Nobody's Obligation (Swimming Upstream #2) (12 page)

Chapter 23

Tyler

Tyler wondered how long Ava was going to avoid him. The moment she’d disappeared from sight, the smelly Indian lady turned to him. “You know, you shouldn’t make fun of her like that,” she warned. These were the first words she’d said since taking her seat. When Ava didn’t turn back, Tyler couldn’t help but wonder if maybe this time he’d pushed her too far. He hoped not.

“Oh, I was just playing,” Tyler confessed, suddenly feeling bad.

“Well, that girl’s in love with you even if she isn’t ready to admit it. You shouldn’t toy with her,” she instructed through her heavy accent.

And that was it. Enough to put Tyler well and truly in his place and shock the absolute shit out of him. The girl who’d gotten under his skin and somehow scaled the walls he’d built without even knowing it was, according to the all-knowing, all-wise Indian lady, in love with him. As much as his head was telling him not to get too full of himself, his heart was doing a happy dance. Maybe, just maybe there was hope for him yet.

For a while Tyler was lost in his own thoughts. He wanted to apologise to her, but Ava was taking her time. It wasn’t like she could avoid him forever. They were trapped. Hundreds of metres in the air in a tin can. She had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. When they’d struck turbulence he knew it was only a matter of minutes before she returned, and he had to admit he was looking forward to it. But the moment he caught her gaze as she stumbled down the aisle, he knew he wouldn’t be able to talk her around. She was already terrified, and trying to convince her of anything would be pointless. Instead he’d remained silent and aloof as she settled into a movie. Surprised at her selection, Tyler forced himself not to turn on his own console and join her. No, instead he focused elsewhere. After all, they only had a few hours left of the flight before they went their separate ways again, and he didn’t want to spend that time with her pissed at him. Well, not any more than she already was.

But as much as Tyler tried to distract himself with the magazine, it wasn’t working. Instead he found himself watching the movie over Ava’s shoulder more often than not.

“Seriously,” she snapped, abruptly pausing the movie and yanking the earbuds from her ears.

“Sorry?” Tyler asked, dumbfounded.

“Come on, Tyler, I know you’re watching over my shoulder and it’s seriously weirding me out. If you want to watch the damn movie, just watch it.”

“You sure?”

“Just watch the damn movie,” she instructed, stuffing her ear phones back in and pressing play.

Shocked by her outburst and silently cursing himself for getting caught, Tyler quickly flicked on the screen and selected the movie, skipping scenes until he caught up with Ava. Careful not to push her too far, Tyler stuffed his hands under his outstretched legs and removed the temptation.

By the time Ava’s favourite part arrived, her head was resting on Tyler’s shoulder and his arm wrapped around her shoulders. They’d moved without words or even exchanging glances. Now they were sitting comfortably in silence, watching a movie, like lovers from another life.

The final car chase raced across the screens, the Mustang clipping vehicles and dodging police cars, then the screens before them flickered to black and shut off. It was time to descend. Tyler and Ava’s magic bubble was about to burst and reality was beginning to seep in. They weren’t lovers. They weren’t even friends. They were just two strangers whose paths had crossed once or twice. Ava was obviously as nervous landing as she had been taking off, but when Tyler pointed out the window and Los Angeles lay beneath her, she almost scrambled into Tyler’s lap just to get a better look. Unable to wipe the grin off his face, Tyler remained stoic and silent.

“Oh my god!” Ava exclaimed in a weird high pitch squeal. “It’s huge!”

“That’s what she said.” Tyler laughed mischievously with a wicked gleam in his eye.

The Indian lady, who was currently viewing Ava’s butt, nodded knowingly at Tyler. Tyler nodded his head with understanding before turning his attention back to Ava. Even after fifteen hours on a flight, and a movie filled with tears and sniffles, Ava still looked lovely. And she smelt even better, Tyler mused sadly.

Twenty minutes later they had touched down on American soil. Tyler helped get her bags from the overhead lockers and urged her in front of him as they joined the masses trudging down the aisle heading for the doors. Air hostesses bid them farewell from every couple of seats and Tyler was surprised how many there were. They seemed to have sprung from everywhere.

Silently they marched up the gangway and into the airport towards immigration. Joining the queue, Tyler fell in beside Ava without a word. It seemed like planes coming from all over the world had landed simultaneously at LAX. The place was bedlam. Queues hundreds of people deep, speaking all languages, wearing every type of clothing imaginable surrounded them. Tyler watched with indifference, but when he noticed Ava’s eyes actively scouring everything, sucking it all in, he knew instinctively that this was her first trip out of the country. Happily he allowed himself a moment to recall his own first time when he was just a gangly kid.

