walk again without much trouble. Lift my arm and use it thanks to the exercises Aiden coached me on. My ribs were still sore, but they were better. I could move without wanting to cry like a six-year-old who’d just lost their balloon in the park. Most of the time.

Once I started feeling better, I asked Ava about going back to the house. I didn’t need as much care now, and it seemed to be the right thing. She looked at me askance.

“Hunter, with all the dust happening, are you crazy? You’ll cough and sneeze and reinjure your ribs, or worse. You’re not going anywhere,” she informed me.

Her words made sense, and I had to admit I was relieved. I liked being with her. I enjoyed her company, our varied conversations, and especially having her next to me at night. She’d slept beside me ever since the night I told her I needed her there.

And I had to admit, I even liked her crazy family, although they took some getting used to. I never knew who would show up, how long they’d stay, or what they would say. I played a lot of cards and board games with the mothers, and Sandy was especially fond of jigsaw puzzles. The men tended to drop by with updates on the house or to check in. Their visits were shorter, and they never brought baked goods or iced tea with them. I preferred the women.

Once I was able to move around, I had Ronan take me to the house, amazed at the progress once again. Beams, posts, and foundations were done. Exterior walls and roof extension done. The roof was being completed as I watched, feeling grateful I wasn’t up there. I walked inside, seeing the new addition changing the entire flow of the house. I started finding my way there whenever Ava was out of her house. She could leave me for longer periods and go into work. It was all going great until Cami ratted me out and Ava arrived at the house, walking in and meeting my startled gaze.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Ah, Cash got out and headed here. I had to follow him?” I said, knowing I had just blown it.

“Is that what happened yesterday too?”

“Oh, um…”

Van appeared beside me. “Give him a break, Ava. You think I’d let him do anything? It’s the man’s house. He wants to look around, he can. Besides, he’s been a great help.”

“If he’s not doing anything, how is he helping?”

“He’s overseeing. In fact, Hunter, I was thinking it was time you took the project back. You’re great with the crew. I’ll check in if you need something, but you could oversee it.” He looked at Ava. “No work, just pointing. Making a few calls. Telling the men what to do. Like most of our foremen.”

That made her smile. “Not really.”

“No, but in this case, it works.”

Ava tapped her fingers on her arm, and she nodded. “We’ll discuss it at home.” She opened the door to the SUV. “You coming?”

Van turned to walk away and met my eyes. He winked, his gaze amused. “I suggest you do everything she says right now.”

“Right.”

I got in the SUV, Cash jumping in the back seat, his tail wagging hard. He loved being in a vehicle. For him, it was a new adventure waiting to happen.

For me right then, not so much.

“We agreed on this, Ava. It’s time.”

I was shocked to see her lips quiver.

“Hey, hey. What is this?” I asked, slipping my fingers under her chin and making her meet my eyes. “Everything is fine. I am not overdoing. I’m making sure the house is built the way I want.”

“I just worry.”

“You can stop worrying now. Soon, I’ll be one hundred percent.”

She huffed through her nose, making me grin. When she did that, she suited the nickname I gave her. I swore, if she could, she would breathe fire.

“Who said you were ever one hundred percent before?”

I laughed, the sound loud in the room. I tapped her nose playfully. “You got me there, Ava. You got me there.”

* * *

Ava

The crew made huge progress on the house. I walked around, taking it all in. The outside was complete, right down to the painting and trim work. Inside, plumbing and electricity were complete, walls were up, the new cupboards in, and work was almost done on the bathrooms. It was looking great. Another couple of weeks, it would be ready for paint and furniture.

I paused as a thought hit me.

What would happen then?

I heard his voice talking to one of the crew, its distinctive timbre carrying through the walls. I had heard the same voice groaning my name the past few nights.

With his recovery going well and his strength returning, so had his libido. On the weekend, he’d pulled me onto his lap, kissing me with all the pent-up longing and passion he’d been feeling. His tongue was demanding, his mouth hard on mine, and he roamed my body with shaking hands, fisting my shirt, delving his fingers under it to cup my breasts and play with my nipples.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I protested halfheartedly.

He pulled me down on his erection. “Does this feel like I hurt?”

“Your ribs—”

“I want you.” He silenced me with another kiss that curled my toes.

We ended up on the bed, me hovering over him, our eyes locked as I slid down on his sheathed cock, inch by inch, until we were flush. I shut my eyes at the feeling of him inside me again. He gripped my hips, his voice pleading.

“Please, Little Dragon. Move for me. I need you to move.”

I wagged my finger. “Let me ‘do the work.’ You stay still.” I began to move—long, slow rolls of my hips. He cursed, holding my hip tighter, fisting the sheets with his other hand.

“You feel so fucking good,” he groaned. “We’re so fucking good.”

