“Doesn’t that get to be a bit much? Why don’t you just use the notes app on your phone?”
“I feel better writing things out longhand. It has more emotional meaning to me that way.” She jotted down the things they were talking about.
“Are you really taking notes on our conversation?” Zach leaned back, crossing his legs at the ankles.
She looked up at him before glancing away. Her cheeks heated. “I tend to forget things, even important things. I wanted to be sure to note what is important to you.” She pointed the end of her pen at him. “You’re growing on me, Golden Boy, and I want to show you I care about what you care about.”
“That kind of talk might earn you another kiss.”
“I’ll take you up on that.” She tossed her notebook down.
An hour later, Ava made it back to her room and collapsed on her bed, limbs heavy with exhaustion. Tonight had been wonderful. But…her head spun.
She wanted to believe Zach. To trust that he meant what he said. But every time her heart leaned toward him, her head yanked her back—reminding her of all the times she’d let herself believe before. People always said the right words. That they wanted her. That she mattered. And yet, time and time again, their actions told a different story.
She needed clarity.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Emily.
“Ava, what’s the emergency?” Emily’s voice was thick with sleep.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” She hadn’t even looked at the time.
“It’s no problem.” Emily cleared her throat. “What’s up?”
“I kissed Zach. Or maybe he kissed me. Zach and I kissed.” Shoot. Now she really sounded like a teenager.
Emily squealed. “What? That’s amazing. Was it amazing?”
She remembered the sense of belonging she’d felt in his arms. “Yes.”
“Okay, but I don’t think you’d just call me because of an amazing kiss. Even if it has been years. What’s really up?”
“I just don’t know if I can trust him to stay with me. And what about me moving to Jonathon Island? And he wants to move to the West Coast. And what if he just wants to have a good time and not commit?” Her thoughts pinged around faster than the blades on a blender set to high.
“Whoa, slow down. One thing at a time.” There was a rustle on Emily’s end. “Okay. First, you’re just starting out in a relationship. Trust takes time. Second, sure, you’re moving, but there are many ways to stay in touch these days. Third, see point two. Fourth, as I keep telling you, not everyone is like Elias. There are good guys out there. Maybe Zach is one of them.”
A few minutes later, Ava hung up. Emily’s words rattled around in her mind.
Had she found someone she could rely on? Or would he let her down like so many had before?
Chapter Fourteen
Zach really needed to get his head in the game.
Last night’s date with Ava had been amazing. The walk, the cooking, and the mind-blowing kiss.
Even Ava’s tic of writing everything in that notebook of hers seemed cute today. It was hard to remember the depth of her previous mistake, considering how much closer they had become. Maybe Uncle Bryan was on to something after all.
He thought he’d given up on women after his fiancée’s cheating, but Ava had made him rethink, well, a lot of things, actually. Maybe some people would pull through for him. Maybe some people would be there for him and care about him.
Right now, he was the one who had to pull through. They were an hour into the main course portion of the contest, and he couldn’t concentrate. And he needed to concentrate if they had even a prayer of winning this contest. The Silver Platter couldn’t operate without the money the winnings would bring in.
An acrid smell reached him. Someone in this tent was burning their onions.
“Zach!” Ava’s shout brought him back to the pavilion tent where their cooking station stood between two of the other teams.
Oh. On the stove in front of him, the pan smoked. A charred mess clung to the bottom. “My bad.” He scraped the burnt onions into the trash before grabbing a clean pan and starting over.