Resigned to the fact that he had to wait, Tyler dropped his bag and shuffled forward. “So, Ms. Jacobs, you never did tell me why you were visiting the US of A today?”

“I believe, Mr. Andrews, that you never asked,” Ava retorted happily. Any signs of fatigue had vanished instantly when she stepped foot inside the vast airport.

“Touché, Ms. Jacobs, touché.” Tyler chuckled, shifting his weight nervously.

“Well?”

“Yes?” Ava asked, feigning innocence.

“Ava Jacobs, why are you visiting the lovely city of Los Angeles on this fine October day?” Tyler asked, bowing slightly, earning him odd looks from the surrounding passengers.

“I’m not,” Ava answered honestly.

Taken back, Tyler wasn’t sure what was happening. The look of confusion spread across his face, causing Ava to break out in a fit of childish giggles. “Um, Ava, you do know that you’ve just sat through a fifteen hour flight to Los Angeles, California?”

“Absolutely.” Ava nodded, offering him nothing.

Tyler shuffled forward, kicking his bag along the ground as the line crept forward. “I’m lost,” he admitted, throwing his hands up in defeat.

Giggling softly, Ava paused for a moment before putting him out of his misery. “I’m in transit. I leave for New York in three hours on my next flight.”

Tyler exhaled loudly, earning him strange looks from the man behind him. “Thank God.”

“Thank God?”

“I thought you were really lost there for a moment.”

“You have so little faith in me.” Ava admitted, and Tyler felt it in his stomach. He wasn’t sure what it was he felt, but there was definitely something going on.

Chuckling, Tyler couldn’t help himself as he pulled Ava towards him and hugged her deeply, one hand roughing up her already dishevelled hair. “Not at all, Ms. Jacobs. Not at all.”

By the time Ava extracted herself from Tyler’s embrace, he realised they weren’t far from the front and their time together was coming to an end. Ava stepped back, looked up, and met Tyler’s intense gaze. “Well, Mr. Andrews, I do hope you have a simply marvellous time in sunny LA,” Ava said stiffly.

“Thanks.” Tyler gulped as the word stuck in his throat. There was so much he wanted to say, but just didn’t know how. Or what to say. Or even if he should.

Ava was next in line and barely a breath later she was summoned to the counter and asked for her passport. After completing the paperwork quickly, Ava turned, flashed one last smile at Tyler as he bent to collect the bag at his feet, and headed for the doorway.

“Have fun, Tyler,” Ava encouraged with as much enthusiasm as she could muster, which wasn’t a lot. She’d tried to make it believable, and to most it would have been. Tyler saw through it, however. He knew it was fake. And what bowled him over was how he knew it was fake. He barely knew the woman, yet he just knew.

“I’ll be seeing you,” Tyler replied despondently.

Chapter 24

Ava

Walking away from Tyler proved harder than Ava ever believed possible. When she’d performed the same feat many weeks ago, she’d thought that it was tough. But if that was hard, this was excruciating. As she waited for the baggage carousel to deliver her suitcase, Ava couldn’t help but keep one eye on the doorway waiting for him to appear. Hoping. Things just seemed easier with Tyler beside her. And not just easier, but happier. Ava couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt truly happy.

The carousel whirled to life with a groan and suitcases and bags were spewed forth. Stepping forward, Ava fought her way to a prime position waiting for hers. Watching as others made attempts to grab their bags, Ava started to panic that she wouldn’t be strong enough to pull hers off without knocking her on her butt, especially after she’d just seen a lady on the carousel two over have that exact thing happen. Shaking her head, Ava forced the thought from her mind. She could do this. She would do this. Besides, this time there was no one else there.

Minutes passed and Ava watched people grab their bags and vanish down the escalators towards the fresh air, but still her bag didn’t appear. Nervously chewing on her fingernails, Ava sighed heavily when her lipstick red suitcase was tossed brutally from the machine and out onto the conveyor belt. Taking a deep breath, Ava stepped forward and readied herself.

“Of course it’s the red one with the Elmo key ring,” a husky voice whispered into her ear as two large, tanned hands fell on her shoulders.

Jumping off the ground with shock, Ava spun on her heel and collided with a wide, hard chest. Tyler held her shoulders to steady her before setting her right on her feet.

“What the fuck, Tyler?” Ava breathed as she smacked him across the chest.

