(Ava's POV)
"Ava?" I hear someone call my name behind me. It's Sara. Her smile is so warm and genuine... I hope it is me who causes it.
"Hey Sara, how are you?" I say. It's the first time we speak since she came to my house three days ago. I have been tempted to message her many times or call to see how she was doing, but I decided to give her some space. I figured she had to fix things with Ray.
"I'm alright. Um... do you come here often?" Sara asked when I waved at one of the women who run the shop.
"Oh yes, I absolutely love flowers. And now I have a nice balcony to decorate with them" I answer.
I also love this flower shop. It's cozy, the product is amazing and the owners are my friends. Well... one of them is my ex-girlfriend to be exact... but we are friends now. So apart from buying some new flowers to decorate my recently rented half of the apartment, I came here to take my mind off of Sara. And turns out she comes here too.
"And what are you doing here?" I ask, fearing the answer.
"Oh um..." Sara seems a bit uncomfortable. "I read somewhere that if you're planning a wedding you should pick the flowers first and then the rest of the decorations go based on them" She explained.
The wedding. Yes, Sara is marrying my brother, I have to forget about her. I also don't want to hurt her. I see her now, standing in front of me, vulnerable and insecure. I know Sara is a very good person and she doesn't want to hurt Ray. I can't keep doing this to her, I want her to be happy... I decide to talk to Nora later and tell her I quit.
"Ava are you ok?" Sara asks with a hand on my shoulder. Then I realize I have been lost in my thoughts and I try to go back to a casual attitude. Come on Ava, this isn't hard, you've been doing it all the time.
"Yeah I was just thinking about the plans for the wedding..." I feel a lump in my throat but force myself to smile. "I promised I would help you, right? So let's start with the flowers"
I offer her my hand and to my surprise she takes it without a second thought. Her eyes are a bit less bright than before now, as if something is keeping her mind in conflict, but I don't dare to make questions. I guide Sara around the shop, showing off my knowledge about flowers, which is standard but full of rarely known facts.
"So this flower is called that way because-" I interrupt myself when I see my ex walking towards me behind Sara. My jaw drops but I can control it just in time. She looks more beautiful now, after 2 years.
"Ava, is it you?" She asks reaching out to hug me.
"Evelyn!" Is all I can say. While in the hug my eyes automatically try to find Sara's but her gaze is on the floor.
The hug takes a bit too long so I pull away visibly uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry to interrupt" Evelyn says, clearly noticing my reaction. "Who is this?" She asks looking at Sara with a smile. I know she thinks she is something else to me so I quickly explain.
"Oh she's Ray's fiancée" I explain.
"Well hello, nice to meet you" Evelyn says shaking Sara's hand in a friendly way. Both women are forcing themselves to seem nice to the other, without success. It's a funny thing to watch.
I tell Evelyn that I am back in town for a while and someone else is taking care of my bar in LA. She remembers Charlie and I promise to give her greetings next time I call her. Speaking of calling, she gave me her number. Evelyn is such a flirty woman. I shouldn't forget why we broke up, but maybe I could give it another chance and take Sara out of my mind once and for all.
"Alright Aves, I'll get to work again. It was nice to see you! Text me and we'll go for a drink" Evelyn said. She added a wink and walked away. "Bye Sara" She added when she was already a few steps away, as if she had just remembered the other woman was there too.
"Pff Aves, what a stupid nickname" Was all Sara said with her arms crossed, visibly annoyed.
(Sara's POV)
"How about a cup of coffee
Me and you, we can meet at the cafe"
I walk up the stairs in Zari and Ava's house, following the music. A few notes in the piano and Ava's voice are mixing in a beautiful song I have never heard before. I know she is a professional singer and I heard her voice before, in the karaoke night at her parents' house. But even knowing that I feel goose bumps when Ava sings. I walk slowly and quietly. The music stops and I'm afraid she noticed me somehow, but then I hear her sing again, what seems a different part of the song.
"I can be the one
The one you don't know you're looking for.
We can be the spark"
I reached her door by then, it's open and I can see Ava sitting in front of her piano. She stopped the music again mumbling something and making some notes on a piece of paper. I thought this was the chance to announce myself before she would notice me and think I was spying on her.
I clear my throat.
Ava jumps from the chair and turns around to face me. She blushes fiercely and quickly grabs the papers she was writing on, to hide them behind her back.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" I apologize walking towards her.
It takes some time for Ava to compose herself and meet my eyes.
"It's ok, I was just concentrated in something and-" she started.
"Are you writing that song?" I ask with a comforting smile. "It is really good"
She sighs and smiles back, some tension leaving her body.
"Yes I am... thank you but it's not finished yet" Ava's eyes looked away from mine and she changed subject, "Ah you're here cause we were going to see wedding invitations! I'm sorry I lost track of time" She apologized.
"Don't worry" I say "Z won't be there until 4:30 so we have time. You can get ready to go, I'll wait downstairs"
Once downstairs I sit on the couch and smile remembering last week, when Ava comforted me and we ended up laughing in the middle of a pillow fight. I can't believe it's been over a month already since I've met her. The blonde always surprises me with something new and at the same time, there is something about her that makes me feel like we've known each other forever. I was told she was a distant person, cold and manipulative, and maybe she is. But that's the weird thing, she isn't like that with me. I think Ava is trying, pretending to be that way but she can't help but showing me the other side of her, the cheerful caring one. And I can't ignore what happened between us... things got hot when we met, and it happened very quickly. I know Ava has been keeping her distance ever since, and so have I. At least I try, I just miss her.
I am diving in my thoughts when I notice Ava's phone is ringing somewhere near me. I look for it and find it on the fireplace. The incoming call just ended when I was about to pick up for her, but I saw a new message popped up on the screen.
I'm so happy you texted, Aves. I would love dinner with you.
The text was from Evelyn. I really don't like that bitch.