Ava got home and took a long shower. She should have been thinking about the date that Tyler had asked her out on and she had agreed to. Instead, she was thinking about Adrian and how he had left so quickly and silently.
Had he gotten jealous of Tyler? Would he try to ruin their date once he found out about it?
“Soo, when are you going to introduce him to the family?” Gabrielle teased.
“Introduce who? Oh, Tyler? Goddess Gabby, this is just the second date, okay?”
Ava checked the outfit in the mirror and nearly took it off for the fifth time that evening. Gabrielle the fashionista had chosen the outfit for her and Jenny had approved.
But Ava felt it was a little too much. Anything more than sweatpants and a t-shirt or sweater felt like too much effort and commitment.
You look ridiculous. Liana said, sounding bored.
Just because I am going on a date with someone who isn’t Recce doesn’t mean you should condemn my outfits. Ava replied lazily.
Why are you though? You know this can’t possibly lead to anything permanent so why are you doing this? Liana asked.
Because staying single isn’t helping Adrian and me. It makes it easier for us to blur lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Besides when he gets mated to Gabrielle, I still plan on settling down. I might as well start practising plus Tyler is a pretty good guy. I replied.
Ava got a mental image of Liana yawning at the mention of Tyler with all her teeth showing. Ava made a mental reminder to not shift in front of Tyler because Liana might bite off his tail or something. Definitely something.
“But you like him, right?” Gabrielle asked wriggling her eyebrows.
“Gabby, stop making me feel awkward, okay? I’m nervous enough about this date as it seems.”
Their former date had been at a restaurant as well but it had been a casual affair not a semi-formal one like this. She had worn sweatpants and a sweater but with the choice of the venue this time it would be awkward to wear that sort of outfit.
Hence, the need for so many people’s advice. Ava wore a silver sequined blouse with a nude-coloured straight short skirt that hit her midthigh and a long jacket that was the same colour as her skirt and stopped just after her skirt, she finished the outfit up with a pair of nude strappy heels.
Her hair was curled and Gabrielle had helped her do a soft natural makeup look. She looked gorgeous. She wanted to wash everything off, take off her clothes and crawl into bed and sleep away the evening.
“You didn’t answer the question. Sister dearest.” Gabrielle said unwilling to let go of the bone. Then her phone beeped and her face transformed with joy. “Adrian is here. Catch you later.” Gabrielle ran out.
Adrian and Gabrielle were happy. She could be too. Ava left the room. She hesitated at the edge of the staircase. Gabrielle was kissing Adrian downstairs. Ava wanted to look away but she couldn’t. Adrian opened his eyes in the middle of the kiss and looked straight at her.
It was unbelievably intimate. Ava watched Adrian watch her as though he was undressing her in his head. All the while he was kissing her sister. Ava averted her gaze and removed her hands from the bannister only to realize she’d left gouges in the wood. She swallowed thickly. She hadn’t even realized her nails had turned into claws while watching them.
She dismounted from the staircase. Adrian and Gabrielle had already stopped kissing.
“Good luck today, sis.” Gabrielle blew her a kiss, her arm hooked with Adrian’s. Ava forced a smile, avoided Adrian’s gaze and stepped out of the house.
Tyler’s car was parked outside and he got out to open the door for her. His jaw dropped as he saw her outfit.
“Wow. You look amazing. You always look amazing but today it skyrocketed.”
“Right. I’m sure you tell that to all the girls.” Ava laughed.
“Not really. There’s no other girl like you, Ava.” Tyler’s gaze was so earnest that she looked away, her cheeks on fire.
“Please get into the car, my lady, your chauffeur is here to serve.” Tyler’s tone turned goofy and he executed an exaggerated bow.
Ava laughed again and entered the car.
******
Adrian tried to listen to Gabrielle. He really tried but how could he when Ava had passed him by going on a date with a man dressed like that?
She looked like a wet dream painted into reality. For the first time in weeks, he had gotten hard while Gabrielle was kissing him. Because she was looking at him. He had thought he could let her date someone else. He’d really thought he could do it but he couldn’t.
