On Dry Land (Swimming Upstream #3) (21 page)

“I know her landlord.”

“Really?”

“Intimately.”

Both men stared at the other across the kitchen counter. “Jennifer!” they said in unison before laughter settled over them.

When they calmed down, Jake pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and shot off a text before winking at Tyler. “I’m scared to ask…what’d you do?”

With a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder, Jake winked. “Had Ava evicted.”

“Shit!”

Chapter 38

Ava

The incessant buzzing broke through Ava’s slumber, rousing her from sleep. She was not happy about it either. After a few attempts to accept the call, her tired, uncoordinated fingers hit the right button.

“Morning, Short Stack!” Tyler sung merrily. He was way too happy in the mornings.

“Mmmm.”

“You feeling any better today?”

“Mmmm.”

“Did I wake you?”

“Mmmm.” Ava was having trouble forming words. And opening her eyes. And sitting up. And functioning in general.

“Well, it’s almost ten. I need you to get up, grab a shower, try and eat something, and I’ll pick you up soon so we can head to the doctor’s. Don’t even think about arguing, okay?”

“Mmmm.”

“Do I need to call you in ten minutes to make sure you got out of that tiny bed of yours?” Tyler taunted.

“Mmmm,” Ava mumbled. She was awake now and could have answered properly but getting under Tyler’s skin was one of her favourite things to do.

“Go! Get in the shower. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Ava heard the phone go dead and let the smile light up her face. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, waking up to Tyler was the best way to start the day. Preferably in his arms, but a phone call would do. As quick as she could, Ava shuffled into the bathroom and got ready.

As Tyler strode through the door, Ava’s jaw dropped. How the hell did she ever get so lucky? He looked like he’d just stepped from a magazine shoot. A white button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows did absolutely nothing to hide the wide expanse of tanned of skin. His jeans hung low on his hips and looked like they were made for him. Or he was made to wear them. With the dark denim stretched across his thighs, you didn’t need an imagination to know there was something good hiding beneath. With his aviator shades, a smile, and thongs, he looked casual yet mouth-watering. Ava couldn’t help but stare.

“Morning, Short Stack!” He grinned as he removed his glasses, his chocolate eyes never once leaving her.

“Morning,” Ava replied, taking another bite from her toast.

“You smell so good,” Tyler added, sniffing her hair before kissing her cheek and slipping into the seat beside her.

Avoiding his compliment, she asked, “How was training?”

“Same as always. Sleep well?”

“Yeah, I did, actually. I don’t know why I was so tired.”

“It sounded like it!”

“Meaning?”

“You, Ava Jacobs, snored like a freight train last night!”

With an indignant look, Ava slapped Tyler’s chest at the same moment he reached over and stole the other half of the piece of toast, taking a huge bite. “Get used to it!”

“Looking forward to it!”

Together they finished up Ava’s breakfast, cleaned up the mess, and headed out the door. Darting in and out of traffic, Tyler drove like he had precious cargo on board. He sat under the speed limit, stopped for every orange signal, and checked his blind spot relentlessly.

“What’s wrong?” Ava dared to ask ten minutes into the drive. Her doctor was only five minutes from her place, so she was a bit confused why they were still driving.

“Nothing. Why do you ask?”

“Because you’re driving like an old lady!”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. We’re here. You ready?”

Ava gulped. Was she ready? Hell no. Did she want to do this? Absolutely not. Was she dumb enough to believe that Tyler would let her get out of this? Unfortunately not. Not trusting her voice to give away her nerves, Ava nodded softly. Tyler reached over and wrapped his hand around hers, giving it a supportive squeeze. A moment later they climbed from the car and hand in hand, entered the noisy, crowded doctor’s office.

It didn’t get past her that they were being stared out. Some blatantly pointed, while others mentioned Tyler’s name in what they must have thought were hushed tones. Ava heard every word. When someone pulled out their phone and snapped a picture, Ava felt the room spin around her as she turned to Tyler.

“Should you be here?” she whispered.

“Of course! Why? What’s wrong?”

Grimacing, Ava looked at Tyler’s wide, surprised eyes. Sometimes he really was naïve. “People have recognised you. And I just saw someone take a photo. Are you sure you want to be seen at the doctor’s surgery waiting for an appointment with some girl?”

Taking her face between his hands, Tyler didn’t miss a beat. “Firstly, you are not some girl. You’re my girlfriend. I don’t give two shits who knows it. So what if photos show up of me holding your hand at the doctor’s? You were sick, I took you to the doctor’s. No secret. No scandal.” Tyler’s words were clear, decisive, and loud enough that no one sitting in the waiting room was left wondering.

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. Get used to it, Short Stack. You’re stuck with me now!”

