<div style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 22px">aven miller</span><br/>
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Turning towards Rafael, heat rose onto Aven's cheeks at the sight of him. Fuck, he was gorgeous. She had tried to ignore it in the kitchen - the air he held when deciding what to do, the clarity in his gaze when he spoke to someone. It reminded her of their less than innocent times because he would hold that same commanding stare when he was pushing deep into her, demanding that she keep quiet so that no one else could hear them. It was hard to ignore all that emotion now though. Donned in a leather jacket and outside of their usual uniform, Aven was reminded that Rafael and her were not the 'them' they used to be. He had a wife now. He had a kid. So when he commented on the long length of her hair, the change that had come from the time apart, Aven bristled. When they had been together, Aven hadn't imagined a time when they would ever be apart. "I was about to dye it brown," Aven stammered out. Rafael's azure eyes were staring right at her. A shudder passed her body, pitting right at her lower stomach at the look. Fuck, he couldn't look at her like that. Not anymore. Aven was trying to keep it together and him giving Aven <i>that</i> look, the one that had her doing anything it is that he desired from her was dangerous. <br/>
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"Super old. Is that a wrinkle line I see right there?" Aven jested, pointing at the corner of her eye to demonstrate where she was looking. Walking on the pavement with their steps thumping against the floor and skies lighting with an iridescent luster had Aven lightening. This was nice. The cold weather - the nice company. It was easy to pretend that the person next to her was just a friend like this. That was until Rafael had mentioned Danielle and his new place of living. <br/>
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Aven felt her heart drop. He was too close. Far too close to where she lived, but what had Aven expected? Rafael owned the restaurant now - it would be his new pride and joy. "Ballard is a good area. They have a park and elementary school in the neighborhood too," Aven muttered, throat tight. Thinking of the beautiful neighborhood and his kid as well as the casual mention of his wife burned Aven in a way she hadn't expected. She didn't have feelings for Rafael. How could she after all that they'd been through? That residual ache remained though especially because Aven had imagined a future with Rafael where they'd have their own apartment and neighborhood. "If you ever need a babysitter, I can give you a few numbers. I have some friends who used to work at the elementary school who nanny for some families," Despite her helpful words, Aven was glad that Rafael had changed the subject. The subject in itself though had Aven peeking up at Rafael curiously. <br/>
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"You're very interested in this boyfriend of mine, Rafael," Aven commented off-handedly. Stiffening at the implication of her words, Aven snuck a quick glance at Rafael before continuing quickly before the awkward tension from before resumed. "We moved together from New York. Seb and I had always been friends, but he needed the change and so did I. We got a small apartment close to here actually. Five months later, Seb asked me out and we've been great ever since," Sebastian couldn't have been more perfect at the time. He had known all about what had occurred with her and Rafael although Aven never really lingered on the details of the whole situation. It had been a cold day when Seb had asked her out - they had been home, sipping a hot chocolate together since they didn't have enough milk in the fridge for two people, and they were chatting about the strange, old man who was always singing a song to a girl named 'Charlotte' that he'd serenade and curse at all at once. Aven had recognized the exact moment the mood in the room had turned because Sebastian had gotten this soft, dream-like quality to his gaze that Aven knew was similar to how she used to look at Rafael. He had leaned forward and Aven was sure that he would kiss her, sure that she had wanted it when Sebastian had pulled back and asked her to meet him at the park at closing time the next day.<br/>
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"He set up this...picnic thing. There were candles, my favorite cookies, wine, and stars. He's a good man. He's good for me," Aven knew she didn't have to go in detail, but she also wanted him to know that she hadn't just sat and pined for him when he had gotten married and started this brand new family without her. Jealousy tore at Aven at the mention of Danielle even if she knew that feeling such a thing was nowhere right. It wasn't like her words would matter to Rafael. Even in their torrid little affair, they didn't seem to hold. <br/>
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<i>Now when did you become such a bitter thing, Ave?</i><br/>
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The short conversation was temporarily halted once they reached the front of the building. Aven was trying to avoid any action of Rafael's that Aven would consider to be sweet, so without a second thought, Aven pulled the door wide open, gesturing for Rafael to go inside before she followed suit.  "How was the wedding?" Aven didn't want to know initially, but the itching in her head had grown from a dull curiosity to a relentless scratch that needed to be picked at.​</div>