Chuckling a deep belly laugh, Tyler couldn’t wipe the satisfied grin from his face. “Just thought I’d help.” He effortlessly moved Ava aside and lifted her bag from the carousel before setting it at her feet.

Still trying to calm her racing heartbeat and her erratic breathing, Ava gratefully took hold of the handle. “Thanks,” she spluttered.

“Glad I could help.” Tyler smirked, grabbing his own duffel bag and tossing it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing. “Ready?” he offered, indicating the exit. Ava simply nodded and turned her suitcase. “After you.”

Weaving her way through the airport, Ava felt alive for the first time in forever. There was so much happening and so much she wanted to do. And she was only in an airport. When she spotted Starbucks she knew she wasn’t in Oz any more. Sucking in a deep, excited breath, Ava gasped. Everything looked just like the movies.

As they breezed through the automatic doors and into the wide open white space of the airport, Tyler genuinely grinned. “Welcome to Hollywood, Shortstack,” Tyler whispered into her ear so no one else heard.

“Shortstack?” Ava replied, turning her head to meet his.

A nervous flutter consumed her. If she tilted her head slightly to the left, the way that Tyler was leaning down to talk to her, their lips would meet. Ava tried to drag her eyes from his lips but struggled pathetically. Her heart was beating wildly. Hoping that it wasn’t just her feeling this way, she dared to look up and straight into Tyler’s hooded, dark eyes. Instantly she knew it was a mistake. She could get lost in those eyes forever. And what’s worse, she wanted to.

Smirking his widest, heart-stealing smile, he replied with a chuckle. “Yep. You shall now be known as Shortstack!”

“Hey! I’m not that short,” Ava protested, reaching out to slap his arm, but before she could connect, Tyler caught it in his mammoth hands. Their playful banter came so naturally, Ava gave up fighting it. She knew she only had a few more minutes before they would go their separate ways, and unless fate intervened once more, they’d never see each other again. Strangely enough, Ava was okay with that.

“You are compared to me.” He winked, which made Ava even more determined.

“You suck!”

“Admit it, Shortstack, you love me.”

“You wish,” Ava denied, enjoying what little time they had left in their own private bubble.

But all too soon it was too late. The fairy-tale was shattered with a blinding white light.

Chapter 25

Tyler

“Tyler! Tyler! Over here,” the voices echoed as the posse of people thrust forward and surrounded them.

Without a word to Ava, whose hand he still gripped, Tyler forcefully pushed her behind him, causing her to step backwards and almost trip over her own suitcase.

After ensuring that Ava was safe, something that he’d never had to contend with before, his thoughts turned dark. Tyler’s mind was one filled with rage and disappointment. “How the fuck did they find me?” he swore under his breath.

Camera flashes continued to blink in his face, temporarily blinding him as voices called him relentlessly. As much as Tyler wanted to run for the exit and leave them all behind, he knew that if he did that they would only chase harder. It was simply easier to deal with them and move on. They’d be bored soon enough.

“Okay, okay. Give me a second. I just got off a fifteen-hour flight.” Tyler attempted to placate them, hoping the pushing and shoving would cease. Instead people were thrusting smart phones and microphones in his face, while others stepped back, took a moment, and switched on their video cameras.

Sighing heavily, Tyler waited for the onslaught and couldn’t help but wonder if Jonathan was behind this. He wouldn’t put it past him. “Tyler, Jason Jenkins. Who is the beautiful young woman travelling with you?” he asked directly.

Shell shocked, Tyler didn’t know what to say. If Jonathan had set this impromptu press conference up, he wouldn’t have known that Ava was there. Something else was going on here. With his hand still wrapped around Ava’s, Tyler felt her whole body tense. He heard the sharp intake of breath as she struggled for air.

“Excuse me?” Tyler retorted bewildered.

“The lovely young lady behind you. Does she have a name?” Jenkins didn’t let up. But he was a reporter, and after years of experience, Tyler knew they never did.

Half turning towards Ava, he sent her a silent plea to play along. She nodded softly as Tyler pulled her alongside him and dropped her hand. Ava looked up at him with scared, trusting eyes before turning her attention on the paparazzi in front of her.

“I’m sorry.” Tyler nodded. “This young woman is Ava Jacobs. She had the unfortunate experience of being squashed beside me on the flight.”

“So you’re saying that you two aren’t together but merely passengers on the same plane?” another reporter asked, pushing his smartphone closer to Tyler’s chest.

