Chapter 27

AVA

We ride along the small streets of Magnolia Point until we get to the far end of town where the Christmas Tree Farm is. Each storefront is dressed in red and green, and lights outline the roofs. Today is a bit cooler, the seasons quickly changing, and it makes it feel like it's finally Christmastime. Stories of being snowed in dance in my head, but being with Maverick is the real story of the day.

He absolutely floored me by sharing his vision of love with me. It melted my heart but also made me nervous. This is all so fast. How can someone who claims he doesn't ever feel anything beyond the first date want so much all of a sudden?

We wander up and down the makeshift aisles looking for the perfect tree. "Don't pick too big of a tree, princess. I don't want Jay to feel inferior on his first married Christmas."

I laugh at him. "First of all, they're not married yet. Do you do a friends Christmas party too?"

"We do. I usually host, and I have no idea how I earned that, but it's always been at my house. We get together the day after Christmas. We each bring leftovers from the day before and any gifts we don't like. Then we pass them around, each trying to one up the other with an awful gift."

"That actually sounds really fun!" We continue to walk along together. I stop in front of a tree, about six feet tall and full. "This one looks good. What do you think?"

He wraps his arms around me from behind. "Looks fucking perfect." My heart races at his admission, but again, my thoughts are back and forth between wanting it to be real and knowing this is all too good to be true.

"Mav." My voice comes out shaky, and he quickly spins me to face him.

"Talk to me, princess."

I drop my eyes from his, but he only lifts my chin up until I'm looking at him fully. "I don't know. This just feels very overwhelming right now."

"The tree?" His lips twist to the side. "We can get a smaller one but I thought you liked 'em big."

I throw my hands in the air in exasperation. "Not the tree! Everything! We seem to be moving at the speed of light, and it's a little scary."

"Do you need me to slow down?" He pulls me tighter and swirls his hips. "I can go as slow or as fast as you need it." I push him away but he won't let me get far. "I'm teasing you, Ava. This part is supposed to be fun. I'm not expecting us to run out and get married, but I'm not going to lie and tell you I don't want to spend every free minute with you either. Because I do."

I play with the button of his shirt. Hearing the ‘M' word again sets my heart racing faster, but his slow circles on my back help me to relax again. "I know. I like spending time with you too. But our friends don't even know we're together, and we're out buying a Christmas tree and having sleepovers and?—"

"Do you really think they don't know?" He raises an eyebrow at me. "I know you've been talking to Nina and Hazel."

My eyes are wide. "What do you mean? "

"Oh, princess, your innocent act is too cute. And fake." He tilts his head. "I've been getting play-by-plays of every conversation you three are having."

"What!" I screech out. "They're supposed to keep secrets! It's girl code!"

"Apparently nothing is sacred when you're almost married. Nina repeats everything to Jay, then tells Jay not to tell. But Jay is the biggest gossip around, so nothing is safe once he hears it."

I cover my face with my hands and lean my forehead against his chest and fake cry. He laughs. "I'm not mad about it. I kind of like that my boys are hearing I'm quite a stud."

"But they haven't heard it directly from us." I roll my lips inward.

"So we tell them. I plan on it anyway. Isn't that what Friday's class was about?"

The fact that I'm taking these classes right along with the guys now feels so strange. I was not in the market for a boyfriend, let alone a book boyfriend, but it seems to be exactly what I've found. And whether that's a testament to my teaching or just evidence that there really are decent guys out there, I'm not sure.

"You want to tell them?"

"Of course I do! We're going to get caught eventually; you can moan pretty loudly." He laughs, and I bury my face in his chest again. "Ava, why wouldn't I want to shout it to the world?"

"Because we don't like each other!"

"Princess, you need to stop saying that. I'm serious about you, and if you're not ready to hear that, that's fine, but don't lie to me. I have a pretty good idea you don't share yourself openly with others, and the fact that you've given your body and your mind to me means your heart is only a step away. I'll wait for it."

I spent the rest of the weekend fighting with myself over the words that keep repeating in my head.

I'm falling in love with Maverick McKinney.

I never thought I'd be here, in a relationship with someone I could see forever with, again. With Zach, it was like a platonic friendship that took over more so than romance, and I can now so clearly see I settled and was cheating myself. Cheating us both. He deserves a love that's deep just like I do. And if he's found that now, great. Because I think I've also found mine.

I met with Dick and Alistair one-on-one this week, and we came to the terms that meeting the friends would lead to Christmas and into a New Year's kiss. They were ready for what came next, whether the girl would be there or not. I'm hoping both women show up for them because these two have come such a long way. They're excited for their newfound relationships, and I know they have what will carry them into the future with these girls.

And when Alistair asked me how my dates were going, I realized Maverick and I haven't been as slick as we had hoped.

"I think it's amazing that you're dating Maverick. Dick and I both said the first day, with the banter between you two, there was no way you'd be able to stay away from each other."

My eyes get big, and I feel the heat creep up my back. "Don't be embarrassed, Ms. Costa. We think it's wonderful. It shows the classes work."

"Al, I am so sorry. I want you to understand I did not come into this looking for someone for me. I'm actually divorced and never saw myself finding love again. "

"How could you not? You're a sweet person, amazingly gorgeous, and Maverick is smitten with you."

My lips roll inward. "And I am with him."

"We knew once he took you to the football game, you were all in. We both have been reading your books and know you're a diehard fan of the Warriors. It's written about in each book, and I love that we get a glimpse of your true self in each one. To be honest, Dick and I both have a little crush on you. You're a true dream girlfriend, and Maverick couldn't be a luckier guy."

Tears prick my eyes. "Al, that is the sweetest thing to say. Thank you. It means a lot to hear that."

"And whoever your ex-husband is, he's a real dickwad."

I bark out a laugh. "He's not so bad, he just wasn't for me."

"He wasn't for you because Maverick is."

Al stands and heads for the door. "No matter how this turns out, I'm lucky to have met you all, and whether Anna's behind that door or not at midnight, I've found a new confidence that shows me I will find my true love."

I sat there with the biggest smile and envisioned how my New Year's Eve would pan out. I haven't had a happy start to a new year in a long time. But I think this year could be different.