Do You Accept My Feelings?

***Avy's POV*****

“Listen to me honey, mom is busy downstairs, so I want you to be extremely quiet, okay?”

Aiden nodded while staring at me confusedly. Oh, goodness! This is the second time I have lied to my son today. What's with today? I just hope he never finds out and that his games keep him glued. 

Aiden is usually smart on a normal day and would easily find out what's going on if I defaulted in the slightest of ways. 

“So, I'm going to go downstairs now. So, if you need anything, you can call me, okay?”

“Okay mom,” Aiden replied sharply. Just as I was about to leave, Aiden gazed down at his pad, and continued playing his computer games. Thank goodness! I couldn't be happier than I was at the moment. 

I quickly descended the stairs, only to find Mr. Bryce, staring at the wallpaper. It was a picture of the ocean. Good thing none of Aiden's pictures were in the living room. I'm so certain that he would definitely ask me, and what would I do then? I guess he will find out at that very moment. I quickly prepared the drinks and went downstairs to meet him. 

As if he knew I was behind him, he quickly turned around to face me. 

“Miss Avyannna, you are here.”

“Oh yes. Uhm, I was actually trying to get Dane to comfort, that's why I took a little more time. I'm so sorry about the delay,” I said, placing the drinks on the table. 

“That's okay, I understand you. So, are you a lover of the ocean?” He asked, while staring at me with his bright eyes. 

“Yea, but how did you know that?”

“The wallpaper says it all. I rarely ever met a person who keeps such a wallpaper without loving the ocean.”

“Oh, I see. You must be pretty observant,” I whispered, but enough for him to hear. 

“Well… I guess so. I always tend to know 50 percent about the people I come across, even though I don't know them that well." My heart suddenly skipped at his statement. 

Fifty percent? No way! If he says this, doesn't it mean he might find out about Aiden pretty soon?”

“Uhm, from your expression, I can guess you might be thinking about how much I can figure out about you. Now, don't let that bother you. I only guess what is presented to me. So, you don't have to be scared about me knowing you more than you want me to.”

“What?” I said between laughs. 

“Honestly, I wasn't thinking about that at all,” I lied through my teeth, with a smile on. 

“Really?” Bryce asked, while staring deep into my eyes as if he were searching for my soul. Damn it! Those are some dangerous pairs of eyes he has there. 

“That's okay. So, when last did you visit the beach?”

I raised a brow at his question. 

“Well, it's been quite a while, never since I last visited.

“Oh, I see. Why don't we go on a date tomorrow, since it's Sunday? If that's okay with you, I mean.”

My heart skipped instantly. I can't believe he's asking me on a second date when we barely had our first date. 

“Tomorrow...” I trailed off while thinking about if I had anything personal to do tomorrow. Besides, taking Aiden to Katie's, so he could spend time playing with O'Neil, Katie's youngest son. Moreover that, there's nothing more I will be doing tomorrow. 

“What time tomorrow?” I asked. 

“Well, let's see… Will the evening be okay? I guess that will be a perfect time to sunbathe while staring at the beach.”

Alleluia! This is perfect for me! 

“Tomorrow it is, then!” I replied sharply with a smile.  

******

Bryce and I had a good talk for two hours, and I couldn't help laughing at his stories. Besides that, I noticed Mr. Bryce is fun to be with. 

“So, Miss Avy, do you, by chance, have a boyfriend?” 

“Huh?” That question was not much expected, so I got confused for some seconds. 

“Miss Avy,are you okay? If the question makes you uncomfortable, I'm so sorry to have asked. Please, you don't need to reply.”

“No, no, no. It's not a big deal. A simple question that requires a simple answer. I don't have to chicken out now, do I?”

“Well…" He seemed to be short of words to speak, but I do understand him, though. 

“Well, talking about a boyfriend. To be honest, I don't.”

“Wow! I'm sorry to say this, but I kind of wasn't expecting a beautiful woman like you to be single.”

“Not all beautiful women have a lover, either. You would agree with me.”

“You're right, I should take this as knowledge learned.”

“How about you, a wife or girlfriend…" I asked nervously, trying not to sound too curious. 

Bryce chuckled lightly at my question, but I could tell he already had an answer for me. 

“Well, I don't have any woman by my side. Not all handsome men have a lover,” he said. I couldn't help but notice the sparkle at the corners of his eyes. 

“Miss Avy, you see, I'm not the kind of man who goes beating around the bush. And for this reason, I want to come out straight.”

I sucked in a deep breath as I awaited the words he wanted to say to me. 

“Miss Avy, to be honest, the first day I saw you, I was smitten. I don't know how else to say this, but… I've been finding it difficult to concentrate ever since that day.”

“Woah, Mr. Bryce, is this some kind of line you say to the ladies often?” I asked, just to get his reaction. 

“Of course not. I'm not a man who has that free time to date and, for that reason, my friends believed I would never get a woman of my own, since I don't keep them around me.”

“Oh, I see.” The truth is, I had been expecting this, and now that I've heard it, I've been torn into reacting two ways. First was to reciprocate his feelings or play the ignorant part. Though, it isn't wrong to be sure of what one is getting themselves into. 

“Do you accept my feelings, Miss Avy?” Bryce asked while staring into my eyes. What should I say now? God help me.