Without Doubt (6 page)

“
Hello?”

Declan is looking at me intently with
another huge smile on his face. I have no idea what he’s up to and
suddenly I feel slightly panicked at what will be coming to me from
the other end of this conversation.

“
Um, hello. Who is this?
I’m looking for Declan,” a seductive, manly voice replies on the
other end.

“
This is Ava. Just a
second, Declan’s right—”

“
Ava?! Ava Ava? Huh, you
are real. This is Declan’s cousin, Talon. How are you,
sweetheart?”

“
What? Um, I’m good,
thanks. You?” I ask out of formality, but I have no idea what’s
going on right now. I look to Declan for an explanation but he’s
just looking smug.

“
The way Declan speaks of
you, I thought for sure you were a figment of his imagination,”
Talon explains teasingly.

“
Nope, completely real as
far as I’m aware.” I try my best to glare at Declan, who winks as
he drinks his beer, though I’m dancing and panicking on the
inside—he’s been talking about
me
.

Talon chuckles on the end and doesn’t seem
to be in a rush to get off the phone. “So I hear you’re working on
getting a PhD in psychology and you’re just about finished with
grad school? That’s impressive, Ava.”

“
Thank you. I still have a
ways to go but I got a head start on my college courses while I was
still in high school so I was able to obtain my BA fairly
young.”

“
You should be very proud,
Ava. I hope you stick around Declan so you can sort out the way his
head works once you’re licensed. I swear there’s something wrong
upstairs when that boy willingly gets the crap beat out of
him.”

Oh, this is too good. I don’t know what Dec
was trying to accomplish by putting me on the phone, but having
someone in my corner (pun intended) is too good to pass up. I look
to Declan again and he must see something in my eyes, because he
gives me a questioning nod.

“
Ahh, so there is someone
other than myself that thinks he’s completely and certifiably
insane for his career choice. I mean, who gets a degree in Finance
and chooses to get his lights knocked out instead of having a nice,
respectable career?”

Declan stands and reaches for his phone but
I step back out of his reach as if he knows exactly what his cousin
is saying. His brows are drawn together and his eyes are narrowed
at me—he’s annoyed. Seems like his plan may have backfired.

Talon laughs lightheartedly. “I like you
very much, Ava. I hope to get to meet you soon. You aren’t able to
come with him to New York tomorrow?”

Wow. Declan must speak of me often to his
cousin. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that. Actually, I
know exactly how I feel about it; I’m just not willing to accept it
yet.

“
No, unfortunately I
can’t. I hope to meet you soon too, Talon, it was nice speaking
with you.”

“
You too, Ava, take
care.”

I hand Declan back his phone and he steps
into the hall to talk to Talon. I take care of a couple patrons and
am cleaning up the bar when Max walks up and tells me to go get my
things and go home.

“
I’m not going home, Max.
Why are you here anyway? It’s only 7:30.”

“
Because it’s your
birthday and I’m not going to let you work all night. Now stop
arguing and go home.”

I can’t believe he just announced that it’s
my birthday.

“
It’s your
birthday
???” Greyden
asks loudly.

“
Max.” I sigh his name
because that’s all I can do about it. I see Declan turn and look at
me with questioning eyes. I smile but he just shakes his
head.

“
Ava Sterling, get your
fine ass over here.”

Jackson. Oh shit,
Jackson’s here. Before I spin around to find him, I look one more
time to Declan, who’s looking at Jackson with his eyebrows slightly
raised in curiosity as he continues to listen to Talon on his
phone. I haven’t explained Jax to Declan yet. This is
not
good. I might
possibly have gotten away with keeping my relationship with Jax a
secret from Declan until this very moment if I hadn’t made such a
spectacle about Rachel. I just screwed myself.

