Maverick (The Family Simon 3)

Charlie was surprised. “That’s not like you, Ava. If you knew he was into you, why the hell wouldn’t you just go for it?”

“Because I was afraid.”

“Afraid?”

Ava nodded. “I think deep down I always knew Davis could be that one guy who could be everything to me. I was afraid to act on my feelings because I was afraid of getting hurt. Afraid that he wouldn’t feel the same or that for whatever reason, it wouldn’t work out.”

Charlie was silent for a few moments. “I get that.”

“So it seemed better to just ignore how I felt and hope that I’d meet someone else, you know?”

“Yes,” she murmured, thinking of Rick and not liking just how much he was coming to mean to her. Was Charlie setting herself up to take another hit?

The phone rang out again and she swore.

“You’re not going to get that?” Ava asked.

“Hell no. I want the details. What happened on Saturday to change your mind about Davis?” She dug into her bowl of chowder, grinning as Ava blushed.

“The band was playing some slow song and Davis grabbed me to dance—”

“But Davis doesn’t dance.”

“Exactly.” Ava’s grin widened. “Anyway, the song went on and on and I don’t know, there was something about how he was looking at me. How he was holding me. And I glanced over to Seth and I realized Seth was just place holder.”

“Ouch.”

“It sounds bad, I know, but it’s not as if Seth and I were a thing. We went out a few times. Heck, I didn’t even sleep with him.”

“That’s got to be some kind of record,” Charlie teased.

“I know, right?” Ava giggled. “The thing is, when I was dancing with Davis I just knew that if I let this moment slip past me I’d regret it. Didn’t matter if I ended up hurt or disappointed because at the end of the day, if you don’t take a chance how will you ever know?”

“If you’ve never been hurt then you’ve never truly lived.” The words slipped from Charlie and she continued in a whisper. “Because if you haven’t experienced that kind of pain, it doesn’t mean that you’re lucky. It means that you haven’t loved.”

“Wow. That’s deep.”

Charlie exhaled, trying to loosen up the tight ball of emotion in her chest, and looked at her friend. “My dad told me that once. He said that even though my mother had broken his heart, he would gladly do it all over again.” Tears poked the corners of her eyes again and she scrubbed at them angrily. “He said the pain was worth it. That Connor and I were worth it.”

But he was a liar.

“I’m sorry. I should get back to work.”

“Sure,” Ava said softly. “Okay.”

The phone rang yet again, and Charlie thought that she just might lose her shit and throw a wrench at the damn thing.

“Hey,” Ava said, sliding off her stool. “Let me grab it.”

“Go for it.” Charlie tossed her garbage into the bin and glanced at the clock. Shit. She needed to get back at it or she’d never be home in time for Mrs. Kratz to bring Connor home from school. She was just about to get started on an oil change when Ava walked over, a strange look on her face.

“That was Danielle Mason. She said to turn on the TV. She said something crazy about Rick being related to Beau Simon? Is that possible?”

“The actor?”

Ava nodded vigorously. “Like holy shit, right?”

Simon.