Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Ava's POV

I'm awoken by the sound of my phone ringing and I moan tiredly as I stretch out to grab it.

"Hello?" I grumble.

And I'm responded by a loud, thrilling scream that causes me to sit up in alarm.

"Peyton?"

"Ava, you won't believe what is happening!! The florist called to confirm the order of flowers and she ordered red roses instead of white!!! The orders have already been confirmed! What the hell am I supposed to do?!" She screams and I'm ready out of bed, scrambling to brush my teeth and pack my hair while she keeps ranting.

".....and the bridal shop said they have my pearl white dress ready! Pearl white?! I specifically asked for Porcelain white and champagne gold for the bridesmaids! I could get there and find out she probably ordered mustard yellow!" At this point Peyton is close to tears and I've hastily slipped on a dark green gown with white sneakers.

"I don't know what to do--"

"Peyton!" I yell out her name to interrupt her and she pauses.

"Yes?"

"Deep breaths, okay? Deep. Breaths. I'm on my way to the florist, meet me there. But I promise to fix it before you get there. Okay?" I tell her assuredly as I head out of my room.

I can hear her take in a deep breath and let it out.

"Okay." She says hesitantly and I end the call.

I race to the kitchen where Aaron is seated at the breakfast island, sipping his usual hot chocolate.

We hadn't spoken for two days after that night and I still can't tell if it's because he was mad at me for leaving or because he thought it was something more.

That we were something more.

"Aaron, please I need your help. I have to get to the florist and fix a code red, literally." I say to him as he looks up at me, with a shocked expression.

"What, now?" He asks, and gets up quickly.

"Yes, now! Can you please drive me?" I plead and he grabs his keys.

"Sure, let me put on a shirt." He says and rushes into his room, emerging almost immediately as he slips on a white tshirt.

Within a few minutes, we're in the car and our way to the florist.

Thankfully, Peyton hasn't gotten there yet and I get out of the car and head inside quickly.

"I'm here for my friend Peyton Knight. We ordered flowers here two days ago and I'm just hearing that there has been an error." I say to then attendant and she nods, typing into a laptop.

"Yes, miss. We got information that they erroneously confirmed red roses instead of white and the order has already been carried out." She says to me.

"Can't you order another set of 8 dozen white roses? How long will it take?" I ask her and she shrugs sadly,

"It's a big order and might end up coming atleast a week after the wedding date." She says and I rub the bridge of my nose.

"Alright, umm..." I say and I hear Aaron behind me,

"What's wrong?" He asks, his gaze going from the florist to me.

"Color accident." I tell him, my mind reeling in finding a way to fix this.

Then it hits me.

"Do you have another retail shop that the order might pass before coming here?" I ask the lady and her eyes widen in excitement.

"Yes! It passes our other shop right in South End."  She says, already grabbing on to the idea.

"Fantastic! Please see if they can switch the red for white when the order passes there."

I say to the lady and she begins to make the call.

"Wow, look at you go." Aaron says to me and I can't help giggling at the unexpected comment.

"It's not a big deal. That was an easy problem." I say and he leans against the counter, watching me.

"Yeah, that you solved even without the wedding planner." He says and I roll my eyes.

"Wait till you see the issue about the wedding gown. Peyton is going to have a meltdown." I say and he chuckles.

"Well, you seem pretty calm about it. I can't wait to see you handle it." His words sound confident and adoring and when I look up at him, he is staring right back at me.

"Good news!" The lady says, snapping me out of it, "Turns out they were the ones who ordered the red roses and I think it got mixed up. So they will be getting white roses instead and will have it switched on the day it arrives!" She says and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you. Are there any other errors in the orders? Every flower order is white, excluding the sunflowers for the bouquet." I remind her and she nods.

"No more errors miss."

I turn to Aaron as we start leaving the shop.

"We have to get to the bridal shop before Peyton. I'll call her to meet us there." I say once we get into his car and he smiles.

"You've got it."

****

Aaron's POV

Watching Ava handle Peyton's wedding emergencies was like watching wonder woman in action. She was swift, calculated and calm.

After getting to the bridal shop and asking to see the gown, she was able to have a solution before Peyton and the wedding planner arrived.

For some reason, it amazed me to see her like this, in full professional mode as she calmed Peyton down and still convinced her to try on the pearl white gown, which eventually led to Peyton falling in love with the gown and it's new design.

Now, we were on our way back from dropping off Peyton, who was exhausted from panicking.

And Ava is back to her professional self, being a little distant and going through her iPad.

"I have to meet with the photographer tomorrow. Then there's the bridal shower plans. And then there's the family dinner." She is muttering to herself and I turn to her.