Before Ava had a chance to reply, the doctor appeared and called her in. Tyler kissed her nose gently and let go, making no effort to follow her. “You’re not coming?” Ava called over her shoulder when she realised Tyler wasn’t behind her.

“You’ll be all right. I’ll meet you right here.”

Confused, Ava stepped into the doctor’s office and heard the click of the door behind her.

Chapter 39

Tyler

The moment Ava stepped through the door and vanished from sight, Tyler nodded at the old doctor with thick glasses perched on his nose and followed him down the hall. He’d never planned on lying to Ava, and he’d been very extremely careful to avoid doing it, but he hadn’t told her the whole truth either. He didn’t know how. His stomach was eating him from the inside as he glanced around the impersonal, sterile room and breathed in the scent of bleach. Even after all the chlorine he’d ingested over the years he was surprised to see how much it burned his nose.

Ten minutes later, craving a shower, Tyler re-emerged into the reception area and paid the bill. Both his and Ava’s. He was stuffing the receipt in his pocket when she appeared, carrying a handful of papers.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Just some blood tests. Nothing major,” Ava fobbed off.

Recognising the uneasiness in Ava’s eyes, Tyler found himself on edge. He knew Ava well enough by now to know she’d talk when she was ready and not a moment before. Pushing hadn’t worked for him in the past, so he wasn’t about to try now.

“Okay then. Well, I’ve already paid, so what do you say we get out of here? Go grab some lunch?”

The moment Ava slipped her hand into his and looked up into his eyes, Tyler’s breath caught. He sent a silent prayer up, desperation wrapped around him like a vine.

“Sounds perfect.” Ava smiled, bringing his attention back to her. Without another word, he led her out the door and helped her into the car.

They drove in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Tyler didn’t know where he was going, and when he stole at glance at Ava, her expression was blank as she stared out the window, barely registering anything.

“How about Moroccan?”

“Okay,” Ava agreed quickly.

Turning around, Tyler got them to the restaurant and seated in a back, private booth in record time. He needed to know what the doctor said. He needed to know what the worried look that crinkled her forehead was all about. And more than anything, he needed to know how he could make it go away.

The waitress appeared and began flirting unashamedly with him but he shut her down quickly before ordering for both of them. He watched her hasty retreat after his blunt rejection, but right now he didn’t give a shit about the blonde’s feelings. The only woman’s feelings that counted right now was the one sitting in front of him, pale as a ghost, spinning a sugar packet around and around in her fingers.

“Okay, she’s gone. Now, please, Short Stack, tell me. What did the doctor say?”

“Nothing really,” Ava replied softly, lifting her eyes to meet with his.

“Please, Ava. I’m freaking out over here. Look! My hands are shaking.” As if to prove his point, Tyler lifted his hand from the table and attempted to hold it steady, only to fail miserably. He knew it was shaky before he’d attempted his little experiment but seeing how much he trembled shocked even him.

Ava grabbed Tyler’s clammy hand between her own. “Honestly, Tyler. They didn’t say much at all. Just that they needed to run some blood tests to rule a few things out.”

“Things like…”

“Normal things. Girl things.”

“Fuck, Ava,” Tyler hissed, causing Ava’s eyes to snap to attention. “Girl things? What the fuck are ‘girl things’?”

Before Ava had a chance to answer, their drinks appeared and Ava withdrew her hand. Biting her lip, Tyler read her like a book. She was pissed. At him, undoubtedly. His stupid big mouth had gotten him in trouble again.

“Ava…I didn’t mean…”

“Yes, Tyler. You did. Don’t pretend you didn’t. But if you must know, they’re checking my hormone levels, iron level, checking for diabetes, checking for any sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy—”

“Pregnancy?”

“Yes, Tyler. Pregnancy.”

“But…how? When? Why? Who?”

Tyler knew the exact moment he’d gone too far. The moment he asked ‘who’ had done it. Now he was fucked. Yanking the napkin from her lap, Ava dropped it on the table and grabbed her bag before Tyler even had a chance to back track.

With as much poise and sophistication as she could muster, Ava bent over, resting her hands on the table between them. “You did not just ask me that, because if you did, Tyler Andrews, you’re a bigger asshole than I realised.” Ava spat the words, full of venom, in his face, and Tyler felt himself physically recoil away from her. It wasn’t that he was afraid she’d hurt him, he was more disgusted at himself for the whole situation. Ava didn’t deserve that. He’d been a prick and he knew it. As the waitress delivered their meal, Tyler watched Ava stomp out of the restaurant and all he could do was hope it wasn’t out of his life as well.

Chapter 40

Ava

As Ava stormed away from the restaurant and from Tyler, she ignored the curious glances and pitied looks as the tears streamed down her face. Ava didn’t dare look back to see if Tyler had come after her. She didn’t need to. She knew he hadn’t. If he’d wanted to, he would have caught her by now. Blindly groping about in the bottom of her handbag, Ava grabbed her phone and dialled the first number she thought of.

