Dusk

10| savour

Ava

"Hi, amor."

I couldn't see him, but I knew he was scowling. "That's for me to call you. Don't ever call me that."

I chuckled. "I'm taking you out tonight."

"I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be the other way round."

"Men are so stereotypical." I rolled my eyes, grateful and ungrateful at the same time because he couldn't see me. "I got two tickets to the carnival tonight. Do you have them? No. So it has to be me who has to take you out. You're driving though."

Elias let out a laugh. "When should I pick you up?"

"Probably like 7 or something. I'd tell you to dress sexy but you look sexy whatever you wear, so just bring yourself."

He chuckled again. "Of course. I'll see you then. Don't miss me too much, amor."

I was still smiling by the time he hung up and put the phone on the table. And the smile was still there when Isabella walked into the kitchen, yawning. She was wearing only a shirt, her hair messy and I knew that was not from sleep. "Rough night?" I asked, biting into an apple.

"Jett left early this morning, had to give him something to remember by." She grinned. "So, a date huh?"

"Yeah."

She scowled. "You and my brother going on a date? I'm going to need much more than a yeah, Ava. Elaborate."

I chuckled. "We're exploring."

"Exploring what?"

"Us. I don't know. We're taking things slow, trying things out. Spend time together, do things together, kinda like that."

"So it's serious?" She widened her eyes, blinking them comically.

"It's real. I'd denied the existence of an obvious connection between us for a long time, even though deep down I knew it was there. He has never given up. So I'd say it is."

She blinked again, making sure I was being serious. Then she squeaked. "Fucking finally. I had been tired of waiting, I can't imagine Eli's patience."

"This was probably one of the very few things he was patient about." I shook my head and smiled. "But that's what made this possible."

"Aw look at you all cute and blushy." She pinched my cheeks, getting up and opening the fridge. "Now we can go on a double date."

I stiffened. "Jett doesn't know yet."

"But he will, eventually." She turned around. "You'll tell him, right? Bonita, if you both are serious about each other you have to tell him."

"I know, we will. I just don't know how to."

"I'm definitely not the right person to ask that." She giggled. "But if it's any consolation, Jett and I put Elias in the same situation five years ago. And leaving all the drama that day, Eli did get used to the fact that we were together. It may take a few days but it'll be alright, Ava. At the end of the day he is your brother and only wants your happiness."

I nodded. Jett wasn't the overly protective brother who beat up the first guy I dated. He knew I was capable enough to make my own choices. He looked out for me like I did for him. We didn't keep secrets from each other, well leaving this one, which I would tell him when he came back. He'd be shocked, but he'll get over it.

Work was stressing. There were way too many egotistical men in this company and they were getting on my nerves. Some men weren't, who actually understood the concept of gender equality and feminism, and clever enough to not upset the boss. By the evening, the only thing keeping me going was seeing Elias. I would have dropped if not that.