“So what movie do you want to see? Romance, Action or Horror?” Seeing how disinterested Adrian looked, Gabrielle attempted something else.
She lowered her voice. “Or we could go up to my room…” She slipped her hands around his waist burying her head in his chest and dropping little kisses along the way. “… no one is home right now. We could… catch up.” She was beginning to go down to give him a blowjob right there in the hallway.
He pulled away. “Takeout.”
“What?” Gabrielle straightened, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion.
“Takeout. I’m craving takeout. I want to get some from that place near town that we like.”
“Okay, let me just get changed. I’ll come with you.” Gabrielle offered.
“No need.” Adrian pecked her on the lips “I don’t want to stress you out. I’ll go and get it in a jiffy. You can pick out a movie in the meantime.”
“But that place is pretty far.” Gabrielle complained but Adrian was already out the door.
*******
“I can’t fit anything in anymore, I swear.” Ava had never been this satisfied with food apart from her mother’s food. The date had gone exceptionally well. Tyler had been a gentleman, pulling the chair out for her. He’d advised her on the dishes to have and they’d all been phenomenal. She definitely wanted to revisit this place.
“We haven’t even had dessert yet. Their cakes and puddings are to die for.”
“I believe you. If I try to take anything extra I might actually die.” Ava tried to not rub her belly in supplication to the goddess. She prayed her belly wouldn’t look pregnant when she got up.
Tyler laughed and called the waiter over to settle the bill. He settled the bill and they left the restaurant. Ava’s prayers were heard when she stood up. They decided to take a small stroll before entering the car and going home.
The night air was cool and the streets somewhat deserted yet Ava could swear that she felt someone looking at her.
“You are into weightlifting, right?” Ava said, trying to make small conversation looking up at Tyler.
“Yeah. But right now, I’m more into you.” Tyler said with a rakish smile.
“Goddess that was terrible. Where did you get that line from?” Ava laughed and Tyler joined her. After they stopped laughing, Tyler looked at her like she’d hung the stars or something.
“Ava.” His voice was soft and his lips dropped to hers. Ava closed her eyes trying to get into the kiss. His lips moved over hers and she opened her mouth to him but she felt nothing. Nothing as he pulled closer to her. She felt like she felt when she kissed the back of her hand when trying to learn how to french kiss for her first kiss with Dylan. It was wet and awkward. She pulled away from Tyler.
“Sorry. I’m not really feeling it.”
Adrian had ruined her for other men. Ava fought back tears of anger. Tyler was someone she’d connected with. She should be able to share a kiss with him the way Adrian and Gabrielle did around the house.
“You don’t need to act coy with me. I’m as hot for you as you are for me.” Tyler said, his pupdilatingated as he moved in to kiss her again.
Wait what? Ava shoved him away.
“I said I wasn’t feeling it. I’m not ‘acting coy’, I’m just not interested.” Ava said, emphasizing the ‘not interested’ part before walking away from him. She didn’t want to stroll anymore. She wanted to go home.
“Wait a minute. Ava.” She ignored him and walked faster.
He held onto her arm and pulled her back pushing her up against a wall.
“What the hell do you think you are doing, Tyler?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. You give me all these mixed signals and now you are acting like I’m a dick for wanting to kiss you, touch you. You come on this date with me weGabbyng that outfit, laughing and flirting with me all evening. You’re driving me crazy, Ava.”
“I was getting to know you, not flirting with you. And you must be crazy to think I am giving you mixed signals when all I want to do right now is leave. That’s only one signal. You know what, I’m no longer interested in any of this. I’d like to get home now. Move.”
“Ava, I’m so hot for you right now. I can’t get you out of my head.” It was like he couldn’t even hear her anymore. He pushed himself against her and Ava started struggling against him in earnest.
“Get the hell off me.”
Then suddenly he was off her. Ava looked up shocked to see Adrian beating him up.