I rode him to an intense orgasm. He cried out my name, his hips arching to get closer, groaning in a combination of pain and pleasure. After, I lay beside him as he stroked my hair.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He grunted. “More than okay.”

“It hurt?”

“A little. Well worth it. And I bet once we practice a little more, the pain will go away.”

And we’d been practicing daily.

We felt like…a couple. Sharing our days, sleeping close at night. Against his will, I was certain he was growing fond of my family—some members more than others.

Yet, the future remained up in the air. He hadn’t talked about leaving lately, and part of me dared to hope he no longer wanted to. That he would settle here and make a life—with me.

He walked into the room, catching my eye. Van was with him, and he kissed my cheek. “Hey, Ava. Place looks good, right?”

“Awesome. I love the reuse of the wood and the stone on the fireplace.”

Van nodded. “It’s coming together.” A huge smile crossed his face. “And here is the woman who can provide the finishing touches.”

I turned and met the smiling face of Liv, Van’s wife. She had been the head designer at BAM before she retired. Her taste and eye for detail were impeccable. I was pleased to see her in on the project. She would make the house lovely. She stopped and brushed a kiss to my cheek.

“Hello, Ava.”

I smiled. “Liv.” She headed to Van, stopping to pat Hunter’s arm. She knew he wasn’t much of a hugger, although he was better than he used to be.

Van greeted her as if he hadn’t seen her for months, not hours. He swept her into his arms and kissed her, his eyes dancing. “Hello, wife.”

She laughed and pushed him away. They were like my parents. Like all the second gen, they were openly affectionate and still deeply in love.

I met Hunter’s gaze, trying not to laugh as he rolled his eyes at their display of affection.

“I’m going to look around while you chat with Liv.”

I walked through the empty rooms, noticing the new windows that let in the light and how the porch wrapped around the entire house. The patio doors in the guest room, a late addition to the plan, added a nice focal point. In the master bedroom, I gazed at the back deck, imagining sitting out there watching the water and the sun, enjoying the peace. It was still my favorite view anywhere. The French doors were a great feature on the new wall, showcasing the surrounding nature.

As I was standing, lost in the view, I heard Liv.

“Tell me your style, Hunter. What you want in the house.”

“Does my style really matter?”

Her voice was surprised. “Of course it does. Your home needs to feel like you. What you like. The colors you want on the walls. The type of furniture you prefer.”

“My style is simple, I guess. I want neutral colors and sturdy furniture.” He paused, and I could imagine him scratching his head in confusion. His next words shocked me, and I had to grab the wall to stop from falling. “But it’s not my home—it’s going to be a rental property most of the time, so I need easy maintenance and durable.”

There was a beat of silence, then Liv spoke, her voice smooth.

“Maybe something with slipcovers, then. Easy to wash and get out marks. Washable rugs. Simple lighting. Heavy tables.”

“Yes.”

My heart thumped erratically in my chest. Rental. He was still planning on leaving. He simply hadn’t mentioned it. He knew he was going—he’d never made a secret out of the fact—so he’d stopped bringing it up. I’d taken his silence to mean something else. I thought he was settling, when in reality, he was simply going forward with his plans.

I had misconstrued it all. My feelings for Hunter were far stronger than his for me. I knew he cared, he’d admitted that much, but the bottom line was, he didn’t care enough.

I wasn’t enough. Usually the men in my life told me I was too much, but this time, I was lacking.

And he would leave me.

Hunter strode into the room, his ankle fully healed. “There you are. I need your help, Little Dragon. Liv is bringing out swatches and catalogues. I can’t with that stuff. Come rescue me.”

I blinked, looking away, not wanting him to see the hurt on my face. “Sure,” I managed to get out.

He frowned. “Are you all right? You’re pale.” He stepped closer. “Really pale.”

“I’m fine.”

“Ava—”

I waved him off. “I said I’m fine. Let’s go see what Liv has up her sleeve.”

I brushed past him, his scent swirling in the air.

I would miss that. I would miss him.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive his goodbye.

* * *

Hunter

Something was off with Ava, but I couldn’t figure it out. The past few days, she’d been quieter than I was used to. Almost withdrawn. She smiled at the right time, laughed if I made a joke, but she wasn’t herself. Her smiles didn’t reach her eyes, her laughter sounded forced and hollow to my ears. In her bed, she was right there with me, but her lovemaking had an almost desperate feel to it. I was certain I had heard her crying in the middle of the night, but when I reached for her, she was completely still, not reacting to my touch or my quiet whisper of her name. She’d always been so open and honest with me, and I was puzzled.

“Hey,” Van greeted me as he walked in.

“Hi.”

“Liv is coming over in a bit to show you some stuff she picked. If you like it, she’ll order it.”

“Great.” I was pleased that Liv was going to help put the place to rights. It was looking better than my expectations had hoped. It would be a warm, welcoming place when it was complete. I was surprised at my lack of enthusiasm about the project finishing, though. My main focus since I arrived was to get the house done and move on. By the time this was done, I would have been here for a lot longer than I planned. It was time to go.

