Twenty-One

Griffin

 

 

Me: He should be up soon.

Ava: I’ll come over now! Bringing muffins for breakfast.

Taking my phone with me to the living room so I can take pictures, I quietly open the front door so Ava can come in.

“I can’t believe he’s still asleep!” she whisper-yells, giggling. Loving how excited she is, I pull her into my arms to steal a kiss, knowing once Levi is awake she won’t let me anywhere near her.

“Mmm…” She moans into my mouth, deepening the kiss.

“I missed you,” I murmur against her lips.

“You just saw me.” She laughs, shaking her head.

“Like three hours ago.” I give her another quick kiss. “If you would spend the night…”

Ava’s fingers come up to my lips. “Shh…we talked about this. Levi deserves better than waking up to a woman sleeping in his dad’s bed.” My fists clench at the way she refers to herself, like she’s just some fling. We haven’t had the label talk yet but it’s definitely going to need to happen soon. I’ve never brought women around my son. I dated Karen for over six months and she never spent the night. But with Ava, I want it all, and I’m sick of her tiptoeing out of here every night like she’s some dirty little secret.

“Wow!” We both swing our heads toward Levi’s voice. He’s in his Hop pajamas Ava bought for him and running toward the Easter basket the bunny left for him. “Dad! Ava! Look what the Easter bunny brought me.”

At the same time, we both pull out our phones to snap pictures of Levi opening his basket. As he pulls out toy after toy, candy after candy, we take picture after picture. Ava was with me when I went shopping the other day. Growing up in Honduras, she never celebrated holidays like Easter with an Easter bunny. One walk down the holiday aisle and the woman was throwing every item into the shopping cart. It’s without a doubt the biggest, most elaborate basket he has ever received. But the way her face lit up with excitement as she planned how to fit every item into the basket, I couldn’t tell her she was giving the kid Christmas for Easter.

Once Levi is done opening his basket, we sit down for breakfast. Ava brought over her homemade orange cranberry muffins she knows we love.

“Are we going to see Aunt Lilly and Uncle Sean?” Levi asks, his mouth full of muffin.

“Chew your food before you speak, bud, and yes, we’re going to have dinner over at the Cooper’s tonight.”

“Ava, you should come!” Levi suggests. “They have a big pool to go swimming in, a huge trampoline and playhouse, and there’s like a million babies and kids there. Plus, Mrs. Cooper makes good food and does Easter egg hunts.”

Ava laughs, taking a bite of her muffin. “That sounds like fun, but I have to go to my parents’ house today. My brother and his girlfriend are visiting from college.” Ava rarely talks about her life. I know she has parents who are married and a younger brother who she gets along with, but other than that, she keeps her lips sealed. Once in a while, she’ll tell me she can’t hang out because she’s visiting her parents, but she’s never invited me and Levi over.

“What time are you going over there?” I ask, nonchalantly.

“After church.” She takes a sip of her coffee.

“You go to church?”

She giggles. “Nope, I’ll go over there after they go to church. I’m the rebel in the family.” She shoots me a flirtatious wink.

“So around what…noon?” She eyes me for a moment as she tries to figure out where I’m going with this.

“Yeah…around then.”

“You’re having lunch over there?”

She lowers her mug to the table. “Yes.”

“Why don’t you meet us at the Cooper’s house afterward?” This earns me a glare.

“I’m not sure how late I’ll be and I have work to get caught up on. You guys have fun and text me once you’re home.” She stands up, gathers the empty plates and brings them to the sink.

“Hey Levi, why don’t you go watch TV?” I watch him run to the couch, plop down, and grab the controller before I follow Ava to the kitchen, refusing to let this go. She’s washing the dishes when I get in there.

“Hey.” I come up behind her and reach over to turn the water off, needing her attention. She stops washing the dishes but doesn’t turn around.

“Babe, turn around, please.” She turns around—her body caged in between my arms—but doesn’t look at me, her eyes trained on my chest. Using my forefinger, I raise her chin so her green eyes are forced to look at me. “Who hurt you?” I ask the same question I asked her before.

She shakes her head, refusing to answer me, but I ignore her silent protest. “I asked you before and you changed the subject. Why are you keeping our lives separate? I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do but I at least deserve to know why.” I keep my words soft so she knows I’m not mad.

She sighs loudly, her shoulders slumping in what looks like defeat. “I’ve been in two serious relationships. I brought them both home to meet my parents. Our lives were intertwined. I even lived with one. I don’t know what happened…maybe we got together too soon or moved in together too quickly. Maybe I didn’t give them what they needed.” She shrugs. “All I know is one hundred percent of my relationships as an adult ended with me being cheated on and with my heart broken, having to start all over again. Having to pick up the pieces. Some friends had to choose sides, other ones I gave up and walked away. Everyone knew I was cheated on. It was embarrassing and I learned my lesson.”

