Chapter 6
Sydney
Tuesday arrives, and the day goes rather quickly. I have about an hour before Ava expects me for dinner. I am excited to get out of the house, meet Jane, and do something other than think about Colin. That man has certainly gotten under my skin… in the best of ways. Yesterday, he called to let me know the guys said they were in for going out to get drinks later this week at the local watering hole. It seems to be a pretty popular place from what I’ve seen the few times I’ve driven by. He said that I will be meeting his friends, Mark and Trystan. Meeting his friends means that he obviously wants to keep me around for a while.
At ten to seven, I rush out the door to my car with a cheesy potato casserole in hand. The drive is right down the road, and I have evidently arrived before Jane. That calms my nerves a little. Social anxiety is unfortunately something I’ve dealt with all my life when meeting new people or going togatherings. I’ve never been one to just walk into the room and feel immediately at ease. Not unless it is just family. Ava’s house is definitely a bit smaller than mine, but it is nonetheless beautiful. Cottages like the ones you picture when hearing fairy tales read as a child come to mind, except that this cottage is much more sophisticated and chic with a hint of whimsicality. Gumdrops and gingerbread men would be more comforting though.You got this. You already know Ava.
Ava’s walkway is lined with white and purple wave petunias. The house is surrounded by hanging baskets and troughs full of them. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Solar lights appear to be sprinkled strategically around a small koi pond by a tree near the right side of the house. Everything about this place screams Ava, even though we’ve only known each other a couple of weeks.
“I’m here!” I call as I step through the front door. She did a message to say that I should just come on in.
If I thought the outside was charming, the inside is even better. Homey and comforting are the two best words that immediately come to mind. The dining room where we will be eating has a small, square, dark cherry wood, expandable table that, at the moment, seats four. It’s set with pale yellow dinner plates that just make you smile.
While I’m still admiring, the doorbell rings, and the oven buzzer begins beeping that dinner is ready.
“Hey, Syd, would you mind letting Jane in? She’s probably got her hands full!” Ava hollers from the kitchen.
“Not a problem!” I answer in kind as I hear Ava scurrying about the kitchen to take the food out.
So much for an easy introduction. Pull up your britches!I anxiously walk to the door and am surprised when Jane opens the door at the same time I reach for the handle. I jump back just in time.
“Eek! I’m so sorry, hun! Looks like I scared you just about as bad as you got me!” Jane shuffles her dish to catch it from falling, holding her other hand to her heart and snickering. She then reaches that hand out, placing it on my forearm. “I know she said to just come on in, but I had to announce my arrival in style! You must be Sydney. I’m Jane. Ava’s told me all about you, and I am dying to get the scoop on Colin! Ava! Where’s the wine glasses? We’re all going to need a drink.”
Jane saunters into the dining room excitedly, waving me to follow. Colin hit the nail on the head. Jane is the complete opposite of Ava. Blunt and a straight shooter. Funny. Good, I need more people like that in my life. These two are going to be great for me.
I giggle at Jane’s expectant expression as she pulls out a chair and plops down. “I can already tell that I’m going to like you, Jane. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you too!”
Ava walks into the room, interrupting before Jane can start up again about Colin. “Alright, you two, dinner’s ready. Grab a plate and come get it. Jane, grab the wine glasses from the china cabinet on the way. I need a drink too.”
I grab Jane’s plate since she’s pulling out three glasses. We’re more than happy to oblige, the baked lemon pepper chicken smells amazing. I set the plates on the island, and Ava is wrangling the opener on a bottle of wine to start us off.
“You know, Ava, you think you need a drink now, just wait til you have your hands full with a full-time job and a husband to take care of. I can’t even begin to start thinking about having a baby. Garret’s been really pushing the issue lately, but he just doesn’t seem to get that I’m already an exhausted working woman and housewife. Don’t get me wrong, I’m more than happy being a working wife, but damn, a girl needs a break every now and then. You know what they all say. Once the babies come, all those sexy little outfits and romantic eveningsdisappear only to come out once in a blue moon,” Jane exclaims before lifting her glass to take a very healthy gulp of her red wine.
“Well, no, I can’t imagine how that feels, but I would love to have somebody to come home to. Someone I can cuddle at night. Body pillows aren’t a good substitute for a warm body,” Ava snickers, adding, “And sex? What’s sex? I have to find me a man soon.” The wistful look on Ava’s face when she sighs into her wine glass has me silently giggling.
I revel in glee inwardly over my two, new-found friends. They are definitely turning out to be more interesting than I’d hoped for! Bonus for them living right down my road. Man oh man, Holly will absolutely love them!
“Well, you know, there’s plenty of things to aid in the absence of a man,” Jane bluntly throws out there. Ava’s face reddens slightly at where the conversation is heading.
Ava notices my attempt at keeping my giggles in check and turns to me. “So, Syd, how bout you? Do I get to live vicariously through your love life too?”
Not being able to hold back any longer, I guffaw. They both laugh with me, but look at me curiously.
“Ladies, if I had one, then you could. Celibacy sucks… Hopefully it won’t be a thing for much longer. I’m with Jane though, there’s ‘options’ when a man isn’t warming the bed at night.” I raise my glass toward Ava and say, “Here’s a toast to finding love and a man for Ava! Until then, hopefully she can handle the rest!”
The three of us clink glasses, laughing and sipping on wine while enjoying a scrumptious dinner. They eat up every detail from my date night. Jane and I help Ava clear the table and put away leftovers. Afterwards, we take our wine to go sit out on Ava’s screened-in porch to be more comfortable and chat some more.
“So when do you get to see Colin again, Syd?” Jane kicks off her shoes and tucks her feet up underneath her on the wicker sofa.
“Thursday night,” I say, beaming with excitement. “He’s taking me to a bar for a few drinks and to meet his friends, Mark and Trystan. That’s got to be a good sign, right?”
“Oh, Syd, definitely! I think you’ll like Mark. I’ve never met Trystan. Mark is super gorgeous though. He actually reminds me of McSteamy fromGrey’s Anatomy.” Ava sighs while obviously picturing Eric Dane, the actor who plays ‘McSteamy’.
“Is he single? If so, why aren’t you doing anything about it?” I snicker to my friend who is definitely off in lala land. Jane just shakes her head back and forth.
Ava ventures back to reality. “Well, from what I’ve seen, Mark seems the type that enjoys playing the field a little too much for my liking. I honestly don’t know that he’s dated a lot of women, but I’m too nervous to even really strike up a conversation with him. Stuttering would probably be the only thing I’d manage to get out of my mouth. I’ve only given him passing smiles and hellos. Jenna talked about trying to fix me up with him a few weeks before her accident, but obviously that didn’t happen.” She looks down into her glass, swirling the wine like it’s her job.
Jane jumps in. “Well, if Jenna thought about it, then maybe Sydney can put a good word in for you when she and Colin get a little more serious. Speaking of, Syd, ummm, are you going to wait for him to make the first move, or do you think you are going to have to take it into your own hands when it comes down to the bedroom situation?”
