Exhausted&Lost

Chapter Thirteen

Dave drove her home, going inside for a coffee, unable to let her go after their goodbyes in the car. She gripped his hand tightly the entire way from the car to her place, not knowing if she was ever going to be ready to let it go after the perfect night they'd spent together.

He could sense that she was a little on edge, which triggered his protective instincts, only making him want to stick around even more. They weren't saying much but made sure they were touching at all times while they drank their coffees.

Dave was the first to break the slightly awkward silence with a promise to text and call as much as he could over the weekend.

Ava smiled and nodded in response, not trusting her voice to speak. She knew she was being silly, feeling this emotional while saying goodbye, especially when they had plans to see each other on Sunday, but the night she had shared with Dave had been an emotional one. Feelings had been laid out on the line and their connection seemed much more profound now.

"Baby," Dave sighed, pulling her close in a hug. The use of the affectionate term making her heart pound in her chest, "I know how you're feeling... I don't want today to end either."

She forced herself to pull it together so she could stop the guilty look that had fallen across his face.

"I know! I know, we will see each other on Sunday... The weekend will fly by!" She promised, unsure whether she was trying to convince Dave or herself.

Their kiss goodbye was long and passionate and did little to quiet the voice in her head telling her to hold on tighter.

Once he was gone, she was surprised that she was actually okay. The hard part was over and now she was just looking forward to the moment they saw each other again.

He kept his promise and with each text message she received over the weekend, her smile grew bigger. He had sent pictures of his girls swimming around in their pool, of them, huddled around their patio table feasting on the brisket he was still messaging her about at 2 AM the night before, and a few selfies informing her that he was missing her.

She sent a few in return, a picture of her and Elliott at the beach, one of Elliott and her dad having a race with their toy cars on the huge track they had made on the floor with tape and scraps of cardboard, and a picture of Elliott covered in the tacos they were having for dinner.

As the evening wore on their messages became fewer, both busy with getting the kids ready for bed, Ava was sitting in Elliott's bed, having already lulled him to sleep with a story long ago, just enjoying how his chubby little hand was holding on to hers and allowing his steady even breaths to soothe her.

Her phone buzzed on his night table with a message and she was shocked to see that it was past 10 pm. She hadn't realized she had drifted off at some point while sitting with El, so carefully and quietly left his room, leaving his door cracked open so that the light from the hallway would stream in if he were to wake.

Kids are finally in bed! Cracking open a beer for all my hard work today, they were so pumped to see their Grandma!

That's sweet, I'm sure your mom was just as pleased to see them. They all looked so happy in your photographs! Did you have a good day? x

Yeah, she went to bed right along with the kids, she has a harder time keeping up with them now she is a little older. I did, could think of one way it could be even better right now though...

A smirk pulled at Ava's lips, she knew exactly how he felt. While she had enjoyed her day with her dad and El, now that she was alone, she longed for his company.