She moves my arm so she can have some space and walks toward the kitchen doorway. Turning around, she says, “I’m just not ready to weave my life with somebody else’s again.”

“Ava, I’m not going to cheat on you.” I close the gap between us and pull her into my arms, needing the body contact.

She gives me a sad smile. “You say that now but what happens once you get bored? I’ve seen the women you’re used to. That feisty redhead and the wealthy blonde. When things between us go south, I’ll not only lose you but I’ll lose Levi and Lilly, and I’ve grown fond of all of you.” Is this woman crazy? How does she not see how beautiful she is. And it’s not just her beauty, but her personality and her love and adoration for my son. She’s the whole package and neither of those women she mentioned holds a candle to her.

“Who says…” I begin to say but Ava cuts me off.

“Let’s just keep this fun, please, and when you’re ready to move on, you tell me and we can stop.”

“I’m not going to want anybody else,” I insist. My blood is boiling but I have to stay calm with Levi in the other room.

“Until you do,” she says flatly. “Sweet and simple with no strings. Just leave it at that, Griffin.” Ava stands on her tiptoes and gives me a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I need to go home to get ready. Text me later once you’re home if you want to hang out.” She heads out of the kitchen and I follow her, stunned at what just transpired.

“Bye, Levi,” she says sweetly. “Have fun today!” Levi waves goodbye, and then she’s out the door.

Levi and I get to the Cooper’s house around two in the afternoon. There are several vehicles lining the driveway and along the road, which means everyone is already here. I can’t get Ava’s words out of my head, and the more I replay our conversation, the more frustrated I get. I probably should have cancelled but Levi is excited for the egg hunt and to go swimming with the other kids.

I park the truck near the end of drive then we get out and walk up toward the house. Hearing everybody’s voices, we walk around back. Levi runs over to join the kids jumping on the trampoline. Sean spots me right away and waves me over.

“Happy Easter, bro!” He gives me a one-armed hug. “You’re just in time. The Easter egg hunt is starting soon. We were waiting for you to get here.”

“I’m going to grab a beer,” I say, heading inside. On my way, I say hello to Lilly’s mom and dad and thank them for the invite. Once inside, I grab a beer from the fridge, pop the top off, and take a long pull. I’m about to head back out but decide I need a minute, so instead I walk toward the living room and sit down on the couch. The house is quiet with everyone outside.

“Everything okay?” Lilly asks, coming out of nowhere.

“You hiding too?” I glance around the room.

“Maybe a little.” She shrugs.

“What’s wrong, Prim?”

She comes over and sits down next to me. “I asked you first?” she clucks.

“Fair enough.” I take another pull of my beer. “Ava doesn’t want me the same way I want her.”

“How do you know?” She plucks the beer from my hand and takes a swig before she hands it back to me.

“She told me she thinks it’s best we keep it fun and simple.”

“And you don’t agree with that?”

“Hell no. I want to brand that woman in every way possible.” I chuckle.

“She’s not cattle, Griffin!” She slaps my chest.

“No, she’s definitely not cattle, but she’s mine and I want the world to know it. I’ve never felt this way about anybody before.”

“So tell her that. Maybe she’s giving you an out.”

“An out?” I question.

“Yeah, maybe she’s scared of how you’ll react so she gives you the opportunity to take the easy way out. Tell her how you feel. Don’t let her give you an out.”

“Hmm…maybe I’ll do that. Thanks, Prim.” Draping my arm over her shoulders, I pull her in for a side hug. “Now it’s your turn.”

Her head falls lazily to my shoulder and she lets out an exasperated sigh. “It’s hard to be around everyone and their babies. I love that my family continues to grow. Everyone is having kids and I’m so happy for them. It’s just hard. Every time they go to brag about getting pregnant or about their baby’s milestones, I see the look in their eyes. They feel bad for me and they monitor what they say.”

“That’s because they love you.”

“I know. I just…” I hear her voice get choked up and I know she’s trying and failing not to cry. “I miscarried, Griffin. We finally got pregnant and I lost the baby. I was only a few weeks along. I wouldn’t have even known had I not gone to the appointment for them to check me out.”

“I’m so sorry.” I don’t know what else to say, and I don’t think she really needs me to say anything. Instead we sit on the couch in silence while I feel her body silently shake against mine as she cries for the baby she lost.

Once I feel her shoulders stop shaking, she sits up and wipes the mascara from under her eyes. “Thank you, Griffin. I really needed that. I try to stay strong around your brother because he hates to see me upset.”

“I got you, Prim. Any time.”

“Same here, big brother. Same here.”