The early morning sunshine rather irritatingly shines through the sheer curtains hanging above my bedroom window. I’m not usually a morning person, but apparently my body didn’t get the memo today. Or maybe it’s just not used to a total hunk of a man taking up most of my bed. Yeah, it’s probably that.
Speaking of a total hunk.
“Go back to sleep,” Oakley grumbles and tightens his python-like grip around my waist, making it nearly impossible for me to move away. I love being this close to him, but I also love being able to breathe. I turn my body carefully and look down at him as my lungs fill up with air.
The first thing that catches my eye is the scruffy, light brown stubble covering his lower jaw. I allow my eyes to take in every mark and blemish to be seen.
From the inch-long scar above his right eyebrow to the small freckle beneath his left ear, I find myself wanting to know everything about him. Every dark, unwanted hidden secret and heart-warming memory that makes him who he is. I’m falling helplessly further into his all too addicting trap with no escape in sight.
“You know that I can feel you staring at me, right?”
The heat creeps up my face immediately. I’m not sure if it’s from being caught staring at him like a creep or from the low, sexy sound of his sleepy voice either.
I shove his shoulder and scoff, “Cocky much? For your information, I was staring at you because you’re drooling.”
What a lie. I’m pretty sure I’m the one drooling. He chuckles and uses the tree trunks that he calls arms to flip us over. His beautiful smile shines down at me as his arms rest on either side of my head.
“You’re so beautiful, Ava.” He presses a hand to the side of my face. His dazed, green eyes shine down on me as his sweet words pull me further and further into his grasp. He leans down and I meet him halfway, our lips meeting in a gentle yet urgent kiss.
Before the kiss can turn into anything more, I pull back and lie back against my pillow. As much as I would love to make out with Oakley for hours on end, I’m fully aware of my less than appealing morning breath and our lack of clothing. He pouts, and I can’t help but giggle at how adorable he looks.
“Morning breath,” I inform him with a wince.
He rolls his eyes and leans down to kiss me again—only to meet my cheek. Groaning, he rolls onto his back and turns his head to look at me.
“I don’t care about morning breath, Ava. Let me kiss you.”
“I promise that you can kiss me as soon as I brush my teeth. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to shower.” I kick the blankets off but before I get very far, his arms circle my waist and yank me back into bed.
“Can I at least have one before you go?” Oakley pleads. “Or better yet, I can just come with you. Two birds with one stone. ya know?” he all but begs.
I roll my eyes and peck his lips. “There. Happy? I am going to shower. Alone.”
His smug grin is replaced with a frown as he huffs, throwing his hands up in surrender when I quickly slip out of the bed and sprint to the bathroom.
I sigh as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is an unruly mess and my eyes are red and puffy.
Yesterday’s events flash in my mind as I remember why Oakley is here in the first place. I’m dreading explaining all this to him. What I told him on the phone was the cliff notes version, and I know he must have a shit ton of questions waiting to be answered.
After I attempt to scrub yesterday away, I stand in the stream of scalding water and try to develop a plan. Before yesterday, I gave up all hope of ever seeing my mother again. Now that she’s looking for me, I need to know why. Does she need money? Somewhere to stay? Is she dying? It must be something of the sort. It’s been twenty-years without as much as a card in the mail.
When Mom called yesterday, I could hear the worry in her voice. I tried to reassure her, but there’s nothing that I can say that will help settle her fears. When Lily and Derek took me in, they were told my birth mom would never be involved. Nobody even thought they needed to worry about it. We were all wrong.
Lily was the one who showed me what a mom was. She was there to hear me gush about my first crush. Lily was the one who stayed up late to help me with my homework and teach me how to drive. She taught me how to look at life in a different way than how I had been programmed to. She took me in and showed me what it felt like to be loved—to be wanted. Lily made me who I am. Nobody, especially not my pathetic excuse of a birth mother can take that away from her.
I finally drag myself out of the shower and come to the sudden realization that I didn’t bring any freaking clothes with me.
Perfect. Great. Awesome. Splendid.
I take a deep breath and prepare to leave the bathroom in just my hot pink towel. I manage to slip out the door and go to my dresser without Oakley seeing me.
“About time. Did you have a nap in there or somethi—” he stops abruptly as his mouth falls open. The laugh I manage to scrape out is nothing but an obvious nervous reaction. I force a smile and slowly turn around.
