Page 35 of Loving Wild

“Hey,” Ava finally steps back and says. “It’s really nice to finally meet you.”

“You too,” Lauren responds.

“I can’t believe you’re actually real, and he’s not secretly gay.”

Lauren’s head snaps back, and her eyes widen and turn to me. I shrug.

“She assumed because I’ve never introduced her to a woman, I must be into men and was just waiting for her to be mature enough till I confessed.”

Lauren nods but says nothing as she watches Ava heading into the house.

“Hey, bub?” Ava turns to look at me. “Can you just wait there till I get your bags out of the car? There’s something me and Lauren need to talk to you about.”

This time it’s Ava’s hand that goes to her chest. “Oh, my god, you’re getting married? Are you getting married? Will there be babies? Will I get more brothers and sisters? Please let me have a sister, my mum’s having another boy and I’d just really love a sister.”

The smile has now gone from Lauren’s face, although the wide eyes remain as she silently shakes her head.

“No, no wedding,” I tell her. “At least not yet,” I wink at Lauren as I speak. She gives me an eye roll, I smirk in response.

“Or babies.” Lauren looks pointedly at me before narrowing her eyes. “No more babies, definitelynotbabies.” Her dismissal cuts a little deeper than it should as the vision of that red-haired little girl flashes through my mind again.

“Just wait up a sec, will ya?” I order Ava as I head out to the truck and grab her bags.

Pulling them from the back seat, I turn to see Lauren throwing her head back and laughing at something Ava’s saying. My daughter’s hands move animatedly as she shakes her head and smiles.

Like it did the night we met, something shifts inside me.

Until right now, I never realised how much I needed these two to get along, that the two most important people in my life, like each other.

Carrying Ava’s weekend and school bag back inside, I set them down in the hallway and close the front door. Lauren leans back against the wall, chews on her bottom lip, and folds her arms across her chest.

I’ve never been able to work women out. No matter their age, or mine, I’ve never been able to nail down what makes them tick. What’s likely to make them happy, or what might piss them off.But, from the photos Lauren sent me earlier, I’m pretty sure Ava will love her bedroom and Lauren doesn’t need to be looking so nervous.

Then again, I’ve never been a twelve-year-old girl, so who fucking knows.

“What’s going on?” Ava’s eyes slide from me to Lauren, brows drawn down tight in a frown as she folds her own arms across her chest.

“You know I told you Lauren’s an interior designer?”

“Yeah,” Ava says slowly, still frowning.

“Well, she wasn’t impressed with the lack of inspiration going on with your bedroom set up.”

“I gave him some shit,” Lauren adds with a sigh.

“She didn’t give me shit, she just pointed out it was . . .”

“Lacking,” Lauren says.

“Shit.” I continue at the same time. “I felt bad. I know Dani took you out and bought you some stuff when we first moved here, but I should’ve asked, or come with . . .”

“It’s fine, my bedroom’s fine,” Ava says with a shrug. “What did you do to it?” she asks her tone not exactly happy.

Lauren pushes away from the wall to stand closer to me, and I reach for her hand.

“Your dad got you some new furniture that I helped him choose. We didn’t touch anything in your drawers. We’ve painted and put all the new furniture in place. The old stuff is in the garage with all your clothes still in. If you like what I’ve—we’ve done, I’ll help you move your stuff, and if you hate it, we’ll just put the old stuff back. I won’t be upset or offended. It’s your room, you do whatever you like,” Lauren rambles. I squeeze her hand to let her know I’ve got her back, all the while I watch my daughter’s response.

Ava’s never been a demanding or bratty kid. She’s polite and respectful, and I know she’d never go out of her way to hurt Lauren’s feelings, but I’m worried now that we’ve handled this all wrong and maybe should have consulted with her first.