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“I wouldn’t have left you, I would have pushed you off the plane or didn’t you hear me?” I laugh feeling his smile against my cheek. “You are off all-day today aren’t you?”

“I’m all yours today baby, whatever you want to do we can do.”

T
he hours fly by and the sadness is beginning to set in as we snuggle in front of the picture window where he slowly starts to hum a tune. With a renewed energy, he begins singing one of my favorite songs in my ear, missing most of the words and messing up most of the song on purpose to make me laugh.

“That was horrible. I hope that was not your attempt at romance?”

Looking down at me with a hurt expression, he causes me only to laugh harder, “I thought I sounded great.”

“Well don’t sign up to do any musicals any time soon Mr. Grant.” Without hesitation he over vocalizes the lyrics to One from A Chorus Line and controlling my body to work in tune with the lyrics of the song, laughing with me the whole way through. At the end, I look up into his smiling eyes falling deeper in love every new moment with him.

“What?” He asked.

“I can’t believe how incredible you are,” I said as he stiffens suddenly, taking my hands and pressing his fingers between mine.

“Ava technically I have been in relationships before but honestly, this is my first real one that I give a shit about.” He hangs his head before looking back up at me. “I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

“It’s a first for me too but don’t worry, we’ll figure it out together.”

“And you think I’m incredible - you’re amazing.”

“Only to you.” I said softly.
Can it be possible that love can be this intense?
I want to tell him how I feel
,
but what if
he doesn’t feel the same way?
Letting go of my worries,
I give in easily to his hands finding their way underneath the big fluffy hotel robe, pushing me up against the window. Without even thinking, I wrap my legs around him as I feel his hardness powerfully control me, sending me wreathing against the glass until the feeling of him rushes through my body. Collapsing in his arms, I hold on to him tight, resting my head against his shoulder. Sean carries me to bed and tucks me in tight against him.

“Randy is going to escort you to your flight tomorrow and I want you to do everything he says to do. Please listen to him, he will get you home safely, without being noticed.” Sean sits up looking at me directly. “Ava tell me you will do everything he says?”

“I will,” I said as he lies back down with a soft sigh.

“It won’t be much longer and I will be able to come see you.” Sinking deep into the soft bed, we lay silent for some time while I slowly work up my courage. “I love you Sean.” I whispered listening for anything but only hearing his breathing. I look up only to see him sound asleep.
Perfect.
I kiss him gently on the cheek, “I love you so much. I wish I knew how to tell you when you’re awake.”

T
he next morning routines are simple but the conversations are awkward. Waiting for our rides to come I sit against him, holding his hand
.
I thought the first time I had to leave him was hard, but this time is much harder.

Sean’s phone vibrates signaling the end of our time together. “They are going to be up here soon.” Sean said standing up with me and pulling me into his arms. “I’m going to miss you.” I immediately begin to feel emotional. “Don’t cry please. I will see you in December and it’s already October. I promise it will fly by.” He said laughing slightly at my weak nod. “Randy should be here soon, make sure you do everything that he asks.” He pulls my chin up to look at him. “He will make sure you get home safely but I will call you tonight to verify for myself,” he said as Ethan comes through the door suddenly.

“Are we ready?” Ethan asked walking in smiling a bright smile at me before leaning over to me for a reassuring hug. “Doing alright sweetheart?” I nod to him. “Good.”

“Stop flirting, Ethan.” Sean said taking my hand and pulling me back to him. Ethan ignoring him shows no sign of retaliation. Another large gentleman follows Ethan in, giving Sean a quick man greeting of nothing more than a slight head nod. “Randy, did Ethan feel you in?”

“Yea he did, I will take care of her Sean. No problem.” Randy said winking at me.

“Ava this is Randy, Randy - Ava.” Sean said as Randy holds his hand out to take mine, his of course, wrapping around mine and probably can, twice over. Sean laughs putting his arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry Ava, Randy’s big, but he’s just a big brown teddy bear.”

