The Best Days - c.h

Chapter 21

"With flying colors, cutie."

Calum's P.O.V

The day after my first date with Ava, I spent some time surfing with Luke & then I came home to Ava, who had cooked our entire house dinner. She was cooking with Claire, who was currently trying to learn how to cook since she was tired of only having soup or noodles while living in her own flat.

Our friends weren't asking any details about Ava & I. They respected us enough to give us the time to figure out what we were or were going to be without having to clue them in along the way & I appreciated that.

Once we finished eating, Ava began to clear the table but Michael stopped her.

"Hey, you cooked. You don't clean."

"I don't mind." Ava still picked up her plate.

"No. I agree." I spoke up. "Want to go for a walk instead?"

"Uhm, sure." Ava bit her lip, avoiding eye contact with anyone else since her cheeks were warming up pink. "Yea, let's go."

Ashton winked at me as he mouthed the word "walk" with air quotes.

I ignored him & I instead followed Ava out the front door.

"I thought we could walk around the town instead of on the beach like we usually do." Ava spoke.

"Change of scenery." I took her hand in mine. "I like it."

We walked down the street before there was a bike & walking path that went around the town so we started walking on.

"So how did surfing go earlier?"

"It wasn't bad. The waves could have been better today though. Why don't you ever come with?"

"I don't know, you deserve guy time & I'm not the biggest fan of surfing."

"But you're good at it."

"But it's not my favorite thing to do."

"Oh Aves. It'd be so cute to see you in a wet suit riding the waves though. I mean a turn on actually."

"Maybe sometime. I'd rather lay on a towel & build a sandcastle."

"Fine, fine." I stuck my tongue out at her. "Maybe someday you'll come with me then?"

"Maybe someday."

I couldn't help but notice Ava was still a little bit quiet around me.

"Aves?"

"Yea?"

"Are you still nervous?"

"What?"

"Are you still nervous around me now?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You're just a little quieter than I'm used to."

"I don't know. It's just so weird to be like this with you. Like I have butterflies in my tummy & I feel like I'm always blushing & I just think you're so cute & yea, I'm nervous. I just really like you & this feels like Cal & Aves but then again it doesn't because now I'm worried what my hair looks like or how sweaty my hand is or if my breath spells fine or if you actually like me like this & it makes me nervous, Cal."

"Don't be nervous." I stopped walking & I spun Ava around so she was facing me. "Aves, you are adorable. I think it's cute that you have butterflies, for one. But don't worry about the other things, okay? I think you are beautiful & you have no idea how crazy I am about you. I just spent the last year thinking about you & only you. You don't have to worry if I don't like you in this way because I've been waiting a year to be like this with you & I'm not giving up this quick. Okay? So smile & enjoy this. I mean I'm partially nervous too because I don't want to mess this up."