“Meredith?” Ava questions, raising her eyebrows.
“Yeah, she’s Hunter Cash’s executive personal assistant. I’ll be helping her,” I say while reading the concluding part of the email. “He’s April’s stepfather.”
Ava shakes her head like she’s in disbelief.
“Let me get this straight. Hunter cash is April's stepfather and you never once told me this?”
“Why would I tell you this?” I answer in confusion. “What does it matter?”
“What does it matter?” Ava repeats in a high-pitched tone. “Have you seen Hunter Cash?”
“Actually, no. He hasn't been home. April warned me her parents aren’t around much. They got married about a year ago. She said their marriage is kind of weird,” I blurt out, then continue so Ava will leave me alone. “I've met April’s mom. Let's say she fits well into the bored housewife image.”
“And you haven't met Hunter Cash?”
“No, Ava,” I drag for the millionth time. “I told you, I haven't met him. He's been traveling or something. I don't know. April said chances of me running into him would be incredibly slim hence why it was okay for me to stay there.”
Ava takes a moment to process, so I assume Q & A time is over.
“So, wait a minute. Let me get this story in my head in order,” she begins with, slowing down like she’s trying to solve a riddle or something. Then, she continues, “You're staying in Hunter Cash's house. Now, you've got a job as an assistant for Hunter Cash.”
“Ava, for the love of God,” I raise my voice in frustration. “Yes, I’m technically staying in his house. I’m not working for him as his executive assistant. Any more questions? Because I really don’t understand why your brain can’t compute this.”
“I have one more question,” she adds while I let out a groan and fall back into my chair. “Have you googled him?”
“No …” I answer slowly. “Why would I google him? I just figured he was like some old dude. I know he's thirty, but that's old.”
An obnoxious laugh leaves Ava’s mouth. “Firstly, thirty is not old. Thirty is hot. Why don't you google him right now? You're welcome.”
Just to get her off my back, I open my search engine and type in his name. The page instantly fills with images of a very attractive man. As I look closer, he looks exactly like the man inside the elevator. The one with the big feet.
Oh shit…
Hunter Cash busted me staring at his crotch. FUCK! Now, how am I supposed to face him? Sure, it’s one thing to see him in the office, which is manageable if everyone stays professional. But what if April is wrong and I run into him at her house?
“Okay, why the face? He’s hot, right.”
“Um, sure. Attractive, yes.”
Ava rolls her eyes at me. “You sound like Mom when she’s in front of Dad.”
I take a deep breath, then sputter the truth. “I kinda saw him in the elevator and had no idea who he was. One thing led to another and ….”
“What do you mean one thing led to another?” Ava almost shouts. The volume of her voice causes River to stop mid-cracker and stare at her mother in bewilderment. “You hooked up with him?”
“God, no! He just caught me staring at him.”
Ava clutches her chest, releasing a long-winded sigh. “You had me for a moment. Look, not the best first impression, but it’s not that bad. It could have been a hell of a lot worse.”
“How was I supposed to know it was him?” I ask defensively.
“You google him. You google everyone,” Ava states, crossing her arms. “At what point did you think to not google him? Your bestie says you can stay with her and her rich stepdaddy. Weren’t you the least curious if he was hot?”
My gaze fixates on Ava, wondering how we’re so alike most of the time, but other times, it’s like we live on different planets.
“I don't know what sick and twisted world you live in, but why would I google her stepdaddy? Even the word stepdaddy is just wrong.”
Ava huffs, staring at me like I’m an idiot.