“Fuck you.” Randy scoffed.

“Sean we should go.” Ethan encourages.

Sean leaning down takes my lips into his innocently. “Do everything that Randy says.” He whispers looking into my eyes to verify that I agree again.

“I promise.” I receive another brief kiss before he exits with only a glance over his shoulder before he is gone.
I want to cry but it feels so ridiculous to do so now.

“When I get back we are going to move fast, so be prepared.” Randy grabs my bag and heads out the door. Before I know it, he is back and hovering around me as he escorts me out of the building and into a waiting car. It all went so fast I am not sure if I walked or if he carried me.

Randy seems so serious driving, watching everything around us carefully.
I hate to interrupt his concentration but I need the distraction.
“So have you known Sean long?”

“Yea, we met in the military.” He chuckles, shaking his head at me. “Well you are certainly not one of his groupies, they would have known that already. Luckily, we became friends before he became the big movie star.”

“So you’re good friends?”

“Oh yea, he’s always getting me into trouble.”

“Like what?” I asked.

With barely a hesitation, “just so you know that boy has a knack for causing me hell. This one time he got me so drunk that I passed out. And the next morning? I woke up lying on the lawn of the base, in only my boxers and a cigar.” He laughed. “I was woke up by a major who was none too thrilled to see me there. He kept yelling and my head was spinning. He told me I had to run in my boxers until I learned my way to and from my bed, from every possible part of the base. All I could hear the whole time I was running was Sean laughing. I didn’t know where he was but I promised myself I would get him back. Especially for the plus ten days cleaning the latrine. It was awful.”

I laugh into my hands picturing the scenario in my head. “So did you get back at him?”

“That’s an even better story, one that I am damn sure he will never tell you.”

“What did you do?” I asked repositioning eagerly.

“One night when Sean was dead tired, he was getting ridden hard for pulling some other prank he got caught doing, nothing serious but he paid well for it. Anyway, a bunch of us were all going out and all he wanted to do was go to sleep but after much persuading and pleading, he finally agreed to come out with us. He was so exhausted it didn’t take much of anything for him to pass out … right on the bar.” Randy shook his head laughing. “I mean he was out cold. We were going to take him back but on the way I got a better idea.” Randy snickered to himself before he finally got a hold of himself. “Anyway, I put him in a bed with a woman, a large drunk woman, who had been hitting on Sean for months and he wanted nothing to do with her. I don’t think that woman bathed ever.”

“How did you do that?”

“Oh that crazy, drunk, smelling like ass, woman was walking home when we passed her on our way back. We gave her a ride and then we stripped him of everything but his boxers and put him in her bed, she cuddled up, right next to him and went to sleep. Damn that woman could snore.”

“And he didn’t wake up?”

“Not right away but we had barely made it out of her drive when he came blasting out of her house. I think he beat us back. That boy could run.” Randy said laughing hysterically.

“Was he mad?”

“Oh hell yea, furious.” He said laughing harder. “When he finally calmed down I asked Sean how he woke up.” Randy dances in his seat laughing. “He said.” I roll my eyes waiting for him to calm down enough to tell me. “He said he woke up from the smell, looked around and then saw her toothless smile and ran out of that house never looking back. To this day I still tease him that she had her way with him and that somewhere out there is a toothless, smelly little Sean, he hates that. I named him woolly mammoth junior.” He continues laughing wiping the tears from his eyes.

Laughing at his over enjoyment, “so you and Sean are pretty good friends?”

“Best friends. When I got out of the military, he hired me right away. It’s a good job too. I get to travel and do many things I would not have otherwise and meet a lot of interesting people. Plus, the pay is great but don’t tell Sean, I tell him I’m under paid so he doesn’t expect me to start doing his laundry or something. And not to mention the girls are …” Randy pauses glimpsing my suspicious expression.

“So Sean has had a lot of girlfriends, huh?”

