Chapter 64
Ava
AFTER HANGING UP with Jayce, I took a shower and then called Millie to see how she was. When she answered, her voice sounded merrier than usual.
“What are you so cheery about?” I asked.
“Oh, hello, Ava. I didn’t even look at the caller I.D. I thought you were Charles.”
My eyes widened. “Who’s Charles?”
“I met him at church last weekend.”
“Oh.”
“We’re going out for ice-cream tonight.” She giggled.
Was it me, or did Millie sound like a teenager? “Are you able to even eat ice-cream?”
“As long as I don’t over-indulge. Anyway, I hate to cut you off, but I really have to go. I think he’s here.”
“Okay—”
“Bye,” she said and hung up.
I stared at my phone in wonder.
Charles?
It had been a long time since Millie had dated. In fact, I couldn’t even remember her going out with anyone in the last decade. I was happy for her, but also anxious about the idea.
What if she overdid it?
My phone began to ring. I looked at the number, but didn’t recognize it.
“Hello?”
“Yes, may I speak to Ava Rhodes?” the woman asked.
“This is she.”
Ten minutes later, I was left speechless again. The woman had just offered me a stunt gig for a big blockbuster movie being filmed in Minneapolis. They’d need me in two months if I accepted the position. She was going to email me the information and a contract to sign if I was interested. What really blew my mind was the pay. It was more than anything I’d ever been offered before.
But, what about Millie?
My stomach tightened at the thought of leaving her. I had a week to accept the offer, however. I just wasn’t sure if I could.
When Jayce called me a few hours later, I could tell he was three-sheets-to-the-wind. I told him about the job offer and he acted like he’d already known about it.
“Why doesn’t this surprise you?” I asked.
“Remember when I told you not to worry about Hunter anymore?” he replied.
“Hold up. Are you telling me this job had something to do with Hunter Calloway?” I asked angrily.
“Yeah. The Judge found something on him and was able to convince old Calloway to not only leave you the fuck alone, but hook you up with a movie deal. Sweet, huh?”
“No,” I said angrily. “Because that means he’ll probably be on the set and I don’t want to work with him again.”
“If he gets out of hand, I’ll fucking knock his block off,” Jayce said sternly.
“He won’t get out of hand because I’m not signing up for the damn movie. Thanks for trying to help, but you actually made things worse.”
“How?” he asked, surprised.
“You just can’t go around threatening people so they’ll hire me,” I said, frustrated.
“But, he threatened to end your career. What’s the difference?”
“That’s just it. I don’t want to play those kind of games. I want to be hired because of my talent. Not because someone’s hand was forced into it.”
We argued some more and then I told him that I was tired and wanted to sleep.
“You’re still coming week, aren’t you?” I asked.
“About that…” Jayce told me that he couldn’t because he had to go to a club function in Jensen, Iowa.
“What kind of function?” I asked, disappointed.
He sighed. “A barbecue. Remember that guy I introduced you to at the party we had at the farm? The big guy named Tank?”
I pictured the friendly giant and nodded. “Yeah.”
“He’s invited our entire club. You’re invited, too.”
Obviously, I couldn’t go. “Can’t you get out of it?”
“No. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. I owe Tank for helping with Calloway, among other things.”
I growled under my breath.
“Why are you so pissed off tonight? Is it your period?”
“You really are clueless when it comes to women, aren’t you?” I snapped, knowing that I was taking all of my frustration out on him, but unable to stop myself. “I mean, if you want to calm someone down, you don’t blame their anger on being on the rag. Being on the rag doesn’t make us angry. It just makes men’s antics less tolerable.”
“And you more emotional.”
I growled again and then hung up. He tried calling me back, but I ignored him. A few seconds later, he sent me a text.
Jayce: I’m sorry that I pissed you off. I really didn’t mean to.
I sat there staring at it and then messaged him back.
Me: It’s okay. I’m just tired. I may have overreacted.
Jayce: May have?
I sent him an angry emoji face.
He sent me a heart and then: I love you, Ava.
This, of course, made me melt. I sent him the words back, my heart filled with joy.
Jayce: Sweet Dreams.
Me: You, too.
I put my phone down, pulled my knees to my chest, and smiled.
He loved me.
Nobody, besides Millie and Sheila, had ever said that to me before. I touched my lucky necklace and thought that sometimes good things came in threes, too.