AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 20
Ava wasin her walk-in closet deciding what to take on her trip down south. Of her month suspension, she decided to take a full week there thinking about how she was going to get back on track. She was hopeful that no one had told her family about what was happening in New York. If her father found out, he would be very disappointed.
Her flight was scheduled for 3:20 that afternoon. She finished packing, left instructions and a gift for Gage as a thank you for again taking care of the cats, and went to the entryway closet to take a jacket with her. Though it was still fairly hot in Georgia during the day, the nights could be chilly. She almost tripped over the case that Xander had left for her. She went to move it out of the way, and her hand brushed the plate that had his initials: ARW. She ran her thumb over them. Then she pushed the case in the corner and backed out of the closet. No use stirring up emotions.
Georgia was humid but not as hot as she anticipated, so she was able to drive her rented sedan with the windows open on the way to her father’s house. The early evening traffic was heavy, and the trip took her over an hour as she drove the twenty miles from Atlanta to Sandy Hills.
No one but Natalia was there. She expected her father, but he was out to dinner with Felice. She decided to forgo staying in the main house for the pool house. She rolled her suitcase down through the pool enclosure and selected the bedroom where she made love with Xander when they were last here together.
She had just unpacked and was sitting on the couch when she got the scare of her life. A young, tall, handsome man with dark brown hair came out of the bedroom on the other side of the house with a towel around his waist. She jumped off the couch and grabbed a vase from the end table.
“Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?”
The man backed up with his hands in front of him.
“Don’t throw that. I’m David, Felice’s son. I just got home a few days ago, and your dad said I could stay here until I get settled in my own place.”
Felice had sold her home a couple of months ago and moved into the main house with her father. She never mentioned she had a son much less that he would be staying here in the pool house.
She put the vase down and sat back on the couch while David went to his room to change. When he came back he was dressed in shorts and his chest was bare. He sat on the love seat opposite her.
“So,” he began with a bit of skepticism, “what are you doing here?”
“I came for a visit to see my new nephew. I want to stay down here.”
“Hey, I don’t mind a female roommate, but your father might not like it.”
“I have as much right to be here as you do, more because it’s my father’s house.”
“I don’t want to argue with you. And you could introduce yourself, but I’m guessing you’re the younger daughter.”
“Oh. I’m Ava.”
She could see him looking her up and down with his bright blue eyes. She didn’t look her best after the last two weeks of over-indulgence. But he didn’t seem to have a problem with what that.
“You’re very pretty. You kind of look like Brooke.”
“Gee, thanks for the compliment. And I look very much like Brooke; we are sisters you know.”
“How old are you?”
“That is rude to ask. How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-six. I just graduated from FSU law. Your turn.”
“I’m twenty-eight. I just graduated from NYU law.”
“Oh, so we have something in common. Are you studying for the bar exam yet?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I wish February would get here already.”
They had other stuff in common, too. They found out that they loved the same type of movies. He also loved the Atlanta Braves as much as she did. They made small talk until Ava heard her father’s voice outside the pool house. He came into the sitting area not looking too happy. She got up to hug him as David said hello.
“Ava, I thought you were staying in your old room?”
“I’d rather stay here if you don’t mind. But you didn’t mention you had any company out here. It’s okay.”
“Yes, well I see you met David, and he is staying here. You can’t stay in the same house as him.”