“Ummm, not really, I mean he’s dated girls and has had I guess what you would call a girlfriend now and then but he has never really been serious with any of them. If they threaten to break it off with him, he lets them walk and doesn’t give them another thought. Now you on the other hand have done some crazy things to my man.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well for starters he has never asked me to protect anyone before, only him.” He said. “He really cares about you and I have never seen that kind of emotion out of him. Whatever it is, you make him try harder and want to be better. I haven’t ever seen any girl even come close to getting him to do that.” Overwhelmed, I lean over and kiss Randy on the cheek.

“Thank you,” I said as Randy glances over at me gulping with a blushing nod.

A
fter being out late at a charity event, I decide to sleep in, that is until my phone rings. While still groggy I grab my cell, rubbing my face clear to read the number.
Ava?
“Everything okay?” I asked, feeling the smile slowly come across my face.

“It’s not Ava, although it probably should be,” a husky voice said.

“Who the fuck is this?” I asked.

“Justin, a friend of Ava’s.”

“Is Ava alright? What’s going on?”

“She’s fine and I would like for her to stay that way,” he said with a tone that wakes me up instantly. “Sean, I may not know you but I know your type. You think you can walk in and out of her life, expecting her to wait for when you are ready to see her again. Is it not enough that you are screwing everything on the west coast you want to make your way to the east coast as well? Leave Ava alone Sean, she’s too good for you.” Justin said preparing to end our conversation there.

“Don’t you dare hang up motherfucker,” I said pausing only long enough to make sure he heard me. “You don’t know me so I would appreciate it if you didn’t classify me to some group of your choosing. Contrary to what you may think, I am not out to hurt Ava and I have been thinking of her from the beginning and I will continue to do just that. So while I appreciate your concern for her, I think your jealousy of me is clouding your judgment.”

“You care about her? You are so full of shit! You know you don’t give a DAMN about anyone but yourself! You smug son of a bitch, YOU leave her alone or else!”

Standing with fists forming, “or else what?”

“Try me pretty boy but I don’t think you want to go there with me.”

“I will be right there, or hell I will send you a first class ticket to my front door. But you should take in some sights before you show me your sweet skills because I doubt you will get a chance after.”

“I’ll show you skills. Send me the fucking ticket son, I can’t wait. I also can’t wait until Ava sees you for what you are.”

“And what’s that Justin?”

“Nothing but a bored rich boy looking for a flavor of the month to get him through until the next one speaks to his cravings.”

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, so why don’t you hang up and go find some girl of your own and leave mine alone …”

“YOU’RE GIRL!” He laughed. “Fuck you! Let me tell you something! Ava, as far as I’m concerned, is fair game and since she’s met you it only makes it that much easier to make her mine.”

“OHHH,
I have
to hear this.”

“You’re never here, Sean. You’re not here to hold her when she’s upset after a bad day or enjoy her smile when she knows she’s hit on a great design. But I am. Every time she needs someone I’m here, holding her and fighting off those scary dreams of hers. She needs more than a phone call and I am the one that is able to give her more. Sooner or later, she is going to realize whom she needs and it is not going to be some Hollywood pretty boy who only sees her when his schedule allows. Who do you think she’s going to choose Sean?” He huffs, “you know what it doesn’t really matter because I am going to be here no matter what.” Justin inhales obviously feeling proud of himself.

“I’m not letting her go and nothing you do or say is going to change my mind.”

“Well you’ve been warned. For now I am going to continue my quest for Ava and since I see her everyday it shouldn’t take me long to work
you
out of her mind. Have a good night Sean.” He hangs up abruptly.

“Son of a bitch!” I scream before rushing to call Ethan to change my schedule.

M
y remaining event has been cancelled, which gives me the opportunity to leave town earlier than expected. My reservations are booked for Atlanta, seconds after knowing. This is going to be the first time I see where she lives, how she lives and I am more than curious after all of our conversations. “You’re going to have a heart attack before you ever get there, not to mention you’re driving me nuts. So stop fidgeting!” Randy glares at me.