Daylight

Chapter Four

Ava smiled as they continued to walk down the street. "I'm open to other ideas," she told him with a shrug and she slipped her free hand into the pocket of her jeans. "If you think about it... we're on a short timetable," she mused. "We have... what, two or three weeks to decide if we want to make this... something. And with how busy we both are, we'll probably only see each other maybe two times? It feels like we need to make the time we have worthwhile."

"I'm off the rest of the time I'm here, then I'll be off while I'm in New York for at least a couple of months," he explained, running his thumb along the back of her hand while they walked. "I might look at scripts or something, but I'm done with press for a while."

"Oh good, you'll get a break. Could you tell me what that's like after you experience it?" Ava asked with a smart smile, laughing lightly. "I think I work all but two days in the next few weeks. I'm trying to afford a car within the next year. It will be faster than the bus and with what I pay for bus passes... now I'm rambling."

"You should have more time off. Working your whole life will wear you out quicker than you think," he said softly.

A breathy scoff escaped her and she shook her head. "Neither of my jobs give me any paid time off, so I can't afford not to work most days," she explained. "I try to pay for decent health insurance, otherwise we'd just be on public assistance." She expelled a heavy sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't talk about these things..."

Sebastian shook his head. "No, it's okay. I shouldn't meddle in your things. I know you're an independent person and you work hard to make a life for you and Luca."

He knows that about me so soon. There were moments where Ava felt she was heard more while talking to Sebastian than talking to nearly any other person. He respected what she had built. He wasn't trying to swoop in and save her. That would have mortified her. An offer to buy her a car would have closed her off stubbornly. "I do," she agreed with a small, albeit proud smile. "I want him to be able to have what the other kids have, or at least access to it. It's worth it to me to put in the hours."

He smiled down at her and squeezed her hand. "You've built a wonderful life. I just hope that you won't always have to work so hard."

Ava turned to look up at him and offered him a smile before she nodded in agreement. "I do too." She reached into her purse as they neared her apartment and led the way up the staircase, heels clacking against the concrete as she pulled out her keys. "I was able to pick up a little since yesterday," she offered as she slipped the key into her door and unlocked it. She opened the door to step inside and slipped her purse off of her shoulder. "If you don't mind locking the door behind you..."

"Sure." Sebastian locked both locks after he shut the door behind them, his mind on the way her hips had sways just slightly as she walked up the few steps to the door. He loved how her legs looked in her heels.

It was a habit that could one day prove to be a lifesaving one, locking the door. And yes, she was indeed paranoid but she had every right to be. "You can make yourself comfortable," she said, turning around to face him as she sauntered further into her apartment, eventually slipping onto it herself.

"We have time to kill," he grinned. "Is there anything you had in mind to do?" Sebastian walked forward, following her further inside.

Ava pursed her lips and shook her head, laughing a little. "Not at all. I don't have any idea what I'm doing," she admitted. "I just thought... I like talking to you and I feel comfortable here."

Sebastian smiled. "I like talking to you too." He leaned against the wall as he bit his bottom lip, a nervous habit.

She tilted her head as she watched him from her position on the couch. "Are you worried that if you sit, something will happen?" she asked.