Chapter 55

I picked the card up from the table and inspected it carefully. Surely Ethan wasn’t serious, but I couldn’t ask. He retreated upstairs to his room, knowing that I would just continue to argue. I put it back down on the wooden surface of the table, left it, and went upstairs to my own room to get some sleep.

I’d let Ethan have the night to sleep on his decision.

The next morning, Ethan was already at work by the time I got up. I went down into the kitchen, the card was left exactly where I put it, and there was a small note written in Ethan’s loopy cursive laying beside it.

Ava,

Please, I want this to feel like a home to you too.

Love, Ethan

After reading the note, I let out an amused sigh and shook my head. If he was that serious about it, I’d consider it as doing him a favor.

I didn't know where to start. I’d never had a house to decorate. I didn’t even have a room to decorate. The room I was staying in at Ethan’s was already set up for me, so it was all too new for me.

I sat at the table, staring at the card, flipping it over every now and again, as though it would give me new ideas. Nothing came to me for a while, but then I started thinking about Olivia.

Her house was beautiful, girly, but sophisticated. She had money, she had rooms to furnish; I was sure she’d be able to help me with at least one room.

I called her cell. It rang three times before she picked up.

“Ava?” She asked, “Are you okay? Did something happen with the Sarah thing?”

“Yes and no!” I breathed into the phone, “Do you want to come over and help me pick out some furniture for the house? Ethan wants all new decor.”

“Is that it?” She let out a relieved sigh into the phone microphone. “I was worried for a second there.”

“No, don't worry. Ethan said the plan with Sarah would take a few days to have any results at least. Mars is keeping an eye on Andrew, too, though.” I spoke quickly.

Olivia listened and, thankfully, said she’d love to have a girls’ day together - shopping and decorating a fresh space.

She came over shortly after our phone conversation. I had enough time to put out a plate of more sugar cookies - without the wedding themed icing - and straighten up the little bit of furniture we had.

I invited her into the kitchen when she arrived, and I placed a pad of paper in between us.

“We need a game plan for furniture shopping.” I told her, mock seriousness displayed on my face.

Olivia, playing along, nodded her head and uncapped a pen that I handed her.

“What sort of vibe would you like to create in the house?” She asked, scribbling a few notes down on the pad.

Olivia and I spent most of the morning shopping online, buying lamps, rugs, sheets, throw pillows, and anything else that would make Ethan’s house feel more like a home.

Olivia, as it turned out, was exactly who I needed to help with the decorating because she hassled every furniture price down low over the phone, and she even had a few friends at the stores we called. They assured us that the furniture would be delivered that evening.

It was incredible to see the sort of influence she had, even in simple things like a furniture store. I understood more fully the concern Ethan and Mars had about Andrew getting ahold of Olivia’s power.

We didn’t stop our online shopping until it was almost noon.

“You’re amazing!” I said with a smile. “You really know how to shop.”

Olivia squinted at me, giving me a narrowed look, “You should learn how to shop,” She teased.

I supposed, as a Luna, I’d have to learn eventually. I was definitely better than I was when Ethan and I first went wedding dress shopping, though.

We cleaned up our notes and laptops from the table where we were shopping, and I looked at my clock once again. It was barely noon then. I had an idea.

“Do you want to make lunch for Ethan and bring it to him?” I asked, thinking it would be payback for her help that day. If I could get her some time alone with the man she loves, then it’s even between us.

“Sure,” She hummed, then her eyes lit up in realization, “And Mars said he was going to pay Ethan a visit at work today, I’ll bring him some too!”

We work together to quickly throw together some lunch boxes, and I have the chauffeur drive the two of us to the Blue Moon Group building.

Tristan was at the door when we arrived and he helped us get into the building.

“Ethan is in a meeting but Mars is up in the office if you want to wait there,” He told us as he pressed the buttons on the elevator to the top floor.

“Thank you, we’ll wait.” I respond, looking over at Olivia. She is giddily bouncing on the balls of her feet, watching the number of floors rise higher and higher.

She must really want to see Ethan.

Once we were up in the office, Olivia ran over to Mars and thrust the lunch box she prepared for him in his hands. The two of them whisper to each other, chuckling every now and then. I thought it was odd, but I didn’t have much time to think about it because Ethan came in after his meeting.

“Ava!” He smiled, “Tristan told me you were here and I was surprised. How did the shopping go?”

He looked at me with a pointed look, essentially asking if I did any shopping at all.

“It went really well,” I smirked, “Olivia helped me.”

Ethan looked up, as though he just realized Olivia was in the room with us, and he gave a satisfied hum.

It was weird, when he turned his full attention back to me and the lunchbox in my hand instead of focusing more on Olivia.

“That for me?” He jerked his chin in the direction of the box, and I handed it to him.

“Just thought you might like something home made today, right Olivia?” I tried to tell her that Ethan was there, but all she did was smile at me and turn back to Mars.

Weird.

“Well, you are welcome to stay,” Ethan places the lunch on his desk, “But Mars and I have to have a talk about imports. It won’t be very interesting for you.”

I got the hint that Ethan didn’t want Olivia or me involved in that particular meeting, so I took that as our cue to leave.

We bid them goodbye and went back down into the lobby of the building.

“Why don’t we stop for some pastries next door?” I asked Olivia. She had a ditsy, far off look in her eye, but nodded in agreement.

We walked to the pastry shop, opened the doors, and the first person I saw waiting in line nearly made my heart stop.

Baron was behind a few people in line to be seated or order. He lifted his head when the bell above the door chimed, and made direct eye contact with me.

“Ava!” He exclaimed excitedly, getting the attention of a few other people in the small dining room.

Olivia looks between the two of us with a raised brow, but she doesn’t get the chance to ask any questions before Baron approaches us. He wraps his arms around my waist and places a chaste, friendly kiss to my cheek in greeting.

Just as his lips make contact with skin, the flash of a camera goes off.