“You’re mine, Ava. That is how I define you in my life,” I said.
“Sounds like a hefty definition,” she said.
“You have my heart, Ava. You have all of me. And when you’re ready for it, all you have to do is say so.”
Her hand crept across the table and settled on my wrist.
“I’m ready,” she said.
My heart fluttered with happiness as a smile crossed my lips.
“You know, I spoke with Camilla the other day.”
“You did?” I asked.
“I did. I actually took a few of her things over to her place to return them since I figured our friendship had completely gone bust, but we actually had a decent heart-to-heart.”
“What did she say? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“If we’re going to be living together, Logan, then you better get used to hearing about my friends a lot,” she said.
I took her hand within mine and brought it to my lips, then kissed it with all the tenderness I had to give her.
“So, that’s a yes?”
“It is,” she said.
“You’ll move in with me?”
“I’ll move in with you, Logan.”
“Then let’s get started on our new life together. Tell me how this conversation with Camilla went.”
“I mean, it was a lot of back and forth, but the gist of it was that she wasn’t going to stand in our way. She said if I wanted to pursue you, then she wouldn’t stand in the way of that happening.”
“Wow. She said that?”
“Yeah. She’s also apparently engaged to her new beau.”
“She’s what now?” I asked.
“Yeah. Trust me, I was just as shocked.”
“Camilla, engaged.”
“Yeah. Same reaction, I promise you,” she said.
“And it’s for real.”
“It’s a real ring with real sparkle. And with the way Camilla talked about it all, it seems as if she’s found real happiness.”
“Well, then good for her. So, where does that leave the two of you?” I asked.
Ava draw in a deep breath before she sipped her coffee.
“Things are okay for now. I’m treading lightly. I’m glad to have her back as a friend, but I’m hiding some parts away for a little bit. A decent conversation and getting some answers doesn’t erase all the terrible things she said to both of us.”
“No, it doesn’t,” I said.
“So, for now? Things are okay. If they get better as time goes on, great. I’d love to have my best friend back. And if they don’t? Then it’s no skin off my back either way.”
“You miss her, don’t you?”
A cloud rolled over Ava’s eyes, and I took her hand again.
“I mean, you know me and her. We’ve been friends for years and years. I do miss her. I miss our late-night conversations and gossiping over coffee. I miss our wine nights and our drinks out. It’s why I’m willing to work toward something better with her. Maybe now that she’s finally found what she wants out of life, she won’t hold so much bitterness and resentment inside. Because I know, deep down, all this anger came from a place she hasn’t reconciled with herself.”
“You’re an intelligent woman, Ava. I’m lucky to have you by my side,” I said.
“I feel complete now, for the first time in my life, and I don’t want to lose that, Logan.”
“You never will. I’ll work day and night to make sure you never lose that feeling.”
I brought her hand to my lips before tugging her closer to me. Her chair scooted across the floor before her foot rested against mine. I slid my hand down her back. Her forehead connected with my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head over and over again, until I felt her relax and let out a sigh that released all the built-up tension she’d woken up with.
“Are you happy?” I asked.
Ava lifted her head and looked deep into my eyes before her hand came up to cup my cheek.
“Happier than I’ve ever been,” she said.
“Good, because I feel the same way. Ava, you are the light of my life, the woman who fits me like a glove. And I don’t ever want to do anything that will cause me to lose you.”
“You won’t, Logan. We’re okay. Everything is okay now. Camilla’s more level-headed and we have talked things out. We’ve all progressed and moved forward. You can count on that.”
I nuzzled into the palm of her hand before she went back to sipping on her coffee.
“So, what are the plans for the day?” she asked.
“Well, there’s this fun little thing you just agreed to that will require an immense amount of packing.”
“And purging. I’ve got plenty of things that need to go in the garbage.”
“Maybe we could head over to your place after we clean up and start the process?”
“I’ll need boxes.”
“Then we can run to the ABC store and get you some boxes.”
“I’m going to look like an alcoholic moving into your place,” she said.