In Love With My Rival

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: ready but late yes

Days had passed and it was already Thursday, a day before the gala that Ava was anticipating. No, she was anticipating his answer. There wasn’t a yes or a no yet. She felt so anxious that she could not stop pacing back and forth in her office.

“Come on.” She muttered and then stopped, looked behind her to see them turning into a beautiful dark orange hue. The sun was starting to set down, but she still hadn’t gotten an answer yet.

What are you still doing standing there?

“I’ve given you all the time to think.” She said, all alone in her office as her eyes squinted at the door where Zephyr was right outside.

It was already time to call it a day, but she had to talk to him because he hadn’t said a word to her about the gala. It was already embarrassing enough when she desperately asked him to be her date, but she could not care less if she would decide to open that door and drag him inside and then make him say yes.

Chin up and boldly, she took a step forward until it became two and more and until she finally opened the door. With the sound of its opening, a head poked to the side and she was looking at his beautiful face.

“Hi.” Zephyr greeted. “Are you going home?” He asked nonchalantly as if he did not hear anything.

You owe me a yes. No other answer but a yes.

Her eyes almost squinted at him when she thought about that.

How come he looks so cool? Dude, the yes, please.

“Can I have a word with you?” She finally spoke.

Zephyr’s brows raised and then he nodded his head. “Sure. What do you want to talk about?” He finally faced her fully. They looked weird just standing there by the door, facing each other.

“Inside.”

Ava did not wait for his complaint. She turned around and walked back deeper into her office. She leaned her butt on the edge of her desk, crossing her legs and then her arms.

“That’s a nice view.” Zephyr winked, checking her out.

Well, she was wearing a fitted black dress, corporate style, and it shaped her curves. Those black heels were killer, pointed, and classy. Her dark hair was bold and sexy with her red lipstick. She was so f*****g sexy.

Ava rolled her eyes at his comment. That wasn’t what she needs at the moment. All she wanted to hear from him was one word and she would be happy. She could not wait anymore so she started.

“About the gala…” She trailed off and then cleared her throat. It had suddenly gone dry. She swallowed the lump in there and released a sigh.

“What about that?” Zephyr raised that annoying sexy brow of his again.

She just had a thing for men with thick brows. It just turned her on.

Focus, Ava.

Right.

“Have you made up your mind?” There. It was out.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Her eyes almost widened and her heart started pacing.

“Yes, I’ve made up my mind,” Zephyr said.

“Oh.”

Oh, that’s what he meant. What do you expect?

A ‘yes’, I said.

“So?” Her eyes were so hopeful. She wanted to bite her fingertips in anticipation. The thrill was killing her. She needed to hear that.

“Yes, I’ll be your date.”

Just like that, her eyes widened and twinkled in happiness. Her mouth opened in shock and before she even knew it, she was already hugging him. She could not remember her feet dragging her towards him.

“Thank you so much!” She laughed.

Something sparked inside Zephyr, hearing her laugh. As always, her laugh was a piece of very pleasant music to his ears. He felt a pang in his chest when Ava just suddenly threw her arms around his neck and clung onto him like a baby.

Why is she so happy?

He could not help but wonder. It must have already been a huge deal for her. Thinking about it, he felt bad that he made her wait. The truth was he did not much time to think. He already the answer the moment she asked him to be her date. He was sure of it. He just wanted to know how serious she was or how badly she wanted him to be by her side tomorrow night.

He felt bad because he just realized it already meant a lot to her.

“I don’t have anything nice to wear.”

Yes, he just said that while his hands were unconsciously rubbing her back. His chin was placed on top of her head. That was when he realized they seemed cozy together.

We are cozy.

Nevertheless, he did not let go of her yet and instead pulled her closer to him.

“I’ll take care of that.”

He heard her say. His lips twitched up into a small smile. For what seemed like forever, they finally broke the hug apart but remained close to each other. They stood, facing each other, a smile dancing on their lips. The twinkle was still present in her eyes. Her face was so lit up and once again, he found himself getting lost in her blue orbs. His smile was wiped out as he intently stared at her.

Delicate.

She was so delicate, he thought. So innocently fragile.

“Aren’t you worried that I would look so dashing tomorrow?”

It was supposed to come out as a joke but she took it seriously when she squinted her eyes at him and asked, “Why would I be worried?”

“Women would be ogling at me?”

She scoffed and he pursed his lips because of that reaction. She just looked so freaking adorable at the moment.

“Keep dreaming.” She shook her at him, but he did not miss that cute smile on her lips before she turned around to get her bag from the desk.

“Let’s go.” She winked at him, walking past and to the door.

Shaking his head and with his hands in his pockets, he followed her out of the door. They headed to the elevator and a comfortable silence settled between them. They rode down to the basement and headed straight to her black Audi.

Zephyr opened the passenger seat door for her. As usual, she would throw him a cute grateful smile before she completely got in the car. Cute seemed to be the word of the day for him. Nevertheless, she was just cute. Yup, she was.