"You know, how about you give your iPad a break and we get a bite? Maybe go grocery shopping too and get your mind off everything." I suggest and she looks at me like I told her to jump off a cliff.

"No, thank you. I'll rather go back and eat something." She says and I let out a sigh.

"There is nothing to eat at home. I would have had the place stocked but I barely cook and I didn't know you'd be staying with me."

"Well, I can't just go grocery shopping when I'm trying to make my best friends wedding perfect." She says to me, still focusing on her iPad and I decide to handle this alone as I take the next turn, leading to the mall.

By the time Ava is done making a few calls, I drive into the parking lot of the mall and she turns to me with a shocked expression.

"I said I wanted to go back!" She yells as I turn off the car and I walk around to her side of the car and open the door.

"Well I'm not taking you back to an empty house on an empty stomach." I say and snatch her iPad from her hands as she steps out of the car.

"This isn't coming with you." And with that, I drop the iPad back in the car and lock it.

"This is basically bullying. You're bullying me right now." Ava says but she follows me into the mall anyway.

"Hey, Ava look. Look at that! Look, it's people! And they're actually talking? To each other? Amazing!" I tease and she surprises me by bursting into laughter.

"Stop it!" She says.

"And look, there's a cloud! And blue skies and a sun! Wow, who knew the outdoors could be so fun?!" I say as we get inside and I grab a trolley.

"Fine! We get the groceries and then we're out." She says and I turn to her.

"Lead the way, Ava Jeanne."

Ava goes from complaining to how bad and picky she gets when it comes to shopping, to actually shopping.

For every product she hated or had bad history with, she told me the full backstory.

There was the cereal that claimed to have raisins but didn't.

The laundry soap that didn't foam enough.

The waffle mix that burned too quickly.

And the shampoo that bleached her hair a little.

"I could go on and on." She says and I'm still shaking with laughter at her stories.

"I'll bet." I say as she observes a packet of marshmallows and I walk towards her and hold her from behind, unable to resist.

Ava goes stiff in my embrace and I hear her draw in a long, slow breath.

"What are you doing?" She whispers and I turn her around to face me.

"Why did you start avoiding me at home?" I ask, holding her gaze and I can see the slight panic in her eyes before she looks away.

"I wasn't avoiding--"

"Come on, Ava. I'm not a kid and neither are you. We had sex once and you started acting like I stole something from you or I crossed a line." I say and her shocked eyes are back to mine, but defensive this time.

"What? No, that isn't the reason." She says in a hushed whisper,

"And can we discuss this in the car? People are beginning to stare."

At those words, I smile and pull her closer.

"Let them stare. But I'm not letting you go until you tell me why." I tell her, bringing my face closer and her eyes search mine.

"Aaron, please."

"It's amazing how intimacy scares you."

"I'm not scared!" She says.

"Then talk to me, Ava. Tell me why you were avoiding me. Tell me why you didn't say a word to me after that night."

My lips are hovering above hers and I continue,

"Tell me. Tell me why you're so scared of being intimate with me. Tell me you've not been thinking about that night the way I have. Tell me you've forgotten the way I touched you, the way I kissed you, the way you moaned my name."

Ava is almost panting now, taking in fast, deep breaths as her gaze explores mine.

"Kiss me." She says and I oblige willingly, taking her lips in mine, caressing, nibbling, tasting deeply.

She moans into my mouth and the feeling travels to the back of my throat, turning me on instantly.

When I slowly bring the kiss to an end, Ava bites her lip and looks up at me.

"I avoided you because I didn't know what you were thinking. Maybe you were mad at me, maybe you thought it was awkward,  maybe you're--"

She stops abruptly when I start chuckling.

"All this because I asked you to stay in bed with me?" I ask and she sighs.

"It's not something I'm used to." She admits and I notice a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"I like having boundaries and I didn't know if you would be on board with that."

"Well, I am. You don't want to stay in bed with me? No problem. You don't want it to be anything more than sex? You've got it. You call the shots, Ava. However you want to do it, I'm on board. But it doesn't mean we can't be mature about it." I say to her and her next words are clear.

"I want you, Aaron."

After that, everything happens quickly. Ava and I cash out at the register and head home, but the instant we are inside the condo, her lips are on mine.

We abandon the groceries at the door and she kicks off her sneakers.

"Up." She murmurs against my lips and I lift her easily by the waist and she wraps her legs around my waist.

"Down." She says and I drop to a sitting position on the couch, unable to stop kissing her.

Her hands undo my belt buckle as I take off the top buttons of her gown, and just as I'm kissing her neck and ear, she fishes a condom out of my wallet and slips it on my erection.

