Without Doubt Read Online Free PDF Page A

a
second. “I had a last minute fight arranged on Thursday in New
Jersey. That’s why we didn’t come in on Thursday.”
    “ Did you win?” She
scrunches up her little nose and slightly tilts her head to the
side in question before rushing on to continue. “Just lie if you
didn’t, because I would hate to hear that you got the crap beat out
of you.” She shakes her head furiously as if she wanted to
completely erase her question.
    Macie laughs hard and I can’t help the low
chuckle that rumbles from my chest. “I did win and I’m not
lying.”
    “ Good!” Ava says on a
breath. “Well, let’s get you some celebratory drinks on me! What’ll
it be?”
    “ I’ll have a Corona and
Mace will have a glass of white wine, whatever your House is will
be fine. It’s not on you, though, Ava. I’ll buy them.”
    Ava shakes her head and says she’ll be right
back with our drinks. I watch her walk away in her tiny shorts
before looking back to Macie; her eyes, so similar to mine,
watching me intently.
    “ Has a nice girl finally
got the attention of my big brother?” she asks with a
smirk.
    “ Shut up, Macie.” I laugh
with my little sister for a moment. “I’ve caught so much shit from
the guys over this girl; it’s ridiculous. What’s worse is that she
won’t even go on a date with me. I’m catching all of this heat and
am reaping no rewards for it. It sucks.”
    Macie smiles softly at me for a minute
before she decides what she wants to say. She touches my arm softly
and gives it a quick squeeze. “I only had a minute to speak with
her last week, but she’s really sweet. I don’t know what her reason
is for not wanting to go on a date with you, but make sure you’re
careful with her, Dec. She seems quiet and thoughtful and very
reserved; you need to keep that in my when pursuing her. She’s not
your typical gym rat that hangs around pretending to work out so
she can look at you. She’s different.”
    Scrubbing my face with both palms, I try to
shake Ava from my mind. I fail. As usual. “I know. I know all of
that and I think that’s probably the reason that I can’t stop
thinking about her.” I look up at Macie to see Ava approaching our
table. I’m sure she heard at least part of what I just said and I
can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing.
    “ Here you go!” Ava trills
happily as she places our drinks in front of us. She reaches up to
brush her long hair out of her eyes before looking down at me. “Um,
thanks for the dinner the other night. It was delicious.” She
slides her hands into the back pockets of her shorts, which pushes
her chest out towards me, drawing my attention there immediately.
It’s different with her, though—it’s not a well-rehearsed,
look-at-my-tits move like most girls I know. Ava has no idea what
she just did to me below the table. She rocks back on her heels and
gives me a small smile when my gaze finds its way back up to her
eyes; she looks uncomfortable.
    “ You’re welcome. I’m glad
you liked it. It’s from my favorite Italian restaurant.” Amazingly,
I manage as I keep both hands on my beer bottle, because the urge
to grab her is nearly irresistible.
    “ Can I talk to you for
minute?” she hesitates briefly before adding, “in the back maybe?”
She looks over at Macie with an apologetic look and Macie just
beams her bright smile back at her.
    “ Sure.” I really have no
idea what she would want to talk about that needs to be done in
private but I’m not about to stop her.
    I place my hand at the small of her back and
she looks quickly over her shoulder at me. I smile to reassure her
that its ok and she continues walking. She doesn’t know me, I don’t
know her, but I know there’s something here that I normally don’t
have with a stranger. I mean, if you can call her a stranger; to me
it seems like Ava is instantly friends with anyone that crosses her
path.
    We walk into the break room and she leans
her hip against the table that sits