“Hi,” she sniffled through the tears.

“Hey Ava. I was about to call you.”

“You were?”

“Yeah. Are you home? I need to come see you. I know you’re having a couple of days off. Is everything all right?”

“I’m fine,” Ava lied through gritted teeth. The truth was she was anything but fine right now. “I’m out at the moment, why? What’s up?”

“I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone, Ava…”

Ava was vibrating. She didn’t like where this conversation was headed and she liked it even less that it was coming on the heels of Tyler’s words. “Tell me what, Jake?”

She heard him clear his throat and her heart sank. Not once, in the entire time they’d been friends had Jake come across nervous. “Jennifer wants to sell the apartment.”

Ava dropped to the ground.

Everything spun around her. The world was out of control. She was out of control.

“Miss! Miss! Are you okay?” a childlike voice sung, seeming far away. “Miss!”

Ava pried open her eyes only to slam them shut again a breath later. She was surrounded by people. All staring at her. All wearing the same concerned expression. A pregnant woman, wearing a long striped dress stepped towards her, her hand outstretched, Ava’s phone in her palm.

“Ava! Ava! Fuck me, Ava!” she could hear Jake’s distressed voice booming down the phone.

“Jake, I’m fine. But please, you gotta stop yelling.”

Holding her hand against her head, Ava brushed away the tiny rocks that had embedded themselves in her forehead. Glancing down, she noticed her knee was covered in bright red blood and there were more scrapes on her arm. “Sums up my day, really,” she sighed to herself.

“Stay right where you are, Ava. I’m on my way.”

“Jake…don’t…”

“Don’t fucking move. I’m five minutes away.”

Ava heard him disconnect the call and she attempted to straighten herself out. Folding her battered legs beneath her, Ava tried to force the contents of her bag back inside. They weren’t cooperating. When a shadow loomed over her, Ava shivered in fear. The last thing she needed right now was to be mugged on top of everything else. Glancing up, the sun glared in her eyes, making her vision blurry but she saw enough to know she was in trouble. Big trouble. And not the kind she’d been expecting.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” he asked as he held out his calloused hand to help her up.

Everything in her body trembled. “Thank you,” Ava murmured as she dropped her hand in his and he slowly pulled her to her feet. Vaguely aware of her surroundings, Ava noticed the cameras pointed in her direction and shuddered. She didn’t understand why anyone would even bother taking her picture, other than for their own amusement at her complete lack of co-ordination. “I’ll be fine,” Ava repeated as she steadied herself and brushed her hands on her butt, trying to dislodge the dirt.

When he reached out and brushed her hair off her forehead, Ava felt herself rock backwards again on her heels, but the stranger caught her shoulders and held her still. “That’s quite an egg you have on your head, ma’am. You should probably sit for a minute.”

“Ava.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ava. My name is Ava, as opposed to ma’am.”

“Nice to meet you, Ava. I’m Scott. Now, let’s get you sitting down.”

Without waiting for Ava to object, he led her through the dispersing crowd and helped her onto the nearby park bench. When he turned and went to grab her purse, for the first time Ava got a good look at the helpful stranger. He wore worn, faded jeans that were tight in all the right places, a blue and white checked shirt, and brown boots. The once navy baseball cap couldn’t contain the black hair that curled out the back and the stubble on his chin made him look dark and dangerous, only to be contradicted by the caring, compassionate hazel eyes that gazed intensely at Ava as he handed back her purse.

“Thank you, Scott.”

“My pleasure, ma’am…I mean Ava. Now is there anything you need? Water? Sugar?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine. Just embarrassed.”

“Is there someone I can call? I mean, I heard you on the phone to your boyfriend but he seemed pretty bossy. If you’d rather not be here when he arrives…”

“No, no. It’s fine, really. Jake isn’t my boyfriend. More like an overprotective big brother. Speak of the devil—”

Ava locked eyes with Jake as he jogged towards her, the black jacket billowing behind him. “Geez, girl. You gave me a bloody heart attack. You okay? You look like shit!”

Ava heard Scott suck in his breath at Jake’s honest words. Ava had no doubt in her mind that she did, in fact, look like shit. She had a feeling though, that Scott was old school and he didn’t like women being spoken to like anything other than ladies. Ava watched as Jake and Scott sized each other up. They couldn’t have been more apart if they tried. Jake was the ultimate business man—suit, tie, expensive watch, where as Scott looked more like he’d just climbed off the tractor—jeans, boots, and the country charm oozing from his pores.

Forcing herself to her feet, Ava stepped between the two. “Scott, meet Jake. Jake, Scott.” She made the introductions quickly. Jake didn’t back down, so Ava continued. “Jake, Scott helped pick me up and got me over here. I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”

“You sure?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Okay then.”