Sneaking a glance at Ava, Tyler pulled himself to his full height and replied. “Yes, that’s the truth. But as you can appreciate after such a long flight, we did talk a bit, so I’d say we’re friends now, but only thanks to our flight.”

A tiny girl stepped forward and held up her phone for Tyler to see. Bending down to see what she was showing him, Tyler gasped as it came into focus. “So Mr. Andrews,” she asked in her loudest and proudest voice, “would you care to explain this photo then?”

After quickly glancing at the photo and up at Tyler’s stunned face, Ava surprised even herself. “Oh that photo. That’s completely my fault,” Ava admitted, instantly taking responsibility, which earned her bewildered looks. Even from Tyler.

Stepping forward and taking control of the situation, Ava summoned her best big girl voice and addressed the mass directly. “That flight was my first time on a plane. And I suffer from paralysing anxiety…to the point where I sometimes feel so overwhelmed I faint on the floor.” Ava smiled, flashing Tyler a look which only they understood. “When we hit turbulence somewhere in hour eight, I think it was, I started to freak out. Not my finest moment, but it happens. Unfortunately for Tyler, he was stuck sitting next to Miss Crazy. But instead of running off screaming, Tyler grabbed my hand and talked me through it. He calmed me down,” Ava declared.

“That’s it?” someone asked incredulously.

“Well, of course not.” Ava laughed, causing Tyler to reach across and rest his large palm in the centre of Ava’s shoulder blades. “Then after all that excitement I managed to fall asleep on his shoulder. I even left a dribble mark on his shoulder somewhere.”

Her confession earned her chuckles from the crowd.

“So you guys were seated next to each other and basically fell asleep?” a deep, disappointed voice asked.

Taking his cue from Ava, Tyler once again took over. “Yeah. Sorry. I know it’s not very exciting.”

And like that, the interrogation was over. “So, Tyler, can we assume you’re here to watch the racing this week and take a closer look at your competition?”

“Yes. I was invited to come over and watch,” Tyler agreed, slipping seamlessly into the media savvy icon Ava had seen so many times on television.

“Did Dannica invite you?”

“Yes, I’ll be catching up with Dannica sometime in the next couple of days. I guess it really depends on her racing schedule, but I’m sure we will find time.” Tyler grinned, giving them exactly what they wanted.

Ava stepped away from Tyler, dropping his hand. “Tyler, I have to go,” she whispered.

In front of the contingent of American press who cocooned them, Tyler turned to face Ava directly. His entire focus settled on Ava’s face, which revealed nothing, but Tyler could read the disappointment that lingered in her eyes. The light had faded, replaced by something darker. “No troubles. Enjoy your flight,” Tyler said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Good luck with everything,” Ava offered.

Bending down, Tyler dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek and whispered in her ear once again, “Thanks for your help, Shortstack.” As cameras flashed around them, neither of them noticed anything.

Tyler watched Ava walk away, dragging her suitcase behind her, and found it hard to concentrate on anything else. Not even the questions bombarding him could pull him from his daydreams. Ava Jacobs was something else. The only problem Tyler had was that he couldn’t work out what exactly that was.

“How’s your form these days, Tyler?” he was asked, shaking him from his daydream.

“I’m going great. Training hard and doing the work. I should be ready to race in a few months,” Tyler replied like a robot. It was always the same answer. The answer that gave nothing away.

“What’s the status of your relationship with Dannica?” the teeny tiny reporter asked as she got bumped by a bigger body angling to get a better shot.

Without hesitation or thought, Tyler reached out and grabbed her by the arms, holding her steady on her feet until she regained her balance. He heard the collective gasp but didn’t care. It seemed him being a normal, caring human being was causing more waves than it was worth these days.

“Sorry,” she mumbled her apologies.

“No troubles,” he said, stepping back. “And to answer your question,” he replied, looking directly at her, “Dannica and I are friends.”

“Could there be more than friendship on the horizon?”

Tyler didn’t answer directly. Instead he just picked up his duffel bag from where it lay. “I’m sorry, guys, but I have to go. My car’s here.” Tyler smiled, pointing out the large man wearing a suit, a chauffer’s hat, and holding a sign with his name on it. “Thanks for your time.” He grinned one last time before pushing his way through the crowd towards the awaiting driver.

Moments later he was slumped in the back seat of a black Town Car heading away from the airport. Running his hands through his hair roughly, Tyler let out the sigh he felt like he’d been holding forever. He was exhausted. The thoughts of clean sheets, a hot shower, and a long massage were dancing through his head as the car wound through the traffic towards his hotel.

