6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Sam

The next day, we all woke early and had breakfast at a fabulous little diner down the block from Lydia's apartment. We rode the trolley, and I reveled in Ava's smile as the morning sun highlighted her features.

By evening, we were all exhausted. We spent the afternoon at a small market admiring local artists' work. Now, we were nestled around the living room with the television playing in the background.

Lydia reentered the room, carrying a tray of steaming mugs, and Tyler was close behind her, his wavy brown hair tousled as if he'd just run his fingers through it. They set down the drinks, and I could feel their eyes on Ava and me, catching snippets of our conversation, their expressions softening with each shared laugh and lingering look between us.

"Looks like you two are hitting it off," Lydia noted, the corner of her mouth tugging into a knowing smile she shared with Tyler. He nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling in amusement as he leaned back against the wall, silently observing the scene before him. It was clear they both sensed something more than mere friendship blossoming in the space between Ava's words and my eager responses.

"Yeah, you two made a good team," Tyler stated, winking at me.

Thankfully, no one else noticed his shitty attempt to be coy. I knew he could tell I was into Ava, but he hadn't said anything yet.

"We did," I agreed.

"Last night was fun. We need to do more stuff like that," Lydia said, looking at Tyler. "Like go on trips and vacations. I want to travel more."

"I agree. It's just so hard to find time anymore," Tyler noted. "Maybe a weekend trip to Mexico would be cool."

"Mexico is perfect this time of the year," I added. I went on a business trip to Cancun a few weeks ago. One of my distributors has a warehouse there, and I had to visit. As much as I wished that I had spent time exploring the city or hanging out on the beach, I had only been there for two days, and they were both spent at the warehouse.

I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket, but I ignored it. I needed to enjoy this time. Work would be there when I returned to Miami.

"Do you get to travel?" I asked Ava.

Ava's laughter died down to a contented sigh, and the mood shifted subtly. Her gaze flickered to the window, where the Seattle rain traced patterns against the glass, mirroring the complexity of emotions swirling within her. "Sorry, I know we were talking about travel, but I lost track of where I was going with that," she said, her voice unsteady.

"Hey, it's okay," I reassured her gently, waiting for her to continue at her own pace. "Whatever's on your mind, you can share it."

She took a deep breath, and I could see the hesitancy in her posture, the way she wrapped her arms around herself as if bracing for the impact of her words. "It's just... I just became single, and in these short few days, I've felt so lost. I trusted him, you know? And then to find out that he'd been cheating on me—" Her voice cracked, betraying the hurt that lingered beneath her sweet demeanor. I reached out tentatively, placing a hand over hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. The rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving only Ava's vulnerability and my desire to protect her from any more pain. She shook her head as a sad smile appeared. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't be burdening you with this. You are here on vacation, not to listen to me tell a sob story. We've had so much fun bowling and walking along the wharf, and I don't want to ruin it now."

"Betrayal cuts deep," I said, my heart aching for her. "But it doesn't define you. You're incredibly strong, Ava. And kind. You deserve someone who sees that, who appreciates you for who you are." I sighed. "Besides, I like learning more about you. Trust me, you aren't ruining our day. I've had the best day. I haven't had so much fun and been this relaxed... maybe ever."

Her brown eyes lifted to meet mine, holding a depth of gratitude that no words could convey. In that moment, I knew I wanted to be that someone for her—someone who would cherish her sweetness, talent, and kindness. And perhaps, just maybe, she might want that too.

"Thank you, Sam," she whispered, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears reflecting past pain and present comfort. "It means a lot to hear that, especially from someone who just walked into my life."

"Sometimes, the best support comes from where we least expect it," I replied, smiling back at her. Our eyes locked, and in them, I saw the beginning of trust—a sacred thing I vowed silently to uphold.

As the evening wore on, the city sounds outside Lydia's apartment blended into a distant hum, creating a cocoon around Ava and me. I wanted to grab her and kiss her, to beg her to fall in love with me, but I knew I needed to show restraint. This woman had been through an awful experience, and I couldn't take advantage of her vulnerability.

Lydia and Tyler eventually excused themselves, claiming early mornings and busy days, leaving Ava and me wrapped in the comfortable silence they left behind. It was the kind of silence that wasn't awkward or heavy with things unsaid, but rather, filled with the promise of new beginnings.

"Would you like to hang out again in the city tomorrow?" I asked, breaking the quiet. "I mean, if you're not busy. There's a lot I haven't seen yet, and I think it'd be more fun exploring with someone who knows their way around."

"Sure," Ava replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "I'd love to show you around Seattle some more. It's a date."

"Great," I said, my heart skipping a beat at the word 'date,' even though it could've meant nothing more than two new friends hanging out. But the hopeful part of me—the part that had been captivated by Ava since seeing her photograph—wanted to believe it was the start of something more.

"Are you tired?" I asked. I didn't want this night to end, and something told me she didn't either.

"Not really," she said.

"How about a movie?" I asked. I grabbed the remote and pulled up Netflix.

"Sure, that sounds nice," she agreed, settling in beside me.

My heart began to race as I realized I had Ava exactly where I wanted her. The night settled around me, carrying a sense of anticipation—a prelude to what might unfold between Ava and me. In the quiet of Lydia's living room, I let myself imagine a future where my days began and ended with the kind of happiness that only true connection can bring. With Ava, it felt like a possibility worth exploring, worth cherishing.