Chapter 6

Ava

Last night was a blast. It was the best day ever. We won. The happiness on David's face was something that couldn't be explained. There wasn't a minute he didn't smile. May he get more victories and success ahead smile forever. They say do your work, work hard for it, and not think about the outcome. It was worth the hard work and patience.

Patience is bitter, it's fruit is sweet. It indeed is the sweetest thing I had. I am over the moon. Today I am going to meet David's friends.

Sure, I had heard a lot about them but will they like me? We went office together but I was home early and David was still in the office.

Everyone was swamped up with work with all the deals coming in after our win. Everyone is wanting to work with us. I was done with my work so David sent me home.

I am going to meet David's friends, What if they come early? What if they come before David does? What if they hate me? Oh god, I need to stop thinking or my head will burst.

I took a shower and changed into something else. Thanks to David, I have options to wear. I went downstairs and cleaned up. I changed the cushion covers and put everything into place. By the time I was done, I heard the jingling of the keys and David was here.

"Ava, I am home."

I go close to David and he takes a good look at me. His eyes wander from the bottom to up. Should I change into something else? Is it too much? He didn't say anything so I asked him myself. "Is it too much for just a casual dinner?"

"No, It's fine. They will be here in an hour or so. I will go freshen up."

His expressions said more than fine. I felt myself smile at that.

"I was thinking of making them something."

"There is no need, Ava."

"You know I love to cook. Let me do this." I sent David to freshen up and prepare something.

David leaves to go upstairs and mumbles something to himself and I hear it. "Fine. I will go freshen up fast so that I can see what she is making."

"I heard that. Never gonna happen."

He scoffs at that and leaves.

When I see him out of sight. I start preparing. I don't know what his friends like or dislike. It's better if I keep the main course aside.

So I decided to make some dessert. I think I remember how to make the Indian kheer. I open the cupboard to check if we have the ingredients for it. I took out the rice and checked if there was milk in the fridge. Luckily, we had everything. With everything ready. I started preparing.

I rinsed the rice until it was clear. Then I soaked the rice in enough water for 20 mins. On the other side, I took milk in a vessel to boil the milk. After the milk was at a boil, I added sugar. Keep stirring till the sugar is mixed. I added the rice and kept stirring it. I let it simmer at low flame and added the condensed milk and chopped dry fruits and it's done.

While making kheer I remembered the time when my mother, sister, and I made dessert together. I had always loved cooking. On Sundays, everyone would sit down on the lawn and have lunch together. Mom and I would make lunch. Father and my sister would set up the table. I miss those days.

Everything changed in a split second and everything came crashing down.

I felt tears in my eyes when I think about it. I wipe them with my hands. Now I should put this in the fridge before David comes. Just as I put the vessel in the fridge, David comes in.

"Please tell me, Ava. It's killing me. The aroma, I can't wait. It something sweet for sure."

"It's in the fridge. I won't let you know." David tried to open the fridge and I slapped his hand. He grins in disappointment.

Ding dong

David was trying to convince me to tell him what I made and I was firm. I will not say anything to him and then we heard the doorbell. He grunts and we walk to the door as David opened the door and I followed him to the gate.

"So you are the girl David keeps talking about." One of his friends said and guessing by the descriptions David gave me. I am assuming he is Austin.

I look at David. I cough and think about it. David talks about me. I don't know why but it made me happy that I cross his mind. Interesting...

He glares at him signaling him to stop and whispers something in his ear. "Stop."

"Let me introduce," David said as he was about to introduce them to me but I interrupted.

"Wait. You are Austin, that's Liam and you are Kathy."

"How do you know?" Liam says surprised because this was the first time we were meeting but I have heard a lot about them.

"David talks of you like he does talk about me to you." I winked at them and they laughed.

"Finally I have someone to plot against the boys. I mean I was enough but the more the merrier."

Kathy says and I laugh. Maybe it will not be that bad as I thought it might be. "I am glad. Please come in, don't wait outside."

"How sweet of you, Ava. I am sure David wants us out." David gives them a deathly stare again and invited them in.

"Will you stop? Let's sit." We all proceeded to the living room to sit. While we sat, Austin gave David a push so that he pushes me. Sweet. I chuckled at that.

"You can thank me later." He tries to whisper which was audible to all. We chose to ignore that comment and then we ordered pizza. We all talked about various things and it was fun.

It was way better than I expected it to be. It was nice to see everyone pulling David's leg. This was a new side of David's funny, carefree. He was so different now than he is in office and I was loving this side of him.

It's not like he is rude to me but he was something else. I was getting to know him more and the more I tried to stay away I got more attracted to him. I was attracted to him like an iron bar to a magnet.

I was falling for him. I was falling for his smile, his nature, and everything.

No, it wasn't a normal crush or like.

I was falling hard for him...