“So, you’re not staying on?” Van asked, leaning against the counter.

“No. My goal was to get this place done and rent it out as much as possible.”

“That’s a shame. I thought you’d be around longer.”

“Hmm,” I murmured, unsure what to say.

“I was going to recommend you to Addi. Get you on as one of the new foremen ABC is looking for. Great future with that company.” He paused. “Plus, you know…Ava.”

“Ava and I have an understanding.”

He took a sip of the coffee he had brought with him. “I guess I thought that had changed. You two seem so close.” He shook his head. “Too bad. You’d have a great life here. Good job, a woman who loves you, a family that would add something to your life you didn’t even know you were missing.”

The sound of a car pulling up made him smile. “Here’s Liv. I’ll go say hello.”

I watched him walk away, my mind racing.

He thought things had changed?

Ava’s withdrawn behavior suddenly made sense.

She thought things had changed as well. She’d overheard me confirming with Liv that I was leaving. No wonder she’d been so pale when I went to get her. I had just dropped a bombshell on her I knew nothing about.

The past while, we’d been acting like a couple. And I allowed it because the truth was that I fucking liked it. Being part of Ava’s life. Basking in the feelings she brought forth in me. I let her care for me. I stayed with her when I should have come back here, regardless of the dust and mess. Now I was at home with her. Cash was settled.

But it all had to stop.

The bottom line was, nothing had changed. I didn’t know how to love. Not the way Ava deserved or needed to be loved. I could fuck her, make her laugh, and for a while, we’d be golden. But I would leave because it was all I knew. The urge would grab hold, and I’d have to go. The longer I stayed, the harder it was going to be for both of us when I left.

I had to leave her before I destroyed her. Once I left, she would see she was better off without me.

I ignored the voice asking me if I would destroy myself by doing so. One thing I knew for certain was that I would never be better without her.

* * *

“Did you think I was going to stay?” I asked Ava.

She was sitting across the table from me, a glass of wine by her mostly uneaten plate. She’d used the excuse of being tired, work was crazy, and a late lunch every night this week. But now I knew what the problem was. It was me. I couldn’t take the pain in her eyes anymore, and I decided to address it.

Her eyes widened at my blunt words.

“Sorry?” she whispered.

“You thought I’d changed my mind. That we were a couple.”

She straightened her shoulders. “Yes.”

“Nothing’s changed for me, Little Dragon. I don’t stay. Anywhere.” I folded my hands on the table, wondering why they were shaking. “You knew that.”

“I thought things were different since your accident.”

“In some ways, yes.”

“Which ones?”

“I understand you more. I see that families can be real. I’m grateful to them for their help. It was hard to accept it, but you were right. Accepting help doesn’t make me any less a person.” I paused. “And I learned what it’s like to feel happy. You made me happy, Ava. I will always remember you for that.”

“That’s all? That’s all you’ll remember?”

“No. I’ll never forget anything about you. But, Ava, I’m not the guy. I can’t settle. I don’t know how. I don’t want to know how. I come and go. It’s what I do.”

“What if I said I wanted to go with you?”

I shook my head, even as her words caused my heart to beat faster. “That’s the biggest difference between us. You need your family. They’re a huge part of you, and you would be lost without them.”

“And you don’t need anyone?”

“No,” I lied. Somehow, somewhere along the line, I had started to need her. But it had to stop.

“Everyone needs someone,” she protested. “Everyone needs a place to belong. Hunter, stop running. Look around you and see what you have here.”

“What I have here is a house I’m going to rent for income. A place I might visit on occasion but never stay. A group of people I was lucky to meet.” I sucked in a deep breath. “And a woman who will be hard to say goodbye to.” I met her pain-filled eyes. “But I’ll still do it.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

Her words tore through me. I had never heard those words spoken to me before. I knew I never would again.

“No, you love the man you think I am. I’m not him, Ava. I’m not your knight. I’m just a fucked-up version of him.” I stood. “I have to go.”

“What? Where?”

“I’m going back to the house. I never should have stayed. I let you think it meant I would stay forever.”

“You won’t even try?”

“I can’t.”

I began to walk away when she spoke. I didn’t turn around, letting her words hit my back like sharp knives piercing my skin.

“You’re a coward.”

I didn’t reply. She was right.

“Love is always scary, Hunter. Staying is always scary. I think you love me. I think that’s why you’re leaving. Not because you have to but because the thought of admitting you love me, admitting you need me, frightens the shit out of you. And instead of admitting it, you’re walking away.”

I glanced over my shoulder. She stood, her chin lifted, her shoulders back. My fierce Little Dragon. Brave and strong. She’d survive this. Survive me.

“Take care of yourself, Ava.”

This time, she turned away.