I turn towards the door and Jackson is right
in front of me, picking me up and twirling me around. As soon as he
puts me down, his lips are on mine. This is a normal greeting from
him. I don’t see him often, but he acts as though we’re a couple
when we’re in the same town. I’ve never had any other guy around
that I had to worry about this situation, so I’ve always just gone
along with it. But now I’m extremely uncomfortable. I feel a ton of
eyes on me, eight of which belong to Greyden, Luca, Keegan, and
worst of all, Declan.

“
Happy Birthday, baby!”
Jackson says as he pulls back but keeps me wrapped in his
arms.

“
Jackson, what are you
doing here? I thought you couldn’t get out of work!” I ask quietly,
feeling very uneasy. Jackson’s face makes me feel horrible for my
reaction. He drove seven plus hours to surprise me and I ask what
he’s doing here?
Ugh, I’m a horrible
person.
I stand up on my tiptoes and give
him a sweet kiss to try and relieve some of the guilt I just
acquired. “I’m sorry Jax; I’m so happy you’re here. Thank you! You
just surprised me is all…”

“
That was the point, babe!
Hurry up and get your things, I’m late and we have a reservation to
get to.”

“
Ok. I have some clothes
Marla gave me so I can just change here real quick.”

I’m sure Jackson’s picked up on the fact
that I’m acting really out of character. He leans in to whisper in
my ear, “Is he here?”

I let tension drop from my shoulders and let
out a relieved breath. I just nod my head.

He squeezes me tightly before whispering,
“So will he beat the shit out of me if I grab your ass?”

Declan

I watch numbly as some guy claims Ava. There
isn’t much I can do about it. I rushed Talon off the phone just in
time to see her reach up to kiss him. I have no idea who he is, and
she’s so never as much as mentioned a close friend that she would
be kissing right now. I was already pissed that I didn’t know
today’s her birthday and then to have this prick come in and sweep
her off her damn feet… let’s just say I’m using every technique
I’ve ever learned to calm the hell down.

“
Who the f—” I stop myself
and take another breath before rephrasing and continuing. “Who is
that?” I’m gritting my teeth, seething and speaking to no one in
particular.

Dustin is standing close enough to hear me
so he speaks up. “That’s Jackson,” he says as if I should know the
name.

Considering I talk to Ava several times a
day every single day of the week, it looks like I probably should
know who this dude is. Just like I should have known it was her
birthday.

“
Who the fuck is Jackson?”
Greyden asks for me, since I’m obviously still trying to work out
the scene in front of me.

Jackson whispers in her ear and she silently
nods. He shares a big smile with her before leaning in and
whispering again, this time looking right at me. He might just be
looking at our group in general and not singling out me, but he is
definitely checking all of us out. Before he can pull back from
Ava, she laughs and pushes him back.

“
Ava hasn’t explained Jax
to you, Declan?” Dustin asks incredulously.

“
Nope.” He isn’t making
her case any better. I can’t take my eyes off of them.

“
You should probably wait
for her to explain. I won’t do it any justice.”

Just then, the happy couple starts toward
us. I’ve finally calmed myself down, for the time being, at least.
If she brings him over here and continues kissing him, it’s going
to take a whole hell of a lot more than my breathing techniques to
keep me off the fucker. As for right now, if she wants to keep me
as insignificant enough to not explain someone to me that is
apparently very close to her, then I won’t give her the
satisfaction of getting all worked up over it. I’ll keep my face
blank. I quickly signal to Max for another beer to assist with that
particular expression.

Ava walks up to us and I notice Jackson’s
hand on her lower back. “Hey guys, I wanted to introduce you real
quick.” She looks at the other guys first then finally makes eye
contact with me. She smiles but I’m not feeling it, so I just reach
around her to offer my hand to this Jackson guy.

“
Hey, Declan James. How’s
it going?”

Ava looks like she might pass out and
although I wouldn’t want her to get hurt; I sorta wouldn’t care if
she went down right now.

“
Jackson Andrews. Good to
meet you, man. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He offers half a smile
and a firm shake.

The guys, Dustin, and Max are all watching
skeptically.

Ava clears her throat and looks next to me.
“Jax this is Greyden, Luca and Keegan.” She points to each one of
them as she says their names.