Okay, stop it now.

Almost laughing to himself, he rounded the car and got in the driver’s seat. He started the car and maneuvered the car out of the basement. The same comfortable silence settled during the ride.

Ava enjoyed the breeze outside as they passed by the roads and streets. It was only when they got stuck in traffic that Ava broke the silence.

“Can we passed by the supermarket?”

“Sure.”

She smiled at him. Her mind was already imagining the two of them in her kitchen, cooking dinner together.

Promise, just cooking.

She almost laughed at the thought. Probably because her mind was thinking about something else other than cooking. What could it be? Probably something wet and wild. Sexy but dirty?

“What are you going to buy there?”

“Groceries.”

“Aren’t you going to prep yourself for tomorrow? You know, sleeping early to get your beauty rest? Tomorrow night is going to be a big night.”

“I know that. I need to buy some things for dinner.”

The traffic finally moved. Zephyr glanced at her shortly before focusing on the road. “You’re cooking tonight?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?” Ava chuckled. “I’m a great cook.”

“I don’t know. What are you going to make?”

“Let’s just see what we can find.”

***

“Seafood boil?”

Ava eagerly nodded her head. She was so excited. It had been a long time since she had seafood.

“I didn’t know you like seafood.” The corner of Zephyr’s lips twitched up in amusement. He was patiently walking side by side with her, pushing the cart as Ava picked out whatever she needed for the dinner she was planning to make.

“I love seafood.” She shook her head. “So much.” She corrected, adding small round potatoes and sweet corn in the cart. They had already been to the seafood section where Ava got some fresh prawns, lobsters, a king crab, squid, and abalones.

“Do you like spicy?” She asked him as they headed for the counter to pay for everything.

“I do. Do you?”

“I love it.”

“Cool. I’ll help you.”

“Sure.”

Zephyr started unloading the cart, putting the items on the counter. Ava was about to hand her debit card when Zephyr got it from her and put it back in her wallet.

“Let me.”

“What? No! What are you doing?” Ava’s voiced raised a little, making the boy lady cashier look at them. “Sorry.” She muttered softly before looking up at Zephyr and glared at him. “I. AM. PAYING.”

“No, I am.” He argued.

Before Ava could even protest, Zephyr quickly paid in cash for all the items they bought. He picked up the bag of what they just bought and headed for the exit.

“Let’s go.” He told Ava when he saw her not following him. He sighed. ”Come on. It’s not that much. Don’t worry about it.”

Helplessly, Ava followed him out of the store and to her car parked just outside. Zephyr still opened the passenger seat door for her, holding the bag of ingredients with one hand. He rounded the car, got in the driver’s seat, and put what he was holding in the backseat.

“Come on. Let go of it. Let me pay sometimes.”

He told her as he started the car and started to drive home.

“That was rude. You could have told me instead of just doing it like that.”

Zephyr could hear the pout in her voice. How he wished he could pull over and kissed her right there.

“Well, I’m sorry.” He meant it.

“We’re good. Let’s just forget about it.”

Smiling and with one hand on the steering wheel, his right hand went to pinch her cheek without even taking his eyes off the road.

He heard her groan and he withdrew his hand before she could pinch him back.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I just pinch her cheek?

That is so f*****g cheesy.

I know.

“What is wrong with you?” She asked.

“I don’t know.” He chuckled. Something was definitely wrong with him. “Oh. Here we are.”

They finally arrived, parking the car in the basement. Ava got out first and she waited for him as he got the groceries from the backseat. They walked side by side, heading towards the elevator.

When they finally arrived at her unit, she dropped her bag on the couch, took off her shoes, left them in the living room, and went to the kitchen. As she tied the apron behind her, someone just stood behind her and did it for her. That caused a sharp intake of breath and for the heart to pace up a little. She slightly tilted her head to the side and saw him looking at her while her fingers worked on the apron.

It seemed like he took so much time when it was just actually short.

“Thanks.” She muttered.

She thought he was done when he suddenly inched closer and caught her wrist. She forgot how to breathe for a while, feeling his body heat from behind. No words seemed to leave her mouth and she just watched his hand slowly pulled the thin black ponytail off her wrist. Their skin touched and she was not sure if he felt that too, but it was there. The spark.

Closing her eyes, he clutched the edge of the kitchen countertop as her fingers gathered her hair and tied it in a ponytail. His hot breath fanned her nape. She involuntary looked up and clutched the edge of the counter tighter. It was the sweetest thing he had ever done. The gesture sent made her feel mixed emotions. One thing for sure, it was heart-warming. The tension between them was there and she just wanted it to end or else, they wouldn’t be able to make dinner and just have each other for dinner instead.

Girl, you are just so…

Yeah, I want him…

To help me with dinner…

Right.

It was when Zephyr was done that she finally let out the breath she was holding. It came out shaky. When she turned around, she just found herself being cornered by both of his arms.

“W-what are you doing?” She stuttered, staring into his dark orbs which were now darkening even more.

Uh-oh.