Markus
HALFTIME APPROACHED, AND the Seahawks were down by a touchdown and a field goal. Bryce had played well, but the offense was struggling in making plays. I’d given up my usual seat to sit with Ava in her box. Even though they weren’t winning, I couldn’t remember a time when I’d enjoyed a game more. Usually tense, I was totally at ease, sipping on a Corona and holding Ava’s hand, as if it was normal. And it was. The only thing that kept nipping at my brain was Bryce’s words — rather, his threat. I hadn’t thought about it till Ava had mentioned family loyalty. In a way, I felt like I’d betrayed Bryce’s trust. But didn’t Ava’s trust matter more? Could I have somehow been loyal to them both? But what could I do? I’d already crossed that bridge and — damn it all —I was not going back. Nor did I want to. I wouldn’t trade those moments with Ava for anything — but would Bryce understand that? Probably not. And he was like a brother. No matter how I looked at it, I was screwed.
“You’re quiet.” Ava turned to me, her deep brown eyes too aware.
“Thinking about how to escape your brother’s wrath with my life,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light.
“Well… good luck with that.” She patted my knee and grinned.
After narrowing my eyes at her, I saw a flicker of movement on the field, and I watched as the teams took the sidelines again from halftime. They set up in defense formation, and after the whistle blew, I watched as Bryce tackled a wide receiver. Ava clapped while the guy went tumbling. Then time seemed to freeze.
Bryce hadn’t moved from his position on the field. An injury timeout was called, and the medics ran out. Slowly I stood and leaned closer to the window, trying to see what they were doing, if he was moving at all. I heard a quiet sob from Ava.
My breath froze in my chest. It was like déjà vu, the scene unfolding like it had years before, leading to that moment when she’d stormed into my office… and out of my life.
No.
“Ava.” I reached out, praying she’d come to me, that she wouldn’t look at me with that icy glare that still haunted me.
Her brown eyes snapped to mine, but rather than hostility or blame, I saw fear, and immediately she collapsed into my arms. Her small frame felt so vulnerable, so fragile.
“Look, Ava. He’s moving.”
We watched silently, as Bryce moved his legs a bit while the medics bent over his frame, checking his body before helping him to stand and walk off the field. They assisted him toward the building that led to the medic room.
“Let’s go.” I released Ava’s body and grasped her hand tightly.
We took the elevator down to the lower floor, passed through security, then took the several corridors to the main examination room.
“Hal, what’s up?” I asked one of the team’s sports therapists.
“Hey, guys. Ava… he’s fine. Concussion protocol. He went in a few minutes ago, and he’ll be out here in about five more. They’ll take a few x-rays to be sure, and he’s not going out on this game anymore, but he’s just fine.” Hal gave an assuring smile to Ava then turned to me. “Go ahead and take a seat.”
Ava’s hand was freezing, and I wrapped my other one around it, trying to warm it. “He’s okay. The NFL has a really rigorous concussion protocol. It’s a good thing.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“Too close.”
“Yeah. Lots of memories…” She trailed off, her gaze fixed on the door where Bryce was being examined.
Lots of memories I want to leave in the past, I thought to myself, just as the door opened, and Bryce walked out carrying his plastic shoulder pads, a wry grin on his face as he saw his sister.
Ava stood and ran over to him, catapulting herself into his arms, the pads making a plastic clack at the force of her body. “You freaked the hell out of me.” She leaned back, shoving at him. “Don’t do that to me! Okay. You’re okay… aren’t you?” she asked, pulling him back in for a tight hug.
“Yeah, yeah. Fine. Annoyed as hell, but fine.”
“You’re annoyed,” she grumbled, but her words had no fire to them.
“Sorry for scaring you,” Bryce murmured, holding her close.
“Sorry for shoving you,” she answered.
Bryce chuckled then glanced to me. “Well, what are you sorry for, Markus?”
I tried to grin, hating how much his words hit home.
He seemed about to glance away, but then his eyes narrowed. He turned to Ava and lifted her hand then glanced to me meaningfully.
“We’re ready for you.” Another nurse came out, motioning toward the room marked X-RAY in big bold letters.
Bryce cleared his throat then pointed with two fingers to his eyes then to me in the universal sign of “I’m watching you.”’
Ava walked over to me as Bryce went into the next room. “What was that all about?”
“You know how I said I was wondering how to survive your brother’s wrath?” I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Yeah…” She tilted her head quizzically.
“I’m assuming you want me around for a while… right?” I took her hand, totally winging the moment.
“Define a while.” She arched a brow.
“Hey, Hal. How long till Bryce is released?” I asked, postponing my answer to Ava’s question.
“At least a couple of hours. They’ll want to keep him for a bit of observation just to make sure—”
“Good. We’ll be back in…” I glanced at my Apple watch. “…two hours.” I nodded and tugged Ava toward the exit.
“Go where? I want to stay here—”
I turned and kissed her into silence then waited till she opened those beautiful brown eyes. “Please… trust me.”
She waited a heartbeat before nodding. “Okay.”
I kissed her once more, then all but ran with her to the parking garage.
“Where are we going?” Ava asked again.
“My office.”
Because that was the place where everything had changed. Now I was going to make it right.
Since the game was still going on, the drive wasn’t overly long, less than fifteen minutes from the stadium, and we listened to it on XM Radio as we pulled up to Prestige Media Group. I tossed my keys to Ricky, the company valet, and waved to the security guard as we walked in. My office was on one of the higher floors, so we took the elevator up.
Ava was quiet, but it wasn’t an awkward or concerned silence. Just a lot of history was being relived.
Bryce being injured…
Ava coming to my office…
But this time, we would fix everything that was broken. I just hoped part of that history could be rewritten.
After the elevator dinged and the bronze doors slid open, we walked out onto the hardwood floors of Prestige Media Group. I waved to Martha at the front desk, not waiting to see her reaction to Ava’s presence — or the fact that I was holding her hand. She probably remembered the last time Ava had come to this floor.
“So…” Ava asked as we approached the glass door that opened to my office.
I held the door, and she walked in after releasing my hand and wrapping her arms around herself.
“Ava…” I breathed her name, taking it in like air. “…this… is how everything should have happened three years ago.“ I took her hand, noticing a slight tremble in her fingers. “You walk in, give me hell… and I let you walk away. I should have never done that. And now that I have you, I don’t want to ever risk that again.”
She tilted her head, her gaze softening as she grasped my other hand.
“I loved you then. I was just trying to walk the line. Bryce — obviously he’s your brother, but he’s like mine too. He’s also my client. And I’m breaking the rules with you — but you’re worth every risk, every chance, every moment I’d fight to spend with you. All this I should have told you, but I didn’t. And I’m sorry. But…” I knelt slowly, watching, gauging her reaction, knowing there was no going back now.
“Markus…” Her eyes glistened as she waited, watched.
“…I asked you how long you wanted me around.”
She nodded before she could whisper the words. “Forever. That’s my answer. I want you to be around forever — every day, every moment—”
I stood and wrapped her in my arms, devouring her answer, consuming it as my world righted itself.
A few minutes later we walked toward the elevator. Martha winked as if she knew exactly what was going on — and she probably did.
As the elevator descended, I lifted her hand and kissed it. “One more stop, and then we’re going to give Bryce a reason to not take me out,” I teased, kissing her once more, simply because I could.