Max has my beer set on top of the bar so I
nod towards Jackson and walk away from them to sit on my stool. I
down my beer in two swallows and ask for another one. Max obliges
without question.

After a couple minutes of being left to my
thoughts, Jackson sits on the stool next to me. Max slides him a
glass of water before Jackson starts talking without looking at
me.

“
Ava’s really into you,”
he says casually.

What does he expect me to say to that? I
also thought that was true, especially after she just about got
into a fight tonight because some girl tried to order me a beer.
Jealous? That’s what I call it. I take another long swig of my beer
before pulling my lip ring in between my teeth. I think about how
opposite Jackson is from me. He’s about as preppy and clean cut as
a guy can get in a polo, khaki dress shorts, and boat shoes.
Fucking boat shoes.

“
I’m sorry she didn’t tell
you about me. Ava and I go back a long way and we have a hell of a
history. She means more to me than anyone,” the guy says before
shaking his head and taking in a deep breath, “but I can tell by
the way she looks at you that what I have with her is
inconsequential in comparison.”

The words he’s saying should mean more to me
than they do. They can’t pack a whole lot of meaning, though, when
she won’t agree to be mine. We’re just friends, she’s made that
crystal clear. Without looking at Jackson, I nod curtly at his
words. He stands and walks away and suddenly Ava is standing next
to me.

“
I’m sorry,” she says
softly. She looks amazing. She has on an emerald green shirt that
only covers one shoulder, a pair of jeans that look like they were
made for her, and a pair of high-heeled sandals. She’s wearing more
makeup than I’ve ever seen her wear and while she’s perfect with
the little makeup she tends to sport, tonight the heavy eye makeup
and dark lips are screaming “sexy.”

I set my empty bottle down and turn so I can
pull her in between my legs by her hips. She comes willingly. I
notice over her shoulder that Max, Dustin and Jackson are all
watching us discreetly. Ignoring our audience, I turn my hat around
backwards so she can look right into my eyes. “You don’t owe me
anything, Ava, and definitely not an apology. We’re just friends,
so you’re free to let random guys put their hands and mouths all
over you. No questions asked.” Am I being a douche? Yes.

“
Jackson’s not a random
guy and his hands and mouth weren’t all over me. I’m sorry he
kissed me in front of you; he didn’t know you were
here.”

“
Well… I’ve spoken to you
every day for the last couple of months and I’ve never heard you
mention him, so, to me, he
is
a random guy. Besides, contrary to the jealousy
you showed earlier, I’m not yours, Ava. You don’t have to
apologize, not even for him sticking his tongue down your throat or
for you kissing him like you’ve done it a million times. I’m good.
You better go, you’re going to be late for your date.” I try to
guide her backwards so I can turn back to the bar, but she stands
strong and places her hand firmly on my face.

“
It’s not a date, Dec,”
she says lowly with a tight jaw, her bright eyes radiating her
frustration.

I think I may have just pissed her off. I’m
good with that, because I’m pissed too.

“
Hmm, are you not going to
dinner with him then?” I ask her in an eerily calm voice,
completely masking all of the turmoil stewing inside of
me.

“
Yes, but it’s
not…”

I put my finger to her lips to keep her from
continuing. “Dinner is considered a date in anyone’s book, ain’t
that right, Sunshine?”

Her eyes widen and I can see the hurt spread
across her face. This time she lets me guide her backwards and I’m
ready to leave.

“
I need to get going
anyway; I have an early flight.” I lean in and kiss her softly on
her cheek before whispering, “Happy Birthday, Ava.” I throw some
money on the bar and walk out. I hear the guys getting up and
talking but I’m not going to wait around for them.

Ava

It’s been a week since Declan kissed me on
the cheek and walked out of the bar. Not a single call or text. I
can’t say that I blame him, really. If the shoe were on the other
foot, I probably would have…well, I don’t know what I would have
done, but we all saw how I handled Rachel ordering him a beer.