When To Let Go (35 page)

Violet scowled the same way her father would. Everyone laughed some more.

“So, um,” Ryder swallowed. “Are you serious about moving in?”

“I’ll need to get a job. The doctor just gave me the okay this morning and I feel like my body can handle it–”

“We have an opening at the bakery!” Ava excitedly exclaimed, dumping the crumbs in the trash. She knew Maggie had no interest in working at the tracks like her parents had hoped. Maggie had only gone there once since the accident.

“Really? That would be so much fun!”

Their friendship was growing stronger again and Ava hoped this might bring them to the level they were before she’d broken up with Wes.

“I guess that leaves how you feel about it.” Maggie bit her bottom lip, going back to the couch and taking Ryder’s hand, the two now focused on only each other.

“This is huge, Maggie,” Ryder admitted, licking his lips and swallowing. “You would really want to?”

Maggie was quick to reply, “Yes.”

“I want it too. I sleep better when you’re with me.”

“You’re not going to freak out?” Maggie explained to the room, trying to lighten the tension, “He freaks out sometimes.”

Ryder shrugged, “It’s true, I do.”

Parker gestured to Maggie with his chin, “I remember when I didn’t think you’d be good for him.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Let me make my point,” Parker carried on. “You are though. You both are. You force each other to push your limits. Ryder hugged
both
of our moms the other day. They called me immediately after he had left, crying into the phone.”

Ryder scrunched his brows, “We’ve hugged before.”

“Yeah, but that was them initiating it. This time
you
embraced
them
right away.”

Ryder’s eyes got wide at the realization that it was true.

Parker smiled, “See? It’s a good sign that you’re not even noticing it.”

Maggie changed the subject, knowing Ryder hated the focus to be on him, “Anyone hungry? Let’s go get dinner.”

For the next two hours the six of them teased one another, laughing loud enough it rang through the restaurant, and caught up on the lost moments from while they were apart.

Dakota’s footsteps were out of sync with Wes’s as they strolled towards Fazoli's for dinner.

She had invited him earlier in the day and he had accepted, not having anything better to do that night.

Dakota took his hand in hers, entwining their fingers. Wes wasn’t sure if he liked that. He wasn’t sure if he liked her. She had latched onto him since he came back home for summer break.

It was one thing to get texts on a daily basis, the constant socializing was another. Dakota was a talker. Mostly about shoes, makeup, and gossiping about other girls. None of those topics interested him.

As the restaurant came into view, so did the woman Wes had spent the last two years trying to forget.

The past school year, Wes had found a life he was truly beginning to enjoy. Although he still thought of Ava almost daily, it wasn’t soul crushing anymore.

He wasn’t disillusioned; he knew he still wanted her (as the summer had proved thus far), he just didn’t
need
her like he once had. Or so he had thought. That all went out the window the second he saw her standing in front of the restaurant, in a yellow cotton summer dress that hugged her top half and flared around the waist, ending just above the knees. Her hair shined, cascading around her shoulders in soft waves, the natural blond and red highlights more prominent than usual. She was fresh faced, her skin buttery and flawless.

He remembered what that skin tasted and smelt like. He wanted to run his tongue along her collarbone, exactly how he knew she liked it: slow, with a nip of teeth at the end. He always got the most sensuous groans from her when he did that.

Wes shook his head, clearing his thoughts of Ava naked under him.

Ava gave them both a tentative smile, grabbing Dakota’s elbow and uttering under her breath, “I thought it was just going to be the two of us.”

She let go, taking a step back. Her brows furrowed when her eyes fell on their closed hands. She immediately caught Wes’s eyes, searching for answers.

He didn’t give her any. He didn’t need to explain himself to her. She’d given up that right when she broke up with him.

“I know, I told a tiny fib,” Dakota held her thumb and index finger close together. “My brother’s in town and I thought it would be fun if we double-dated.”

This took Wes by surprise for two reasons. The first being that he didn’t realize this was a date, and second, that he was on a double date with Ava. No way in hell was that going to happen. He may have moved on, but he wasn’t ready for
that
.

“Dakota, no, please don’t tell me–”

Ava didn’t have a chance to finish; Dakota was hollering at someone over her shoulder.

“Vale!” Dakota waved her free hand.

Wes’s body stiffened as he caught sight of a man coming down the street towards them.

The sonofabitch was good-looking. Wes instantly hated him.

He tried not to scowl as Dakota introduced them all.