Then she slides my hard-on inside her wet, soft, tightness.

"Ohh....fuck." I groan as she leans her head back and rides me, doing wonders to me with her waist.

I run my hands up her slender back and bring her closer, taking a hard nipple in my mouth.

"Mmm...." she moans, holding the back of my head, riding me faster as I lick, nibble and suck slowly on it, then I move to the other.

"Aaron...." she gasps and I hold her waist firm with both hands, and start thrusting even faster into her.

She is screaming now, murmuring words I can't understand and I bring her face close as I kiss her, hushing her at once.

Ava tears her lips from mine and I feel her wet walls clench against my erection as she grasps my shoulders and screams in release, driving me to climax as well.

She collapses on me now, panting and I run my hands through her hair.

We stay like that for a while until her stomach growls and we both burst into laughter.

"You have to get up." I say to her and she slowly gets up, grabs her sneakers and disappears into her room.

Ava's POV

As I towel dry my hair, I walk out of my room barefoot and head for the kitchen where Aaron is busy arranging the groceries.

For a moment, I stop in my tracks and stare at him. I hadn't expected him to be here and I definitely hadn't expected to see him in just a towel, his body glistening with water. Probably from showering.

He turns around now and spots me.

"Hey." He says and raises a suggestive brow at me.

"What?"

"Nothing. Nice choice of outfit." He says and I observe my matching silk top and shorts.

"Well, I packed with the mindset I was going to be in my hotel room. Alone." I say defensively and cross my arms.

Aaron shrugs casually as he gets rid of the paper bags.

"Hey, who am I to judge? I'm in a towel." He says with a naughty smile as he winks at me and the simple action causes my cheeks to flame while Aaron leaves the kitchen.

After getting myself back together, I start making lunch since it was already too late for breakfast and I settle for an open-faced, italian chicken sandwich.

I'm almost with everything as I remove the simmering chicken and spaghetti sauce from the cooker when Aaron walks into the kitchen, watching me.

Then he leans on the door, hands in his pocket.

"You're cooking." He says as I slice the italian bread and I look up at him.

"Don't act so surprised. I only buy takeout because I've been busy." I say and he smiles as he comes even closer.

"Can I help?" He asks and I can't contain the giggle that escapes my lips.

"Can you place mozzarella cheese slices on them?" I ask him and he grabs the mozzarella cheese from the fridge.

"Watch me."

And Aaron proceeds to turning the rest of the procedure into a game, acting as a commentator for every move we both make.

From adding the cheese slices, to watching me place the sandwiches in the broiler, he had a comment for everything.

"The broiler is ready and the sandwiches have been placed! The battle is on ladies and gentlemen and I tell you this, there is no place for mercy. The broiler is giving all it's got but the bread will not, I repeat, will not burn until the cheese is melted and bubbly! Will Ava succeed in making a delicious lunch? Or will my charming looks distract her?" He says, using a spoon as a microphone and I burst into laughter at the last question.

"Find out after the break." He says and I roll my eyes at him.

"Is this what being home alone does to you?" I ask him and he shrugs.

"I never did this while I was alone. So its safe to say being home with you does this to me." He says and I don't realise I'm blushing until he chuckles.

"Look at that. I made you blush." He says and I turn away from his gaze to check on the sandwiches.

The minute I bring them out, Aaron is beside me.

"Why are you scared of affection so much?" He asks and I turn away from him and drop the sandwiches on the island.

"I've told you, I'm not scared." I say, but I'm still unable to look at him and he grasps me hand and spins me to face him.

"Aaron, stop." I beg, looking at everything but him.

"What happened, Ava? You hide it when you blush, you try to stop yourself from laughing, you hate eye contact, and you distance yourself when you notice you're no longer in the safety of your privacy."

"No I don't!" I yell, trying to move away but he pins me against the fridge.

"Yes, you do. I notice it. You shy away from talking and the only person you try to be vulnerable with is Peyton. You can't even look at me right now." He says and I can feel my lips quiver as uninvited memories cloud my mind, suffocating me and I squeeze my eyes shut.

"Please let me go." I beg.

I won't cry.

Not in front of him.

"Just look at me, Ava. That's all I'm asking. Do me this one favour, please." He begs and I keep my eyes shut.

"No."

"Please." He pleads softly.

"I can't." I whimper.

Don't cry.

Don't cry.

"Why not?" He asks and I finally look at him as I successfully stop the tears from falling.

"Because it won't change anything. So please stop asking questions.....and just stick to what we have right now."

And with that, I grab my lunch and escape to my room thankfully on time because by the time I shut the door...

The tears come.