“Yes she is. I’m not saying it to be prickly, but because it’s the truth.”
Sophie pressed her lips together. “I’ll see what Alex can find out.”
“Keep me posted.”
“Sure.”
“Ava?”
“Yeah?”
“Did Milly get the presents I sent?”
Ava turned towards the tree and her heart soared. Wrapping paper was torn and littered the floor, but it spoke of a happy Christmas morning. A joyous event. All the more so because Cristiano had been at the centre of it. “Yeah, she loved them. She’s resting now or I’d put her on to say thanks.”
“I’ll catch her tomorrow.”
“Sure.”
“Try not to worry, Aves. Liv’s got a good head on her shoulders. She’ll be okay.”
Ava didn’t feel any more relaxed than she had been that morning. But what could she do except wait? Wait, and email.
25 December, 11.08pm
From: Ava
To: Sophie, Olivia
Olivia!! You’re killing me!! What is going on!!
“You have been staring at your phone as though it holds the secret to eternal youth,” Cristiano teased, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing the top of her head.
“I know,” she grimaced. “I just can’t believe both of my sisters have gone and married strangers!”
“Presumably not strangers to either of them.”
Ava rolled her eyes and pouted her lip. “Of course not. But it’s all so fast! So rushed!”
“I would suggest we make it a trifecta, but I know your thoughts on the matter,” he teased, kissing her full lower lip.
“Cris,” her heart turned over in her chest. “We’re different. We’ve known each other for years.”
His dark eyes were smouldering. “Does that mean you would accept my proposal?”
She laughed, but her heart was sending her strange messages. The certainty she’d had that she wanted to wait, to take things slowly, was being replaced by a desperate ache to grab Cristiano with two hands and make their love official and legally binding. She had sworn after Angus that she’d never marry; she on her own had to be enough. But now? What did she want? “Ever the opportunist,” she demurred softly, unable to resist nuzzling into his neck. He smelled so good; of sunshine and sand.
He shrugged. “Of course.”
Ava kissed him back, her hands moving up to his hair. What did she want? If only she could put words to her feelings. “It means that I want to marry you – one day. But maybe we should just let the dust settle on Olivia and Sophie’s hasty nuptials first, huh?”
He groaned and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her and lifting her clear off the floor. “Do you remember that game we played once?”
She nodded, incapable of speech.
“Perhaps I can torture an acceptance out of you?”
She nodded again, her eyes bright. “Or have fun trying,” she agreed.