Arizona Cowboy by Jennifer Collins Johnson Page A

jelly, then she falls asleep on the couch.”
    “You like peanut butter and jelly.”
    “Not as much as pizza.”
    His mom shook her head. “I’m so sorry. He just says whatever he’s thinking.”
    Holden couldn’t help but chuckle at the rambunctious little guy. His private lunch plans with Ava were already ruined. Might as well include Zack, as well.
    “Tell you what,” Holden said. “Ava and I will take you for pizza, then we’ll drop you off at your grandma’s house when we’re done.”
    Zack tugged at his mom’s shirt. “Can I, Mom? That’ll be okay, right?”
    “Holden, you don’t have to do this.”
    “It’ll be fun,” said Ava. She introduced herself to Zack and his mom.
    Before Holden had time to comprehend all that had happened, he had Zack buckled into the backseat of his truck, jabbering about some cartoon on television, while they followed Jake, Megan and Vince to the pizza place. After parking, Holden turned to Ava. “This was not the kind of lunch I planned for today.”
    “What had you planned?”
    “I wanted to talk about us.”
    “Us?” Ava batted her eyes. “What about all the girls you’ve dated since I left?”
    “Jealous?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Nah. Remember, I dated a bunch of guys, too.”
    Holden fought the urge to bend down and plant a firm kiss on her teasing lips. He liked the flirting, but not the thought of Ava dating other men.
    She waved him forward. “Come on. We can talk later. Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
    The two of them sat at the table with his friends and the kids. The boys ate their pizza in record time, then begged to play games. Holden and Jake gave them money for tokens, and the boys were off. Ava and Megan seemed to get along well, and Holden noted his friend’s smitten expression. He envisioned their future as two couples, all friends who got together and hung out with their kids.
    With their money spent, the boys returned to the table. Zack plopped onto his chair and took a long swallow of his soft drink. “This place is awesome. I’m gonna tell Mom I wanna have my birthday party here next month.”
    “Yeah,” Vince said. “And I can come, too. Right, Mom?”
    Zack pounded the table. “Of course you’ll come. And so will John and Ben and Sean...”
    Ava touched Zack’s wrist as his voice rose with each name he said. “Your birthday is next month? How old will you be?”
    He puffed out his chest. “Seven. I’m in second grade.”
    Ava’s face blanched, and she removed her hand and rested it in her lap. Jake, Vince and Zack talked about when and how Zack could have his party. Megan talked to Ava, but her responses were brief, and her countenance had changed.
    Holden dropped Zack off at his grandmother’s house. Ava didn’t talk as he drove back to her car at the church. Maybe she was tired, or the pizza hadn’t settled in her stomach well.
    When he stopped the truck, she turned to him. He couldn’t read her expression. Sadness. Fear. Pain. She bit her bottom lip.
    “Ava, I want—”
    She shook her head. “No. I can’t go out with you. Please, Holden. Too many things have happened.”
    He reached for her, but she opened the door, jumped into her car, then drove away.
    * * *
    “I did what you said. No running away from my problems for this girl.”
    Ava looked up as Katie walked toward her. Wish I could say the same thing about myself. She forced a smile and leaned against the counter, gripping one of her patient’s charts to her chest. “So, you introduced him to your parents?”
    Katie’s expression brightened. “Yes, and they love him.” She wrapped a strand of hair around her finger. “I should have known they would. Corey’s perfect.”
    “I wouldn’t go that far.” Rick made his way out of their small break area.
    Mary followed behind him, rubbing lotion into her hands. “But he is a very nice young man.” She wrapped her arm around Ava’s shoulder and squeezed. “And I hear we have you to thank for