Chapter 16
The second I walk into the bar I know she’s here. Like my body is trained to find her whenever she’s near, my eyes home in on Avery immediately.
Sadie catapults herself at Niko, and I roll my eyes at the public display but don’t move my attention from Avery.
She’s surrounded by some of my teammates and Bobcats’ staff but I don’t dare look away to greet them.
She has yet to make eye contact with me, her eyes trained lower on my chest. Her attention gives me the confidence I need to go straight to her.
Once we’re inches apart, she finally looks up at my face.
“Hi,” I say, the confidence I’m feeling is evident in my voice. I’m about to shoot her a flirtatious smirk when I notice her face begin to pale. I know I’m not her favorite person, but she’s never had this reaction to my presence before.
She turns and stumbles on her feet. My instincts kick in and I rush behind her, catching her just before she hits the ground. I’m kneeling now, with her head resting on my thighs. My heart climbs to my throat as panic sets in. The panic immediately turns to fear as I realize how unwell Avery is.
Her face is ghostly in my lap, her eyes closed, her body completely unresponsive on the floor. The crowd around us goes silent but my focus stays on Avery. I can feel my heart hammering in my chest now and my fingers tremble as I brush her hair back from her face.
“Wake up for me, Aves. Please.”
Sadie and Katie drop to their knees at Avery’s side. My eyes stay locked on Avery’s face, looking for any signs that she’s close to waking up. Someone hands Sadie a napkin and she places it on Avery’s forehead while Katie grabs her wrist to check her pulse.
“What the fuck happened?” My voice is lethal, both women snapping their attention to me.
“It’s a fainting spell. She has them sometimes.”
Her comment reminds me of the last time she fell, at least that I’m aware of, that resulted in her going the hospital
Sadie is still holding the damp napkin to Avery’s forehead and Katie is now rubbing Avery’s arm.
“Wake up, Avery,” Katie says in a calm but firm tone.
Their calm demeanor just angers me more. “Stop acting like this isn’t a big deal. This is not normal.” Anger turns to concern as I look down at Avery again. I’m ignoring both women, my focus only on the beautiful woman I’m holding in my lap.
Her eyelids flutter as she slowly begins to come to again. She attempts to sit up but my hand lands on her shoulder, keeping her in place on my lap.
“Don’t try to get up yet. Give yourself a minute.” My voice is softer now, but it’s laced with worry as Avery finally looks up to see it’s me tending to her. She closes her eyes and tears begin to trickle down her cheeks, causing my heart to ache beneath my ribcage.
Three times. Three times this strong woman has broken down in front of me now.
I know she’s embarrassed, but I wish more than anything she wouldn’t feel that way.
She should know she’s safe with me. The only other time I’ve seen her like this was my own doing.
Another reminder that what happened between us is still the biggest regret of my life.
“You’re okay, Aves. We’ve got you. Sadie, Katie, and I have you. You hear me?”
Avery slowly opens her eyes. I watch as she takes in the scene around her. Katie and Sadie give her reassuring smiles, and then she moves her attention up to me.
It’s hard to see what’s written in her stare. I used to be able to read her so easily. There’s pain in those striking green eyes, but there’s something else I can’t quite put my finger on. Longing? God, I fucking wish.
“Do you think you can sit up for me, beautiful?” The endearment slips out, and I push her sweat-soaked hair from her forehead. Old habits die hard, I guess.
I hear Niko clear his throat from somewhere behind me, but I ignore him. He’ll give me shit later, which I deserve, but right now Avery is my main concern.
Her eyes widen for a split second but then she nods. “I think so.”
With a hand supporting her back, the other on her shoulder, I gently help her up into a sitting position. Sadie stands and grabs something from the table, but I stay where I am on the ground, scooting closer in case Avery feels faint again.
Sadie lowers herself to the ground again and offers Avery a glass of water. “Here, drink some water.”
“She needs electrolytes, not water,” I bark out, immediately feeling like an asshole.
“Connor.” Niko’s voice behind me is a warning.
I look at Sadie and shake my head. “I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to sound like a dick. But she needs sodium.
My guess is she’s been standing too long.
Her blood pressure probably dipped, which caused her to get dizzy and faint.
” I reach into the pocket of my pants and pull out an electrolyte packet, handing it to Sadie.
Sadie’s eyes are wide, and I avoid her gaze, only to see Katie with a perplexed look on her face. Ignoring both of them, I move my attention back to Avery. Her head is now turned and she looks over her shoulder at me with a confused look.
“How do you know all of that? And why do you have electrolytes in your pocket?”
Fuck. I really gave myself away there. After our run-in at the hospital when Avery mentioned it might be something called POTS causing everything, I went home and looked up everything there was to know about the condition.
Sadie mentioning she gets these spells sometimes brought back the plethora of knowledge I took in that day.
She might not want my help, but if she ever changes her mind, you bet your ass I’m going to be ready.
“I might’ve done a little research.” I’m hoping after that little confession she doesn’t ask me why I have them in my pocket again.
I don’t want to reveal that I keep electrolytes on me at all times, just in case.
I’m afraid that if she knew I have them in my car, in the locker room, and on my person at all times, she’d distance herself even more from me.
Neither of us say anything else, we simply look at each other.
So much history pulsing between us. We might not know what the future holds for us, but right now, in this moment, I can tell we’re both remembering what it used to be like.
I wish I could reach out and take her in my arms and promise her everything would be okay.
I’d take her home and put her to bed, not sleeping a wink at her side as I watched her breathe, just to know she was really okay.
How could I let her go all those years ago?
