On Dry Land (Swimming Upstream #3)

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Authors: Rebecca Barber
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himself under control.
    Tyler couldn’t hide his surprise to see Ava still sleeping when he was finished. She looked exhausted. It had been a big couple of days and part of him, the part he didn’t want to confess existed, wondered how she really was. Not the outward fake Ava, the Ava who kept trying to smile no matter how much it hurt her.
     
    Tyler: Hey. You hear bout Ava’s car?
     
    It took a few minutes, but Jake never failed to let him down.
     
    Jake: No? What?
     
    Tyler: Some idiot rear ended her into the guard rail.
     
    Jake: Fuck! She ok???
     
    Tyler: Yeah. Think so.
     
    Jake: ???
     
    Tyler: Seems to be.
     
    Tyler didn’t know how to answer Jake’s question. Was she okay? Was she falling apart and didn’t want him to see? What was she going to do for a car? Did she even have enough money to buy a new one? Was she insured? Questions bounced around his brain like balls trapped in a pinball machine.
    Jake didn’t text back. Instead Tyler’s phone started ringing in his palm. Trying not to wake sleeping beauty, he stepped onto the balcony and pulled the heavy glass closed behind him. He didn’t spend much time out there and he was surprised by the wind that whipped around. It whistled as it wound its way between the buildings. Brushing his damp hair from his face, Tyler braced himself and accepted the call.
    “What the fuck happened?” Jake demanded brusquely.
    Tyler knew he wasn’t trying to be an asshole but sometimes when he slipped into overprotective father mode; it just came across that way. Tyler had faced it more than once since he’d been with Ava and Jake wasn’t even her father. He just acted like it. And Tyler knew that Ava both loved and hated him for it. More often than not, Ava found herself slightly humiliated by his crazy antics but Tyler just laughed them off. Secretly he hoped if he had a daughter someday and he wasn’t around, someone would do the same for her.
    “Well, hello to you too, Jake!”
    “What happened? When?”
    “Calm down, Ava’s fine. She’s asleep on the lounge. Last night in the rain a truck decided Ava’s car would look good as a hood ornament and ploughed into the back of her.”
    “Fuck me. And you’re sure she’s okay?”
    “Yeah, Jake, she’ll be fine. Just shaken up, mostly. The paramedics checked her over at the scene and gave her the all clear.”
    “Oh, okay then. So why is she asleep on your lounge? Surely she could have at least crashed in your bed.”
    Tyler let out the breath he’d been holding. Now that Jake seemed satisfied Ava wasn’t dying or harmed, he’d reverted to being the shithead Tyler had come to know and weirdly enough, love.
    “Really, Jake? You really want to know about the rules for my bedroom?” Tyler laughed satisfactorily. He couldn’t help but imagine the look on Jake’s face as his words seeped in.
    “Oh fuck, Tyler. Hell no!”
    “Didn’t think so.”
    “Well, if she’s okay, I’ll let you go.”
    A pair of warm arms slid around Tyler’s waist, startling him. “Fuck!” he swore as Ava’s warm, soft body pressed against his back. He hadn’t even heard her open the door. Covering Ava’s hand with his own, he noticed how tiny and delicate they were compared to his.
    “She’s fine, Jake,” Tyler assured him as he turned to Ava and rolled his eyes dramatically.
    “I’m okay, Jake,” Ava added sweetly.
    Suddenly Tyler was desperate to end the call. He didn’t want to waste a moment of his time with Ava. The phone call may have eased Jake’s anxiety, but for Tyler it just reinforced how precious each moment was and not one of them was worth wasting.
    “Jake, we gotta go.”
    “Okay then. Tyler…” Tyler didn’t wait for Jake to finish. It wasn’t important. It was bound to be just another lecture about taking care of Jake’s princess.
    Turning around, Tyler swept Ava into his arms and looked down into her bleary eyes. She was still half asleep. Her hair was everywhere, her eyes thick with

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