Tyler knew he could quite easily fall asleep where he sat, lulled by the steady rocking of the car as it weaved amongst the traffic. But he would wait. At least till he reached his hotel. Trying to keep himself awake, Tyler dug through his bag and grabbed his phone, turning it on for the first time since he landed. Usually it was the first thing he did when he touched down—switch on his phone and send the obligatory
‘I’m here safely’
text message. But this time he’d been distracted. Shortstack. Just thinking about her made his stomach clench. And the way she’d handled the press made him smile proudly.

As his phone came to life he was surprised to see the text messages flooding in. Before he even had a chance to unlock the main screen he had fourteen texts. “What the fuck?” he asked himself out loud.

“Is something the matter, sir?” the driver asked, his voice shaky.

“Sorry, I was talking to my phone,” Tyler apologised.

“No worries. I do it all the time,” the driver assured him.

Quickly Tyler began opening texts. They were all asking the same question. “Who is she?”

Tyler didn’t understand what was going on. Why was he being inundated with questions? And who were they talking about? He opened his mother’s text, one she’d sent a couple of hours earlier. It didn’t say anything. But a picture was attached. And suddenly everything seemed so clear. The reporters at the airport, the messages on his phone, the people constantly watching him.

“Shit!” Tyler exclaimed.

If a picture says a thousand words, then this one was definitely saying something. Someone had obviously taken a photo on the plane and uploaded it to social media. There in full colour for the whole world to see was a picture of Tyler and Ava, hand in hand, sound asleep. Her head was on his shoulder and his head was on top of hers. Even Tyler had to admit that they looked like a cosy couple in that shot. They looked so at ease. So peaceful. So—right? Gulping down the thought, Tyler forgot himself and started to panic about Ava. He was used to people invading his privacy and asking questions that shouldn’t be asked, but Ava wasn’t—and she was in a foreign country, with no idea what was going on. With no one to look out for her. And it was entirely his fault.

Quickly Tyler texted his mother back, explaining the situation and letting her know that he had landed safely before he turned his attention to more pressing matters. Jonathan. He’d been the one to get him in this situation to start with; he could sure as hell could get him out of it.

Not caring about the time difference, Tyler quickly dialled Jonathan’s number. “What?” a husky voice snarled down the phone.

“Oh, good morning to you too, Jonathan.” Tyler put on his best cheery voice.

“Tyler? What the fuck?” Jonathan snarled as he woke up.

“Have you seen what’s going on yet?”

“What are you talking about? I’m sleeping.”

“Well, not anymore. Get up. Check Twitter. Call me back,” Tyler barked instructions.

While Tyler waited for Jonathan to call him back, he flicked through his own Twitter feed. It was everywhere. And not just the photo of him and Ava on the plane. But photos of them once they’d disembarked. Photos of him helping her with her suitcase and whispering in her ear and kissing her on her cheek. The memory brought a blush to his own cheeks as he recalled her soft skin under his lips. But as quickly as it had overcome him, it faded and the worry set in. He’d done this to her and she had no idea. Unwittingly Tyler had made Ava a target. Now she was alone and on her way to the big city. And not just any big city…the biggest of them all. New York City. All he could hope for was that someone else would cause a bigger scandal as soon as possible and then Ava would be yesterday’s news.

Moments later Tyler’s phone buzzed to life as Jonathan’s name flashed on the screen.

“Nice flight?” Jonathan asked, his voice thick with sarcasm.

“Fuck you,” Tyler snapped harshly.

“Who is she?”

“She’s someone I sat next to. In coach,” Tyler announced, letting it linger. Tyler wanted Jonathan to know that this was his fault. Sure he couldn’t have anticipated this, but still Tyler wanted to hold Jonathan responsible for it. At least if he could hold Jonathan responsible he could let himself off the hook. Or at least try to.

“That’s all?”

“That’s all,” Tyler confirmed. It was the truth, but for some reason it didn’t sit well with Tyler.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Damage control.”

“For?”

“Her.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks,” Tyler managed to mumble, his fury fading.

“Tell me about her then,” Jonathan encouraged.

Tyler spent the next five minutes giving Jonathan a brief rundown of what he knew. But he deliberately left out the part about lunch a couple of weeks ago. Knowing about that wouldn’t help anyone, especially not Ava.

“I’ll deal with it,” Jonathan assured him before ending the call.

Feeling like things were going to be okay, Tyler let the exhaustion overwhelm him. He dropped his head back on the leather headrest and closed his eyes. As he fought to keep sleep at bay, he couldn’t help but worry. Would Ava be okay?