It must be love

Chapter 6

Nigel

I stood outside of Nick's house procrastinating on ringing the doorbell. It had been a week since that day I met Ava and I honestly couldn't stop thinking about her, it was annoying because I hardly got any work done. I didn't understand how someone I spent less than three hours with could have made such an impact, Kayla would also not stop asking when Ava would come visit again so they could play together so this did not help my thoughts from straying to her. I felt a certain pull towards her, she intrigued me and I'd love to get to know her better. The fact that she was a model kind of irked me since it reminded me of Tracy and that wasn't a pleasant thing at all.

A little hand squeezed mine and I looked down at my daughter as she looked at me questioningly "We go in daddy?" I blinked realising that we were still standing outside the door.

I took a deep breath, feeling nervous and excited at the prospect of seeing Ava again, I sighed at how much of an i***t I was being at just standing outside, but then manned up and rang the doorbell. The door opened and there stood Jen's mother, Amelia with a big smile on her face.

"Nigel, we thought you weren't coming." She scowled playfully then her features softened when she looked down at Kayla who was tugging at her dress.

"Hi there Miss Kayla" she cooed as she picked her up and Kayla gave her a big smile

"Mimi." Kayla beamed at her. Ever since she could talk that's what she has been calling Amelia which had made them instant best friends. The two of them walked into the house with Amelia telling her about a doll she bought for her while she was in Arizona, apparently it was all the rage.

I walked inside then closed the door behind me and followed the laughter that rang out through the house then found everyone already sitting around the table, talking and laughing loudly. Tonight was Jen and my brother's celebratory engagement dinner since Jen's parents and aunt only got back yesterday from the convention.

"Nigel!" My mother called out as soon as she saw me.

"Hi ma" I said walking up to her and placed a kiss on her cheek.

I proceeded greeting everyone but frowned when I didn't see Ava, maybe she decided not to come? I took a seat next to my dad and fake gagged at Nick and Jen's public display of affection as he pulled her onto his lap when she passed by him.

"Don't be jealous" He scowled at me then kissed a giggling Jen's neck.

"I'm not jealous" I mumbled.

Though I was kind of ... envious I guess. I always thought that this would be my life with Tracy, the big family dinners and constant displays of affection. I had loved that woman and saw myself marrying her, yes we started things a bit backwards but we had talked about marriage and planned our future but then she left…

"The two of you need to stop before my appetite vanishes before dinner's even served." I grunted and Jen stuck her tongue out at me.

"Oh leave them alone Nigel!" Victoria, Ava's mom who I met a few months ago when she moved here said as she walked into the room holding a large bowl that contained something that smelled amazing. "Young love" she sighed and had a small sad smile on.

"You look deep in thought there son, you okay?" My dad, Nathaniel asked and I nodded.

"Yeah dad I'm okay. So, how's the pool coming along?" I asked him. He and mom were having a pool installed at their house heavens knows why since they didn’t really need it anyway. He launched into a conversation about how the workmen hit on mom and he fired one last one. Jack, Jen's father soon joined in the conversation as they both discussed how difficult good workmen are to find lately, he mentioned that he was having work done on their house too. I listened to them intently but movement from the door leading to the kitchen had me looking up and there stood Ava in figure hugging jeans and a tank top.

My heart pounded violently in my chest as she laughed at something her mom said, it all seemed like things were moving in slow motion as she turned then blushed when she saw me staring at her. I gave her a nod and she graced me with a gorgeous smile.

In that moment all that existed was her smiling at me, with green sparkling eyes boring into me. I groaned, shaking my head because I knew, I knew that this woman was going to be someone I had to know, someone whose layers I wanted to peel off one by one till I got to the very core of her.