He was all I had in mind. He makes me smile every time his name pops up on my phone, he makes me laugh by saying the weirdest things, he has the perfect smile and it's the best thing ever. He was perfect to me, and he is making me fall for him deeper and deeper every time he texts me, looks at me, or just by being himself. I was falling for him.

I take a look at him as he was laughing and then he takes a look at me. He wanted to make sure I wasn't feeling uncomfortable or felt left out. He is so sweet. I smiled at him.

He is David Smith. He deserves to have a girl who loves him and gives him what he wants. I am afraid I can't but you make me believe I can. I am desperate that I am imagining things. Maybe you are just helping me out and I...David, I don't know what to do, what if I keep falling, but you don't catch me? I am scared to love...

After some time, David couldn't resist anymore and asked me to bring what I made.

I went to the kitchen and take out the glass bowls from the shelves. I served the kheer in glass bowls and garnished it with some dry fruits. It's been a long time since I made it. I hope they like it.

"Here is our dessert for tonight."

"What's this, Ava?" Austin asked confused. I knew they would be confused.

"It's an Indian dessert called Kheer."

"Amazing. Let's taste it." Kathy said excitedly. I handed over everyone their bowls and spoons. I take a look at everyone as everyone tastes it. No one said anything. I was impatient. I wanted to know if they liked it or not and their no response worried me.

I didn't taste it so I didn't know how it tastes like. I couldn't take a bite without them saying anything. Whenever I cook something I can't eat unless someone eats and tells me how it tastes and I want their honest opinion. Whether it's good or bad anything and if they aren't honest. I would know when I taste it. I take a look at them.

They had a blank face on their face. Did they not like it? After which Austin said.

"I am in love with this. It's so delicious. Can I get some more?"

"You are an outstanding chef. It's so tasty." David complimented me and then Liam said.

"This is amazing."

I let out a sigh of relief. Their blank faces scared the shit out of me. I smiled at everyone as they praised me. Then we finished our desserts and talked for a while more.

Kathy looks at the time and says.

"It's getting late. We should leave."

"Yeah. I have an early morning shift tomorrow." Liam said and Austin asked me if I can pack him some kheer. I was glad he liked it so much.

"It was nice meeting you. Ava, can I have some kheer packed?"

"Austin will never change," David says and everyone laughs when he says that. After all the talking and what David said about them, I know that Austin is a foodie and always up for parties. Kathy was more sensible and the decision-maker. Liam was the silent one of all and David was David.

I went back to the kitchen and packed some Kheer in a lunch box. I gave it to Austin and then we exchanged our goodbyes at the front door.

"I am glad you liked it," I said to David while closing the door. David pulled me by my waist and pinned me against the wall near the door. He was so tall that he towered over me and I had to look up to see him. Our faces were inches apart. His gaze was up looking into my eyes and then his gaze shifted to my lips and then back up to my eyes.

"Liked it. How about loved it."

With him this close, I could hear his heartbeat. It was faster than usual. I could feel his hard muscular chest against my body as I looked up at his glowing brown eyes.

His incredible eyes showed me one thing I wanted. Love for me. His perfume intoxicated me and my knees felt weak. His hand slowly moved up to my face taking the streak of hair on my face as he softly put it behind my ear.

I could feel a smile curl up on my face. I was captivated by how he looked at me with such a nonchalant look on his face and I felt tingles run down my spine. His gaze shifted from my eyes to my lips and I could see the constant debate he was fighting of whether he should go for it or is this too fast. I could read his mind. It was all written on his face.

"You want to kiss me."

"Are you a mind reader?"

He giggles while he says that.

"One of my secret talents. Go ahead."

I wanted to kiss him too. I closed my eyes and he pulls me close to him. He cups my cheeks with his hand and then I felt his lips on my forehead. He kissed my forehead.

I could feel the butterflies in my stomach and my heart fluttered. It was one of the sweetest gestures ever. I can't help but think about what will it be like to be with him? He is the definition of the perfect man. I smiled as he pulled back softly placing his hand on my cheek as he said.

"I had to say something."

I nod at him and he continues. His brown eyes glinted with love and care as they sparkled under the reflection of the light.

"It's been a few weeks since I met you and I must confess that I AM FALLING FOR YOU because I can't keep it to myself anymore. I was happy and content with my life before but since the moment you stepped into my life, I am the happiest. You may think I am crazy because I only know you for a few weeks and I understand if you can't reciprocate my feelings. You don't have to answer now. It's just I wanted you to know."

I place a finger on his lips. It's time. He has to know everything."Shhh!David."

(Will Ava reciprocate her feelings for David? Is this the beginning of David and Ava's story? How will David react to Ava's Response? Find out in the next chapter.)

...Thank you for reading...

Follow me for more.

You can also follow me on Instagram @writer_addict1205