“If you wanted me to come onto you, all you had to do was ask, sweetheart.” And just like that, my fake smile turns into a glare.
“Keep dreaming, hotshot,” I mutter and hold my clothes against my chest to shield myself before running back inside the bathroom.
 |
“We need to talk about yesterday, Ava,” Oakley says as soon as we sit down on the couch half an hour later.
I raise an eyebrow and shrug. “Do we? There’s not much else to talk about.” Of course there is. But I don’t particularly want to talk about it. The Devil’s in the details, right?
“I just want to help.” He grabs my hand and rubs his thumb back and forth across my knuckles in a soothing motion.
I let out a huff and nod reluctantly. “What do you want to know?” I ask quietly, deciding to give him the floor. He looks at me with worried eyes, as if he’s trying to avoid asking something that will upset me. “Just ask me what you want to know. I’ll try my best not to get upset.”
His worried expression quickly turns into one of curiosity. “Okay. You were adopted and have never met your birth parents, right?” I nod my head, and he continues, “And now your birth mom is trying to contact you?” I nod again. “Why did she give you up?” He furrows his brows and purses his lips.
Although I was expecting him to ask, I can’t help but feel the sadness sink its claws into my ribcage.
“She was an addict. Or at least that’s what all of the social workers told me. My deadbeat father ran off when he found out she was pregnant. Maybe that’s why she thought she didn’t have any other choice.”
“What bullshit! There’s always another way,” he hisses, clearly very
upset.
I squeeze his hand, trying to pull his attention back to me.
“Not in Rebecca’s head,” I shrug and stare at the family picture
leaning on the television stand. It was taken during my first Christmas since being formally adopted.
Mom declared it as a day to be remembered. She pushed us all in front of the fireplace, propped her camera up on the coffee table and set a timer before running over to stand in her spot beside Dad. I remember how it felt at that moment, looking around at my new family. For the first time in my life, I was completely and utterly happy.
“What was it like? In foster care.”
I blink back the tears that are beginning to cloud my vision. I let out a slight cough, trying to clear my throat.
“It had its good moments. But it isn’t something I would wish upon anyone. I spent most of my childhood in all-girl group homes. I only stayed with a few different foster families.”
“Did you ever… were there ever abusive families?” His eyes widen instantly, almost as if that wasn’t what he meant to ask. “I mean, I’ve heard the system isn’t always the greatest.”
“It’s okay, really,” I promise and continue, “It’s common knowledge that there are some not-so-great foster parents in the system. I was one of the lucky ones, I guess. I wasn’t physically abused.”
He remains silent. I peek over at him and sigh. Great, I’ve freaked him out now.
After a few moments of tense silence, a low growl escapes his lips. “Physical or not, that will never happen to you again. I promise.”
I can’t seem to move when we lock eyes again. The determined expression on his face surprises me. He doesn’t want to head for the hills? Or is he just being nice? He seems to read my expression all too well and shuts down all of my negative thoughts in two sentences.
“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me, sweetheart.” He pulls me into his side and kisses the top of my head. “Can I ask you something else? It’s a little off-topic, but it’s been bothering me for a while.”
I nod my head, too consumed by the comfort I was feeling by being in his arms.
“What happened with David?”
I tense. The feeling of comfort and happiness leaves me and is replaced by rage and betrayal. Too afraid of what will show if I pull away from him, I stay put.
“Ava?” he prods, rubbing his hands up and down my frozen back.
I know he isn’t going to drop it, so I nod and decide to tell him
something. “We dated for three years.”
“Why did you break up? I just want to help.” The kindness in his voice hurts.
“Mutual decision,” I say shortly. “We just knew that it was time to go our separate ways.” The lie burns my throat.
“Okay.” The tone of his voice tells me he doesn’t believe me. I mean, I wasn’t very convincing, but it’s what I have to do. Maybe I’ll tell him someday. It’s just not the right time. It’s too early—too embarrassing.
“Enough of the serious talk. Let’s go do something,” I blurt out and pull myself away from Oakley so that I can look at him properly.
“Are you asking me on a date, Octavia?” he teases, eyebrows raised. “Yes. Yes, I am. Shall we go?” I stand, offering him my hands to
pull him up. He takes my hands and I yank him up.
“We shall,” he winks and swiftly laces our fingers together.