Sadie’s voice interrupts whatever is happening between us, and I grit my teeth at the interruption.
“Why don’t you let Niko and me take you home?”
Over my dead body.
“I’ll take her.” The words leave no room for debate. Avery looks between the two of us, and I wait, holding my breath, praying that she’ll let me. I know my chances are slim to none so I try one more time.
“I drove. Niko left his car at the arena just in case he wanted to drink a couple and call a ride. I can take her.”
Avery studies my face. I need her to say yes because I need to know that she gets home safely or else I might lose my mind. I’m acting insane but I can’t help it. My soul aches for the woman sitting in front of me.
Finally, Avery nods. “Okay.”
I sag with relief, still not quite believing she agreed to let me take her home. But I refuse to have her repeat herself for fear that she might change her mind.
Sadie and Katie help me get Avery to her feet. I take a step back and let the girls chat with her for a minute. Sadie keeps looking over at me, her brows furrowed as I’m sure she’s making sure Avery is thinking clearly right now.
“You just happened to have an electrolyte packet in your pocket?”
Niko.
I turn to see my best friend eyeing me suspiciously. Shrugging, I huff out a breath. “I keep them everywhere, just in case she needs them.”
Niko shakes his head at me then pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, man. She’s been through enough.”
I grind my teeth, anger seeping through my pores, because Niko knows more about what she’s been through than I do. I try to keep my emotions in check and not lash out at him like I just did Sadie a few moments ago.
“So everyone keeps telling me.”
Okay, so maybe my emotions aren’t all the way in check.
I’m frustrated everyone but me seems to know what Avery has been through.
I’m angry because I’m the reason no one has told me.
I’m concerned that Avery is not getting the tests she needs because of fucking money.
I don’t know what to do with everything I’m feeling.
Niko squeezes my neck before looping his arm around it, pulling me closer. “I know you want to help her, man. Protecting the people you care about is your MO. Just be careful. I don’t want to see either of you hurt again.”
I whip my head toward him, and a knowing grin spreads across his face. “Don’t think I forgot about the night we won game seven when you were pounding back whiskeys like it was your job.”
My silence is the only confirmation he needs.
Niko breathes out a sigh and then nods to the group of girls who are hugging goodbye.
“She’s finally fitting in here. I don’t know what you two have been through because you haven’t told me a damn thing, but I do know you care about her.
So just make sure you’re making decisions that you won’t regret later. ”
I nod once and then pull Niko into a hug. “Thanks, man. For always having my back.”
He slaps me on the back a few times then pushes me away. “Always, brother. Now, get out of here and get Avery home safely. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I salute my teammates goodbye and then meet Avery where she’s standing near the exit with Sadie.
“If you do anything to upset my girl, so help me god, I will bring my nunchucks out of retirement just for you, Connor.” Sadie reaches up onto her tiptoes but still can’t reach my neck so I lean down and give her a hug.
“I promise to get her home safe. You have my word.”
Sadie hesitates, looking between Avery and me for a quick moment before conceding.
“Fine. But remember, Connor…nunchucks.” And then she turns and makes her way back to the group who are still staring after us.
I shake my head at all of them and turn toward Avery.
“You ready?”
Without a word, she nods and begins walking out of the bar. I open the door for her, keeping my hand just behind her lower back. My fingers are itching to touch her, but I don’t want to push her away, so I keep them hovering a couple inches above her, not daring to make contact.
We walk in silence until we finally make it to my vehicle. I open the passenger door for her and when she doesn’t immediately climb into my truck, I turn to her with concern.
“Are you okay?”
She nibbles her bottom lip, looking at my truck then back to me. I wait impatiently for her to answer, wondering if she changed her mind. I’m about to offer to let Niko drive her when she finally responds.
“As much as I don’t want to ask this…” Her words trail off.
I tilt my head, furrowing my brows, hoping she’ll finish her statement.
“Ugh, fine! Can you help me up? I don’t trust myself right now.”
Her eyes cast down to the sidewalk, and I know she’d rather do anything than admit she needs my help. Not wanting her to feel any worse, I move to her side and offer her my hand.
“Take your time. We’ve got all night.”
She stares at my hand for a few seconds before finally reaching out for my help.
The moment her hand is in mine, it’s like something clicking into place.
We fit perfectly, and when she steps onto the running board to hoist herself up, she squeezes tight.
I want to lift her up myself, carry her and all her burdens for her.
But I know she’s capable of doing this herself.
My hand instinctively moves to her lower back but this time I don’t have the self-control not to touch her.
Once she’s safely in the passenger seat, I step onto the running board. Before I can talk myself out of it, I’m reaching for her seat belt. When I lean over to click it into place, I hear Avery inhale sharply.
We’re so close now. Close enough to feel the warmth of her breath against my jaw. Close enough that if I tilted my head just slightly, my lips would be on hers.
But I don’t dare move. Neither of us do.
My arm cages her in, my hand braced beside her hip where I’m attempting to click the damn thing into place.
I move my eyes to Avery and watch as her eyes flick to my mouth.
I drop my gaze to her lips and the air shifts.
It’s heavy and dangerous, like one wrong move will erase all the progress we’ve made toward becoming friends.
“Seat belt,” I mutter, like I need the reminder more than she does. Because let’s face it, I fucking do.
It clicks in place, louder than it should, putting an end to whatever was happening here. I shove back faster than necessary, because if I stay here another second, I might not be thinking clearly anymore.
My feet hit the pavement and I rush around the front of my truck and climb into the driver’s seat.
Without so much as a glance, I ask, “Where to?”