hosts.
“So Ava, where do you get the ideas from?”
“I don’t really know. Some of it starts off with a line or a couple of words, others with that feeling in the pit of your stomach. Writing isn’t something new to me. It’s something I’ve always done. The only difference now is it’s out there for the world to see and judge.”
“Does that scare you at all? Being judged?”
“Absolutely!” Ava was thankful that the filter between her brain and her mouth was working this early.
“But you do it anyway.” Ava would have sworn she heard admiration in Quinn’s delicate voice but she couldn’t be sure. “What made you take that leap of faith and put it out there, knowing that you’d be judged and criticised?”
“I don’t know, really. I was sitting in my apartment one cold, wet, miserable Saturday afternoon and I’d just finished reading this amazing book by another Australian author and for some reason I found myself looking at who her publisher was. When I found it, I sent them a submission. Four months later, Perfection is Just an Illusion went live on Amazon for the world to see.”
With a deep, hearty chuckle, Adrian added, “Now I understand the rollercoaster!”
Ava giggled and she felt herself relax for the first time. It was just like talking to a friend without the swear words.
“Did your life change once your book came out, Ava?”
“Oh my god, everything changed. Before it was published, writing wasn’t something that many people knew about me. It was something I did just for me, you know. But the moment it was out there and the promotion started, it just snow balled.”
“Including meeting Tyler Andrews?”
At his name, Ava felt her cheeks burn and all the calm evaporate from her body. She should have known she wouldn’t get through this without her life with Tyler being brought up. That would have been asking too much. Balling her fists and squaring her shoulders, Ava held her head high. “Yes. Since the book was released I’ve been lucky enough to meet Tyler.”
“I’d say more than lucky.” Adrian grinned as the white wall behind him was covered by the photo Tyler had tweeted only days earlier of them having breakfast.
Ava was overheating. She could feel the sweat beading on her brow and she wasn’t sure if it was the lights setting her temperature sky rocketing or if it was the scrutiny she was under. Her mind was buzzing in a million different directions and she was overflowing with emotions but the most dominant was regret. She was regretting everything. Coming on the show. Writing the damn book. She was even questioning her relationship with Tyler. But national television was not the place to fall apart. That would have to wait until she got back to the privacy of her own hotel room.
“So Ava,” Quinn addressed her, snapping her attention back to the perfectly made up host across from her. “I’ve got to ask, are you dating Olympic swimmer Tyler Andrews?”
Ava wanted nothing more than to crawl under the sofa cushions. Tyler had tried to warn her that this was a topic they would more than likely bring up, but Ava hadn’t wanted to hear it and dismissed his warnings. Now she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t like lying but a huge part of her wanted to. Desperately.
“Um…Tyler and I…” Ava’s voice was strained. In her lap she was picking at her fingers absentmindedly.
Chapter 17
Tyler
“Are very happy together,” a deep voice finished Ava’s stumbling.
With a satisfied smirk, Tyler strode confidently across the stage, fully aware the camera was tracking his every move. But then again, so did the presenters’ gaze. Only Ava hadn’t looked up. Tyler knew his girl better than she’d ever willingly admit. She knew he was there. She had to. He could feel the crackle in the air between them and Tyler believed with everything he was that Ava could too.
“Tyler,” Ava whispered
“So Ava, where do you get the ideas from?”
“I don’t really know. Some of it starts off with a line or a couple of words, others with that feeling in the pit of your stomach. Writing isn’t something new to me. It’s something I’ve always done. The only difference now is it’s out there for the world to see and judge.”
“Does that scare you at all? Being judged?”
“Absolutely!” Ava was thankful that the filter between her brain and her mouth was working this early.
“But you do it anyway.” Ava would have sworn she heard admiration in Quinn’s delicate voice but she couldn’t be sure. “What made you take that leap of faith and put it out there, knowing that you’d be judged and criticised?”
“I don’t know, really. I was sitting in my apartment one cold, wet, miserable Saturday afternoon and I’d just finished reading this amazing book by another Australian author and for some reason I found myself looking at who her publisher was. When I found it, I sent them a submission. Four months later, Perfection is Just an Illusion went live on Amazon for the world to see.”
With a deep, hearty chuckle, Adrian added, “Now I understand the rollercoaster!”
Ava giggled and she felt herself relax for the first time. It was just like talking to a friend without the swear words.
“Did your life change once your book came out, Ava?”
“Oh my god, everything changed. Before it was published, writing wasn’t something that many people knew about me. It was something I did just for me, you know. But the moment it was out there and the promotion started, it just snow balled.”
“Including meeting Tyler Andrews?”
At his name, Ava felt her cheeks burn and all the calm evaporate from her body. She should have known she wouldn’t get through this without her life with Tyler being brought up. That would have been asking too much. Balling her fists and squaring her shoulders, Ava held her head high. “Yes. Since the book was released I’ve been lucky enough to meet Tyler.”
“I’d say more than lucky.” Adrian grinned as the white wall behind him was covered by the photo Tyler had tweeted only days earlier of them having breakfast.
Ava was overheating. She could feel the sweat beading on her brow and she wasn’t sure if it was the lights setting her temperature sky rocketing or if it was the scrutiny she was under. Her mind was buzzing in a million different directions and she was overflowing with emotions but the most dominant was regret. She was regretting everything. Coming on the show. Writing the damn book. She was even questioning her relationship with Tyler. But national television was not the place to fall apart. That would have to wait until she got back to the privacy of her own hotel room.
“So Ava,” Quinn addressed her, snapping her attention back to the perfectly made up host across from her. “I’ve got to ask, are you dating Olympic swimmer Tyler Andrews?”
Ava wanted nothing more than to crawl under the sofa cushions. Tyler had tried to warn her that this was a topic they would more than likely bring up, but Ava hadn’t wanted to hear it and dismissed his warnings. Now she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t like lying but a huge part of her wanted to. Desperately.
“Um…Tyler and I…” Ava’s voice was strained. In her lap she was picking at her fingers absentmindedly.
Chapter 17
Tyler
“Are very happy together,” a deep voice finished Ava’s stumbling.
With a satisfied smirk, Tyler strode confidently across the stage, fully aware the camera was tracking his every move. But then again, so did the presenters’ gaze. Only Ava hadn’t looked up. Tyler knew his girl better than she’d ever willingly admit. She knew he was there. She had to. He could feel the crackle in the air between them and Tyler believed with everything he was that Ava could too.
“Tyler,” Ava whispered
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