The guy had the nerve to take Ava’s hand over his, raising it to place a kiss on top.

Ava was swooning. Wes knew the look; he had received that same look for years.

“Shall we?” Vale gestured to the restaurant, leading the way to the door and opening it for the rest, giving a wink to Ava as they passed.

The hostess led them to a four person table. Dakota and Wes were on one side, Vale and Ava on the other. Ava sat directly across from Wes.

Vale picked up a strand of Ava’s hair, “You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen.”

Instead of avoiding talk of her hair, Ava blushed and smiled, “Thank you.”

Wes had just entered his own personal hell.

Everyone picked up their menus, Vale stealing a peek down Ava’s top.

Wes clenched his fingers around the plastic of his menu, lifting it so it was all he could see.

“This is my treat,” Vale announced. “I’m on vacation, I just got promoted, and I have a beautiful woman next to me.”

Dakota cleared her throat.

“Two beautiful women!”

Dakota smiled at her brother.

Ava tried protesting, but Vale insisted.

Personally, Wes was planning on ordering the most expensive plate on the menu, “Who wants an appetizer? You drink, Vale? We could share a bottle of wine?” Or two.

Vale raised a brow, “Are you even old enough to drink?”

“As of last month. Are you?” Wes challenged, interested in knowing his age.

“Five years ago. You like red?”

“Yup.” He didn’t give a shit what they drank.

“Goodie,” Dakota cheered. “You can sneak me some.”

They placed their orders, Ava having to repeat hers because the waitress was unable to hear her soft voice.

“So, Wes,” Vale handed off his menu. “Dakota tells me you play college basketball?”

“He’s good too,” Dakota answered for him. “I bet he’ll be picked up like that,” she snapped her fingers. “Pretty soon
he’ll
be buying dinner for everyone!”

“I’m not going pro.” Wes had never planned on it.

“What? But you’re so good. The crowd always loves you.”

“I only do it for the scholarship.”

Dakota was taken back, “Don’t you want to be rich and famous?”

Wes almost laughed, “No.”

“Oh, please. Everyone wants to be.”

“I don’t,” Ava and Wes said at the same time.

Dakota huffed, waving a dismissive hand, “That’s ridiculous.”

Vale took back the conversation, “What are you planning on doing?”

Wes reached for a fresh breadstick that was just brought over, “I’m not really sure. My major’s accounting, so that narrows it down.”

Dakota perked up after being disappointed from his news of not going pro, “Well, that’s good. Accountants can make lots of money.”

Vale ignored his sister, his attention aimed at the innocent sex appeal next to him, “What about you, Ava?”

“I work at a bakery. I love to bake cupcakes.”

“Mm,” he leered at her in such a way one knew he was imagining her as the cupcake, wanting to lick all the frosting off. “I’d like to try one.”

Ava was oblivious, “We’re open every day.”

“Or maybe you could bring some to my place…”

“Appetizers are here!” Wes announced a little too loudly, interrupting the two.

Wes was aware of every move Vale made throughout dinner, not liking that his chair kept getting closer and closer to Ava’s.

“You have soft skin,” Vale admired, their forearms now touching, rubbing together every time they moved.

“It’s called moisturizing,” Wes sneered, offering over the bread. “Breadstick?”

Dinner was unbearable. Vale took every opportunity to flirt with Ava, who fortunately didn’t flirt back, too shy.

“This is so much fun!” Dakota proclaimed halfway through.

“Best night ever,” Wes sarcastically bit out.

Dakota squeezed his thigh, smiling, not cluing in to his sarcastic tone.

Ava snorted into her napkin, trying to conceal her laughter.

“You okay?” Vale patted her back like she was choking.

“Fine, wrong pipe,” she coughed, hiding a smirk behind the white cloth, meeting Wes’s eyes for the first time since they had sat down.

He winked at her and the flush of red on her cheeks made him far too happy. This dinner made it clear that Ava Stone would always be his greatest weakness.

Vale’s phone chirped and he excused himself, stepping outside.

“I need to use the ladies room.” Dakota pointed to her plate, “I’m done, if the waiter comes by.”

“What do you think of Vale?” Wes asked when she was out of earshot, leaning onto the table with his forearms.

Ava moved pasta around with her fork, “Are you and her together?”

“I asked you first.”

Ava half-shrugged, still playing with her damn food, “He’s alright.”

“What, cocky not your thing?”

