Falling For You (Love In All Seasons #2) - Frankie Love Page 0,114
a girl like Ava. A girl with so much depth that I’m scared I might drown in it. “So you think I have big muscles?”
She laughs loudly, and the guests at the tables around us look up, surprised.
We bite back our smiles trying to keep it together as the waiter brings out the dinner specials.
“Escargot, radish salad, squash puree.”
He walks away and Ava and I can’t keep it together anymore.
“Andy, I appreciate the thought in taking me here, but you have me pegged all wrong.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not this girl,” she says, motioning to her plate.
“You saying you don’t eat snails on a first date?”
She laughs loudly again, this time not caring who gives dirty looks.
I pull out some bills and set them on the table, then I take Ava’s hand. “Let’s get out of here, Ava McIntyre.
Ava
Once we’re in the car, free of over-priced French food, I suggest we go to the corn maze on the outskirts of town.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Andy asks.
“Corey went there last week and said they have chili and cornbread in the gift shop. These shoes aren’t exactly made for a muddy field, but maybe we could swing by Mi Alpha Alpha first?” When he doesn’t answer right away, I wonder if I suggested something dumb. “Or is it is a lame idea?”
“No, it’s great. We’ll have fun.” He squeezes my knee and I feel like he might be holding something back, but instead of pressing him, I ask if there is a particular place he’d like to move after school.
“Well, it depends on the draft.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I forgot.”
That makes him laugh. “God, I actually like the fact you aren’t obsessed with football. Sometimes it feels like the only thing I’m on this planet for.”
“Weird isn’t it, how we kind of get stuck in certain roles?”
“Is that how it is for you, Ava?” There’s a slight tease in his eyes, as he asks playfully, “Are you more than a bookworm?”
I chuckle, feeling more at ease with him than anyone in a long time. “Totally, I mean, I’m a maid too, remember?”
He gives a deep belly laugh as we drive back to the sorority, his face lighting up. I’m once again struck by how gorgeous he is. But not only that, he’s easy to be around. I want to know more about him. Want to know everything about him. And I have a feeling that the more time I spend with him, the harder the inevitable fall will be.
Later, after we have chili and share a slice of cornbread, we head out to the maze. I admit to loving it when he slides his hand in the back pocket of my jeans.
“You look cute in those boots,” he says, looking down at my old Ariat Ramblers.
“Is that how you get so many girls in bed? Compliment their footwear?”
He tenses slightly, but says with a wink, “Every guy knows it’s the way to a woman’s heart.”
“I’m sure you’ve broken a lot of them.”
He turns to me, lifts my chin with a finger and leans down. “Don’t want to break yours, Ava. Ever.”
I suck in a shaky breath. “Then don’t.”
He swallows hard. “I promise if you ever give it to me, I’ll cherish it like it’s the most precious thing in the world.”
My heart thumps wildly with his promise, wanting to believe him.
“So, tell me about your family.” I let him take my hand, twining my fingers with his.
“My mom raised us on her own after my dad left. I’m the oldest, so--”
“A lot of responsibility was put on you,” she says as if she understands.
“Yeah. But I don’t mind. Even without my dad around, I had a good childhood. Mom always made sure we had the essentials.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“There’s five of us all together.”
“Wow. That must’ve been a busy house.”
“I always wanted siblings,” I say.
“I’m more than happy to share mine.”
A cool breeze whips around us, and when I shiver he puts an arm around me, drawing me close.
I appreciate how easy it is to be around him. I expected him to be hard to get to know, that he’d always have a joke and never veer into more serious territory, but that isn’t him at all. This entire night he has been honest with, opening up, and letting me get to know the real him.
It makes me want to open up more too.
He twists me towards him. “I’ve been wanting to do something since I picked you up earlier.”