Just as I dart out a hand to help steady him, Sean pushes his way past Declan and me.
“Harry,” he says his best friend’s name softly. “I’m right here.”
His arm is wrapped around Harry’s waist as he helps him find his balance.
“I’m good.” Harry nods as he steps into the aisle. “The floor is sticky. I slipped.”
I look down, but I can’t see anything since the lights are still dimmed as the credits finally come to an end.
“We’re headed outside,” Sean says to all of us as he walks next to Harry.
I follow them with the rest of my family on my heel. I don’t make it three feet up the aisle toward the exit before I spot a familiar face to my right.
“Alexander?” I shake my head. “You’re here too?”
I step out of the way to allow my family to pass as well as the other people who gathered in the theater to see the movie.
Alexander motions to the beautiful woman next to him. I recognize her immediately as his wife, Olivia.
“Ava, this is Olivia.” He laughs. “I know you know that, but she was dying to meet you in person.”
I take her offered hand for a soft shake. “It’s so nice to see you.”
“Your composition was breathtaking,” she says. “So moving, Ava.”
I stare at her in confusion. “How did you know that was my composition?”
“One of your professors is a friend,” Alex answers my question. “When I called him the other day to tell him we ran into each other, he mentioned the film’s score, so we came to check it out. I hoped you’d be here for opening night.”
“I had no idea you knew about any of this.”
“It was an incredible piece, Ava.” He pats my forearm. “If you ever have the time, I’d be honored to work on something with you.”
“This is not happening,” I blurt out.
Alexander and Olivia both laugh.
“This can’t be real.” I shake my head.
“It’s real,” he assures me. “Enjoy this triumph, Ava. Get in touch with me when you can.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Harrison
Regardless of how hard a man tries, he can’t outrun fate.
I thought that I could, prayed that I could, and tonight I was reminded yet again that fate’s plan for me is fucked up.
The muscle spasm that gripped my leg when I stood up in the theater almost took me down to the ground.
I held onto the back of that chair until my best friend swooped in to help me, the way he’s done for years.
“What are you thinking about?” Ava gazes up at my face.
We’re standing on the sidewalk in front of Nova. The restaurant somehow fit our party of seven in after the film. I suspect Declan pulled the strings to make that happen, as he is a friend of the owner, Tyler Monroe.
We dined on good food, as Ava relived the greatest moment of her life as she hummed her composition.
Her parents toasted to their brilliant daughter, and as each moment passed, I lost more of my heart to her.
I’ll never get over her. It doesn’t matter if I live another year or eighty more, another woman will never be able to claim enough of my heart to call me hers.
I belong to Ava. I always will.
She glances at the back of the SUV carrying Declan as it disappears around the corner. Her parents and Sean and Callie headed home too about thirty minutes ago.
“I got you something,” I tell her. “Something small to commemorate tonight.”
Her gaze shoots over the suit jacket I’m wearing. “It must be very small if you’re hiding it on you.”
I pat the front of my suit jacket. “It’s in my pocket.”
Her hand moves to grab my tie. “What do I have to do to get my hands on it?”
I step closer to her. “Take me home with you.”
She laughs. “As if I wasn’t already planning that.”
I skim a hand over her forearm. “I’ve never known anyone like you, London. You’re gifted, brave, and a hell of a good kisser.”
“I’d kiss you right now if…”
I silence her with a press of my lips to hers because I don’t give a fuck anymore if we’re on a crowded sidewalk. I need this right now. I need to feel how badly she wants me.
Her lips part slightly to let me in.
Our tongues tangle, her soft moans seep into me, and I hold her tightly against me.
As soon as the kiss breaks, she looks into my eyes. “Can you see me, Harry?”
I chuckle. “Kind of.”
She steps back. “Now?”
I nod. “That’s better.”
“See how happy I am?” She tilts her head. “All of this happiness is because of you.”
My heart feels like it jerks inside my chest.
“Come home with me.” She reaches out her hand.
I greedily take it in mine. “I’ll stay the night with you.”
“You better,” she warns with a laugh. “I plan on using you for my pleasure all night long.”
“I consider that a gift for me.” I fish my hand into my jacket and tug the small square box from my pocket. “This gift is for you.”
She eyes it. “I’ll open it at my place.”
Good, because I suspect it will bring tears to her eyes. Happy tears, and for tonight, those are the only tears I want her to shed.
“You do know that I don’t expect any gifts from you,” Ava says as she kicks off her shoes. “More meal kits were delivered today. They’ve been arriving every few days since I moved in. That is already such an amazing gift, Harry.”
“That is sustenance,” I point out. “It’s food, Ava. I don’t consider it a gift.”
“I do,” she counters. “It’s helped me so much.”
“Good.” I nod, tugging on my tie to loosen it. “Are you ready for the other gift now?”
She sets her sweet ass in the middle of her couch. “I’m ready.”
I take a seat opposite her on the coffee table, bracketing her legs with mine. I set the small box on the skirt of her dress. “Open it.”
Her gaze catches mine. “You’re very thoughtful.”
Only to the people I love. I want to say that, instead, I point at the box. “Open it, Ava.”
She nods. Picking it up gently, she shakes it next to her ear. It rattles.
“Is it a condom package?” She laughs.
I chuckle. “No. I have a few of those in another pocket.”
Her hand leaps to the center of her chest. “A man after my own heart.”
My gaze sticks to her hand as the words linger between us. I want her heart. I want to claim it and spend my life proving I’m worthy of that.
I wish to fuck I could.
Jesus, I wish for nothing more than that.
“I’ll open it now,” she announces.
Her fingers tug on the white ribbon tied around the box. Once that’s free, she pushes it to the floor before she pops open the lid.
She reaches in to delicately remove the silver charm.
“Harry.” My name comes out of her in a breathless rush. “Oh my god, Harry.”