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“There you are,” Christian says, grinning as I walk into the room. “I was going to get you sooner, but the walls are thin, and you sounded like you were busy.”
My cheeks flame as I look up at him. “I was just having a shower.”
“Sure. If that’s what we want to pretend you were doing, that’s what we’ll pretend you were doing.”
“What were you going to get me for?” I ignore his teasing the best I can.
If I could die right her, right now, just to avoid this conversation, I would consider it.
“I have a surprise waiting for you in the library. I know that it’s been a long week, and you haven’t been able to get up to much, but I thought this might make up for it.”
My curiosity spikes as I head down the hall to the library.
When I open the door, Ava is standing in the middle of the room with her arms wide open. I laugh as I race toward her, my vision already blurring.
Ava stumbles as I launch myself at her.
We fall onto one of the couches, laughing and hugging each other. It takes a few minutes to sort ourselves out and stand up before heading for the door.
“Come on.” I loop my arm through hers and pull her along with me. “You are going to die when you see the pool. It has to be one of the most beautiful pools I have ever seen. There’s this waterfall with a bunch of pretty white stones behind it.”
Ava hurries to keep up with me as we move through the halls and step into the backyard.
Her mouth drops open as she looks around at the massive backyard that opens up to the woods beyond. She shakes her head and looks back at me.
“This is where you live?” She looks at the pool that stretches from one end of the house to the other, disappearing around one corner. “You have an entire outdoor kitchen set up.”
There is a large rocky hill behind the pool that flattens out on top to an entire outdoor entertaining area.
I’ve spent most of the last several afternoons on the comfortable loungers up there, attempting to write music and playing some of my favorite songs.
“This is where I live.” I let go of her arm and lead the way to the stairs that lead to the outdoor entertaining area.
Ava is silent while we climb the steps, but I know there is a lot on her mind.
Her eyes shine when I look back over my shoulder at her. She is struggling with this as much as I am.
“Alright, now that we’re alone, why don’t you tell me whatever is bothering you the most right now?” I fall back in the hammock, and she lands beside me.
We rock together, staring up at the sky and the fat clouds that drift across it.
Sitting here with her reminds me of the afternoons we spent together when we were younger.
We used to spread out a pile of blankets in the yard and spend the entire afternoon just staring at the sky and talking about our futures.
“What the hell is all of this? Why are you living with this man? He told me that you decided to go through with the arranged marriage after you and Dad sat down to talk with him.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, hating for a moment that I have to lie to her. “Dad needs help, and getting married is what it took to help him. I know that it may not be the most ideal situation, but it’s what works for now. Christian is a good man.”
“And what’s he do for work? How is he connected to Dad? How the hell can he afford this kind of lifestyle?”
I look at her and shrug. “He owns a trainyard, a few bars, and a couple other businesses.”
She nods, taking it all in. “I still hate the thought of you being married to a man you don’t love. Did you really think this through, Zoe? I know you want to help Dad, but there have to be other ways to help him.”
“This was easy, Ava, and this fixed things fast.” I smile and look back up at the clouds. “Christian may not be the man I always pictured marrying, but he is a good man, and I know that my life with him is going to be good.”
“I still don’t know about this, Zoe. I want you to want so much more for yourself than this.”
