Alex's POV
1 MONTH LATER...
It has been a month since Ava and Hunter's whirlwind wedding, and the reality of their union is beginning to settle in. Just as we were getting used to the idea of them as a married couple, Hunter dropped the news that he would be leaving for a three-month business trip. As they prepared for his departure, Ava and I busied ourselves with packing his bags—folding shirts, double-checking travel documents, and ensuring he had everything he needed. In those moments, I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling; a part of me felt a strange sense of relief at the thought of his absence. It was an emotion I grappled with, knowing full well that he was as much Ava's husband as he was mine, a complicated intertwining of lives that neither of us had entirely expected.
While Ava maintained her composed exterior, I could sense the tension bubbling just beneath the surface. I was afraid to voice my feelings, fearing it might fracture the fragile balance of our relationship. It felt unjust to harbor relief at his leaving, especially when I knew she would miss him dearly. The complexity of our unique situation loomed large: I loved Hunter fiercely, just as I loved Ava, but guilt danced at the edges of my consciousness whenever I allowed myself to admit how freeing a few months apart might be. As we finished our preparations, a wave of uncertainty washed over me, my heart torn between the joy of their new journey together and the quiet solace that Hunter's absence might bring.