“He’s not cocky,” she defended.

Wes’s jaw clenched, biting back a nasty remark. His jealousy was about to erupt.

“Don’t date Dakota, okay?” She uttered under her breath.

“She’s hot.” Wes was purposely trying to get a reaction.

The wince he caught under her shield of hair almost made him feel better. Almost.

“You can do better.”

“I thought you two were friends?”

“This isn’t the first blind date she set me up on,” Ava revealed, setting the fork down and brushing the hair from her face.

Wes took the glass of wine he hadn’t planned on drinking and finished it in one swallow.

“The first guy was in his late-twenties,” Ava giggled at the memory. “He was already balding with a beer gut. The second guy wore about twenty gold chains around his neck, with pants sagging to his kneecaps.”

Wes laughed, “I bet those were fun.”

Ava grinned, “Best nights of my life.”

Wes grinned back.

“What are you two smiling about?” Dakota joined them, ruffling Wes’s hair.

He didn’t like it.

“I was telling Wes all about the blind dates you set me up on.”

“Well somebody had to do
something
,” Dakota drawled, believing she was doing Ava a favor. “She hasn’t dated anyone since you.”

Wes’s stomach flipped, his happiness reaching euphoria.

“I knew it was because of her self-esteem.” Dakota drank the rest of her brother’s wine, wiping the corners of her mouth with her cloth napkin. “She needed to see that it was possible for guys to be interested in her.”

“And that was the best you could come up with?” Ava twisted her hair around her shoulder, playing with the ends, face growing red. “What do I keep telling you? I’m not interested in dating.”

“What are you planning on doing then? Getting some cats?” Dakota provoked, pouring the rest of the wine into her brother’s glass.

“That’s a great idea,” Ava pronounced, leaning back into her chair with crossed arms.

Wes had never heard her talk back. He was proud.

“I think so too,” Wes couldn’t help but agree.

Dakota turned her head to him, “What?”

“That she should just get some cats,” Wes stated, thinking it was an excellent plan.

Dakota sighed, drinking more of her brother’s wine, “Yeah, I guess it will be hard for someone like her to find somebody.”

That wasn’t what Wes had meant, and he was about to clarify when Ava spoke up first, surprising them all.

“I’m really getting tired of the way you treat me. So I’m fat and ugly. A true friend wouldn’t care.”

Wes sat up straighter, “You called her fat?”

Dakota took out lip gloss from her clutch, “Not exactly.”

At the same time Ava answered, “Yes.”

Why the hell would someone say that? Ava had curves. Sexy, sinful curves.

Don’t even get him started on the ugly part.

Dakota and Ava glared at one another.

Vale came back, touching Ava’s bare shoulder, “Sorry that took so long. Minor emergency at the office. All better now.”

Dakota pointed her finger at her brother, still glaring at Ava, “My brother’s hot and I fixed you up with him!”

“I never asked you to!” Ava shouted (in all fairness, it was her version of a shout, which would only register as a raised voice to others). Ava got up, the chair scraping behind her. “Thank you for the dinner Vale, but I’ve suddenly had a wakeup call and need to leave.”

The table fell silent, all three of them stunned; more so Wes and Dakota, who had never seen Ava stand up for herself.

“Excuse me,” Wes said over his shoulder as he went after her.

Ava must have sprinted to her car. She was already pulling away from the curb when he caught up.

Dakota had followed behind him, anger flaring in her eyes, “Well that was rude. I can’t believe you ditched me to go after her! I won’t put up with that in a boyfriend.”

“Dakota, let me make something clear.” Wes was fuming over not catching Ava, Dakota insulting Ava, and being on a surprise double-fucking-date with Ava. “I’ve been trying to be nice. You seemed lonelier than me. I’m not interested in becoming your boyfriend, nor am I interested in you.”

The tears forming in her eyes would have made him feel bad if she hadn’t been such a bitch to his girl.

Wes left her there to go to his own car.

Vale stopped him on his way out of the restaurant, “Where’d she go? Dakota said all I had to do was be nice to her and she’d be an easy lay.”

Wes couldn’t hold it back anymore. He swung his fist and punched the guy.

He got in his car and drove, passing by Ava’s street more than once. To keep himself from going to Ava’s door, he showed up at Ryder’s unannounced. Ryder was reading. Wes took a seat on the couch, turned on the television, and watched silently next to him, crashing on his couch when it got too late.