“Okay.”

Turning to Scott, Ava stole another glance at his beautiful eyes before she had to force herself to blink normally. “Thank you so much for your help back there, Scott. Without you…well, I guess I’d still be on my butt. So thanks.”

With a crooked smile, Scott touched the tip of his hat, “You’re more than welcome, Ava. Now you take care.”

“I will. And thanks again.”

Scott walked away and barely a breath later, Ava had lost him. He’d blended into the crowd and vanished. Reaching out with trembling fingers, Ava touched the bump on the top of her forehead and wondered if she’d imagined Scott completely. He was the sort of man most women would dream about.

“Ava!” Jake’s voice brought her back to reality. Shaking her head, Ava dropped her hand and clutched her bag. “Are you sure you’re okay? I mean, I can take you to the hospital if you need to.”

“Please, Jake, I’m fine. No need to overreact.”

“Fine then. Let’s get you home.”

“Do I still have one?”

As soon as the words flew from Ava’s mouth, she realised how bitchy they sounded. That had never been her intention and she never wanted to guilt Jake into anything. It’s why she always insisted on paying a little more rent than they’d originally asked so they’d use an agency rather than have a private arrangement. It kept personal and professional separate. It’d worked too, right up until today when Jake had dropped his bombshell.

Wrapping one arm around her waist, Jake led her towards his illegally parked Mercedes and helped her into the front seat. “Ava, you’ll always have a home.”

Ava’s head sank. Jake was so reassuring in his words she knew he’d upend the world to keep her going. To make sure she had everything she needed, if she let him. This time she couldn’t. This time Ava had to save herself. She just needed a minute to figure out how to do it.

Jake slipped behind the wheel and navigated the streets like a pro. He knew which shortcuts to take, which roads didn’t have speed cameras, and how to avoid the school zones. Before she knew it, Jake had parked in a spot right out the front, leapt from the car, and was now standing there holding her door open.

As Ava trudged up the stairs, Jake at her heels, she wondered how much longer she’d be making this climb. Her apartment was being sold. She had to move from the only place that ever really felt like home. She had to find somewhere else to live. She had to pack. Falling through the door, Ava looked around and grunted. She didn’t want to pack her life into boxes.

“You okay, Ava?” Jake asked with a questioning look.

“Honestly, no. Everything is falling apart. I’m falling apart. It’s just all…fucked!” Ava ranted, instantly feeling better.

Jake walked into the kitchen, pulled open the freezer grabbed a long forgotten bottle of vodka, and poured Ava a healthy dose. “Down that!” he directed.

“Jake!” Ava snorted admonished. “It’s barely midday! I can’t start doing shots!”

“It’s five o’clock somewhere. Now drink!” Grimacing, Ava gulped down the shot, scrunching her face as it burnt down her throat. “Better?”

“No!” she coughed.

“Need another?”

“Fuck no!”

“Someone’s got a potty mouth on them today!”

“Okay, Jake. I’m drunk. I’m tired. And I have a huge lump on my head. I’m not having a great day. So if you just want to hit me with it, we can get it over with and this can officially become the worst day of my life.”

“Ava…”

“Tell me. How long ’til I’m homeless?”

“It’s not like that? And what do you mean homeless?”

“Exactly what I said. How long?”

“There’s no rush for you to leave, Ava. It’s not like we’re going to kick you out on your arse. But from what I hear, you already have a better offer.”

Pissed beyond comprehension, Ava pushed back from the bench, sending the chair toppling to the ground with a thump. She was about to explode. Unfortunately for Jake, if he stayed where he was, then he was more than likely going to be in the front row.

“Is…that…why…you’re…doing…this?” Ava seethed as she began pacing.

“Ava, no!”

“Fuck off, Jake. Seriously, just get out. Please go. I’ll be out by the end of next week. That work for you?”

“You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do. I’ll figure something out and hand the keys back next Friday. Then you can do what you want. Now please, I need a shower and some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.” Ava squeezed her eyes closed, willing herself not to cry. It was all too much and she needed a moment to herself to fall apart.

Ava watched as silently, Jake rose and shuffled towards the door. She could see he didn’t want to go, but was going to do as she’d asked. At least for now. “If you need anything, Ava, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Okay.”

“I’m sorry, Ava. Don’t feel like you need to leave that quickly, though. You know how long these things take.”

The door snapped shut and Ava was alone with her pounding headache. She wished she hadn’t swallowed the shot, but it just seemed like the easiest thing to do to shut Jake up and the quickest way to make him go away. After washing down two aspirin, Ava grabbed a bag of frozen peas before she slumped on the lounge and dropped the bag on her head, closing her eyes willing away the rest of this day.