Chapter 14
1316 Words
CHAPTER 14
Ava set the date for the next afternoon, they part ways after Nathan persuades her he's coming to pick her up.
...
Ava stood in front of her wardrobe with her arms folded.
"This is ridiculous."
She pulled out a cream-colored sweater.
"No."
She shoved it back.
Then she picked up a black dress.
"...Definitely not."
Mochi sat on the bed, lazily watching her with the judgmental expression only cats seemed capable of making.
"It's not a date," Ava told him.
Mochi blinked.
"I mean it."
She reached for a pair of blue jeans.
"Coffee doesn't require this much thinking."
Her phone rang.
She didn't even need to check the caller ID.
"You've changed outfits three times already, haven't you?" Chloe asked the second Ava answered.
Ava froze.
"...How do you know?"
"I know you."
"I've only changed twice."
"Ava."
"...Maybe four."
Chloe burst into laughter.
"I knew it!"
"It's just coffee."
"Mhm."
"It is."
"Mhm."
Ava sighed dramatically.
"Why do you keep saying it like that?"
"Because you've repeated 'it's just coffee' about fifteen times since yesterday."
"It is just coffee."
"So why are you panicking over a sweater?"
"I'm not panicking."
"You are literally arguing with clothes."
Ava looked down at the white blouse, still hanging from one hand.
"...I might be."
"You like him."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
"I barely know him."
"But you want to."
Ava opened her mouth to deny it.
Nothing came out.
Chloe laughed again.
"I'll take that silence as a yes."
"It isn't."
"Whatever helps you sleep."
Ava glanced at the clock.
"Oh no."
"What?"
"He's going to be here in twenty minutes."
"So?"
"I still don't know what to wear."
Chloe groaned.
"Ava Carter."
"What?"
"Wear something that makes you feel pretty."
"I don't dress for men."
"I know."
"You really do?"
"I've known you for years."
A small smile found Ava's lips.
"Thanks."
"And don't keep the billionaire waiting."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good."
"And Ava?"
"Yeah?"
"Have fun."
The call ended.
Ava looked at herself in the mirror one last time.
She finally settled on light blue jeans, white sneakers, and a soft beige blouse tucked neatly into her jeans.
Simple.
Comfortable.
Exactly like her.
She smiled.
"This will do."
---
At exactly two o'clock...
A sleek black SUV stopped outside her apartment building.
Ava walked outside just as Nathan stepped out.
He wore dark jeans, a fitted black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, and a silver watch.
Simple.
Effortlessly attractive.
"You came exactly on time," she said.
"I told you I would."
She smiled before she could stop herself.
"You did."
Nathan opened the passenger door for her.
"After you."
"You know I can open doors myself."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"I wanted to."
She rolled her eyes playfully.
She got into the car, trying very hard not to smile.
---
The café Nathan chose wasn't extravagant.
It was small, warm, and tucked between an old bookstore and a flower shop.
Ava looked around in surprise.
"I expected somewhere... fancier."
"You don't like fancy."
She looked at him.
"How do you know that?"
"You always choose cafés with outdoor seating."
She frowned.
"I've only posted pictures twice."
"You always ordered coffee from independent cafés when you were with Ethan."
She blinked.
"You remember that?"
"I remember most things."
She decided not to ask how.
Instead, they walked inside.
The smell of fresh coffee filled the air.
Nathan pulled out her chair before sitting across from her.
A waitress handed them menus.
"I already know what I want," Nathan said.
The waitress smiled.
"And for your girlfriend?"
Ava nearly choked.
"We're not..."
"She's not," Nathan answered calmly before Ava could finish.
The waitress apologized and hurried away.
An awkward silence followed.
Ava stared at the menu.
"I am so sorry."
"You didn't do anything."
"It was embarrassing."
"I've been called worse."
That made her laugh.
"You really don't get embarrassed, do you?"
"I do."
"I've never seen it."
"You haven't known me very long."
The waitress returned.
Nathan ordered an espresso.
Then he looked at Ava.
"Still caramel latte?"
She looked up.
"...How did you know that?"
"You've ordered one every time you went to Chloe's favourite café."
Ava stared.
"You remember my coffee order?"
"You also eat cheesecake before finishing your drink."
She blinked again.
"And when you're painting for hours," he continued, "you forget to eat unless someone reminds you."
She narrowed her eyes.
"That's... slightly creepy."
He smiled.
"But also..."
He waited.
"... kind of sweet."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"I'll take that."
When the drinks arrived, Nathan ordered cheesecake before she even looked at the dessert menu.
"You didn't ask me."
"You were going to order it."
"I was."
"I know."
She shook her head.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or worried."
"A little of both."
She laughed.
For the first time since the breakup...
It felt easy.
No pretending.
No walking on eggshells.
Just conversation.
---
An hour passed faster than Ava expected.
She told him about a mural she wanted to paint.
Nathan listened without interrupting.
When she talked about colours, he actually asked questions.
When she explained why she preferred acrylic paint over oil paint, he paid attention.
Not once did he check his phone.
Not once did he look distracted.
It was such a small thing.
Yet somehow...
It meant everything.
"So..." she asked.
"What?"
"Do you always listen this carefully?"
"Only when the conversation matters."
Her cheeks warmed.
Before she could reply, a familiar little voice interrupted.
"Dad!"
Ava turned.
Alex came running across the café with Victoria following behind him.
Nathan looked surprised.
"What are you doing here?"
Victoria smiled innocently.
"We came for ice cream."
Alex looked from Nathan...
To Ava...
Then, back to Nathan.
His little face lit up.
"You guys are on a date!"
Ava almost dropped her cup.
"W-We're not!"
Alex frowned.
"But Dad smiled today."
Nathan looked at his son.
"So?"
"You only smile like that when you really like someone."
Victoria covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Nathan remained completely calm.
"I smile."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Not that much."
Ava could feel her face getting hotter.
Alex walked over to her.
"I told Grandma you're the pretty artist."
Nathan closed his eyes briefly.
"Alex."
"What?"
"We've talked about this."
"I only told the truth."
Victoria finally gave up and laughed.
"I'm terribly sorry."
"No, you're not," Nathan said.
"Not even a little."
Alex tugged on Ava's sleeve.
"Can you come paint with me again?"
Ava smiled.
"I'd love to."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Alex grinned before Victoria gently led him away.
"Say goodbye."
"Bye, Ava!"
"Bye, Alex."
The little boy waved enthusiastically until they disappeared outside.
Silence settled between the two adults.
Ava looked down at her coffee.
"So..."
"So."
She laughed softly.
"I don't think he believes this wasn't a date."
Nathan picked up his cup.
"He isn't easily convinced."
"And you?"
"What about me?"
She looked into his eyes.
"Was this a date?"
Nathan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he held her gaze with that same quiet confidence she was slowly getting used to.
"I asked you to coffee."
"That's not an answer."
"No."
"It isn't."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I'll let you decide."
She looked away first.
Her heart was beating much faster than she'd like to admit.
---
Across the street...
A black luxury car slowed to a stop.
Ethan looked through the café window.
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
He watched Ava laugh.
Really laugh.
A laugh he hadn't heard in months.
Nathan was sitting across from her.
Listening.
Smiling.
Present.
Everything he hadn't been.
For the first time...
He didn't feel angry.
He felt something much worse.
He realized someone else was giving Ava everything she had once begged him for.
And it was already too late.
- Writer
