Ava - The Hot Stranger

"Forgot your wallet?" asks the stranger on my right.

"Purse actually," I say.

"It's fine, I got you." He takes out his wallet in one fluid motion and hands the bartender a twenty dollar bill. "My drink and the lady's", he says indicating me with a nod of his head in my direction. "Can I get a beer?"

The bartender merely nods and accepts the twenty dollar bill and prepares a tall glass of beer.

"Thanks", I reply after which neither of us speaks.

He drums his fingertips on the edge of the table in tune to a song that he hums. I notice he isn't that much older than me, he has a strong jaw, deep set dark brown eyes and wavy brown hair. He is wearing dark blue jeans and a red t-shirt with the Manchester United logo on the front. His physique is well built and he has muscles in all the right places. I stare at his chest for a brief moment longer than necessary and he catches my gaze.

"See something you like?", he says with a teasing grin.

I laugh and say "maybe", with a wink. To which he laughs in return. "I have to go," "Thanks for the drink." I say before leaving the bar.

"There you are Ava, been looking for you," says Mary-Anne coming up behind me. "Mom and Dad are meeting Aunt Cecelia and Uncle Mark now, at the Banquet Hall."

I see Uncle Mark and Aunty Cecelia sitting at a corner of a long dining table they have booked for us which is by the glass wall, that overlooks a street.

"Let's grab plates and load up," I say to Mary-Anne who nods in agreement.

"So my adorable nieces tell me all about your love lives." "How's Jedi, Mary-Anne?" Asks their aunt Cecelia.

"He's fine, Aunty in all the ways imaginable," says Mary-Anne with a smile. "He will be joining us soon," adds Mary-Anne.

"Oh goodie, you brought him along." "Ava, how about you dear?" "Seeing anyone?" She asks turning her sole attention on Ava.

"Not since, Dan and I broke up."

"Oh bother, plenty of fish in the sea my dear, don't let one disappointment ruin everything for you." "I'd like to see you happy and in love, like your sister." "You can't keep brooding around."

"I don't think I will," I reply. " I'm so happy for you aunty."

"Thank you my dear," replies aunt Cecelia.

"How do you find your rooms?" asked their uncle to be, Mark.

"It's luxurious" replied Mary-Anne.

"We're thrilled with it," I add.

"Hallo there" greeted Jedidiah suddenly showing up behind Mary-Anne. He shook aunt Cecelia and uncle Mark's hand. "Nice to meet you both," said Jedidiah.

"Likewise, young lad," replied Uncle Mark. Dinner was a pleasant affair and the girls learned that their aunt and uncle would be exchanging vows at the chapel, located not too far from the hotel. It sounded so romantic and for a minute, Ava noticed her thoughts kept drifting to the hot guy who had paid for her drink.

"You will both be wearing green at my wedding", gushed her aunt jerking her out of her thoughts. "A nice fertile evergreen, to represent new life, love and prosperity." "You will have gold flowers in your hair." "It will be so grand to see you both so dressed up, elegantly."

" Sounds exciting," said Mary-Anne.

"Yes it sounds lovely", I agree.

"What about the guys?" asked Jedidiah.

"The groomsmen will be in black and white tuxedo, with the gold flower pinned to the side of your chest," said aunt Cecelia. "Have you tried the mango flavoured ice cream ?" " You can dip your ice cream into the chocolate fountain once before eating it."

"Sounds heavenly," remarked Mary-Anne, "I'm going for that," she said getting up and leaving the table.

"I'm going for some fruit salad," I say joining my sister at the dessert corner.

"How did the both of you meet?" I ask once we have taken desserts.

"I was working part-time at the bookstore and Mark came over and needed a recommendation for a particular genre." "We hit it off from there,"

"That's nice," remarked Mary-Anne. I then excuse myself to refill my glass, I pass the lane serving the coffees and teas and head to the juice bar, where they served fruit juices in a large glass dispensers. I chose the iced Pink Guava Cordial and see hot guy, pouring himself a coffee from the other side of the lane. I walk over to him with my glass in hand.

"Hello there" I call out to him. "I did not get your name."

"Jaxon." "What about you?" He asks.

"Mine is Avalina."

"Pretty name", he comments.

"So can I meet up with you for breakfast?" I ask.

He grins and replies "sure". "I'll be here early though like seven-ish."

"I'll meet you then," I confirm. I walk back to my table and sit beside my sister, I listen in on the conversation, still thinking about Jaxon.

"So, Calistar said Cecelia turning to her sister and her husband, anything new on your end?"

Calistar laughed and added "I was wondering when you were going to ask and she launched into topics on knitting, mutual friends they shared and questions on the wedding schedule."

The girls finished their desserts and excused themselves from the dining table. Once they returned to their rooms, Ava sat on her bed saying "I'm so stuffed."

"I'm going to the salon to get my hair done, do you want to come along?" Asked Mary-Anne.

"Sure".

We arrive at Anna's Hair Studio, and I have my frizzy curls tamed and add lilac purple highlights to my hair. Mary-Anne's hair undergoes a keratin treatment so her hair came out shiny and soft. We leave the hair studio and arrive at the hotel. Both of us once again enter the Banquet Hall, have a light dinner and go straight to bed. The sisters slept soundly that night, while Jedidiah decided to spend his night away at the pool table, talking with the guys gathered at the tables, drinking beer.