Chapter 7
Avery
Could this day possibly get any worse? It was bad enough when Just Miles saw my super-duper vibrator and all its attachments, but there I sat, in my cute white outfit, with a ginormous hunk of lasagna wedged in my crotch. Oh, did I mention that it had first ricocheted off my boobs before it finally came to rest there? Lovely. I resembled an abstract painting, a vision in white, splattered in red.
Then, when Just Miles tried to help and went to wipe the lasagna from my crotch, I had this vision of Little Dickie when he attacked me, and I cowered. I slunk into my chair, away from him. He noticed it too. I was so lame. Way to make an impression on the only man I’d been attracted to in years, yes years, dammit!
Well, it didn’t matter anyway. Just Miles cleared that all up for me later that night. I’d sort of thought that maybe he was a little attracted to me too. I mean, he’d been kind of looking at me and all, but now, thinking back, maybe I just had something stuck in my teeth. Maybe some black pepper. But when we were cleaning up the kitchen, I accidentally touched his arm, and he acted like I burned him or something. Then he gave me a look like I disgusted him. Caroline was brewing a pot of coffee, but after that reaction, I didn’t want to hang around anymore. I made my excuses about being tired and headed up to my room.I wanted to be alone and collect my thoughts. This whole day had done a number on me. It seemed like it was one thing after another. It was only nine thirty, but I got ready for bed anyway. I pulled out my iPad and decided I would read for a while.
That romance novel I was reading must’ve taken a turn for the worse because someone was pushing and shoving me and hurting me something fierce. I tried to cry out for help, but my voice jammed in my throat. The harder I tried, the worst it got stuck. He tore my shirt off and his hands clenched my arms in a painful, bruising grip.
“Ouch! Stop!” I tried to scream over and over. I couldn’t see him, but I knew he was ugly.
Then someone called my name.
“Avery! Wake up, Avery!”
I opened my eyes and Just Miles was standing over me. I was in bed and all the covers were twisted around me. A feeling of disorientation enveloped me, and I shook my head.
“What’s going on?”
“You were screaming so loud I thought something happened to you. I came in here to check on you and see if you were okay.”
I rubbed my face as awareness crashed into me. Embarrassment quickly followed. I put a pillow over my head. He pulled it off.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I groaned. “It was just a stupid dream.”
“It didn’t sound so stupid to me.”
“It’s fine. I’m sorry I disturbed you.” I pulled the covers over my half-naked body. I was terribly uncomfortable. If I wasn’t covered in that extra poundage, I might have been okay, but thunder thighs and jelly belly were not very excited about being exposed.
He scratched his head and nodded. Then he was gone, leaving behind a whisper of his scent. I should avoid that man as best as I could.
The next day, Caroline dragged me all over that damn town. Admittedly, Seattle had a lot to offer. It was beautiful, clean, and filled with all sorts of delectable food and coffee. There was a coffee shop on every corner. I loved coffee, especially lattes and cappuccinos. And we drank plenty that day. But my favorite spot was Pike Place Market. I had been there before, as I had visited Seattle when Justin did his residency here, but I was younger and less interested in this type of shopping. I discovered it all over again and fell in love. It had everything from fresh fish off the boat to arts and crafts and hundreds of shops. We spent hours there and brought home fresh halibut to cook for dinner.
Caroline and I had planned to cook, but when we walked inside with the food, Just Miles took over, so I went up to my room and huddled there to stay clear of him. At least I wouldn’t have to be around him all day tomorrow.
Caroline knocked on my door and told me dinner was ready. I walked downstairs with her and saw that Justin was back. “Hey, I hope your day wasn’t too bad.”
“No, it was fine and got even better when I walked into this.” He pulled a chair out for his wife, while Just Miles did the same for me.
We all were wowed by his meal. He prepared the halibut on the grill with lemons and herbs. Then he served it with grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, and salad. It was scrumptious. Just Miles had killer cooking talents.
“So, Just Miles, do you do desserts too?”
He laughed. “No, I’m not very good with sweets. I’m only good on the main course.”
“Well, that’s okay, because you’ve done a fine job on the main course. Anyone can pick up a French tart or some juicy melons for dessert.”
His eyes nearly plunked onto his plate, and Justin barked out a laugh.
“What?”
The two men just gave me a look and then I finally got it.
“Men. You only have a mind for one thing.”
“We know,” Justin said. “That’s why it was funny.”
It was so obvious to see how in love Justin was with Caroline. When I watched the two of them, they would sometimes be oblivious to everything but each other. I was a bit surprised because that’s how he’d felt about Terri, his fiancée who died. I never thought he’d find someone else but was glad he did.
I sat back and observed the three of them and sometimes felt like the odd man out. It was difficult to explain. It was as though they shared an inside joke, but I wasn’t a part of it. It’s not that they were mean or rude, but an undercurrent of mystery ran through them. Looks, innuendos, things such as that. It became quite uncomfortable, and I often wondered if it had been rash in agreeing to live here with them.
Strangely enough, I was happy tomorrow was Monday. It would take me away and perhaps I would make some new friends at work.
“So tomorrow for work, can I just call a cab to pick me up here or should I order an Uber?”
They all looked like deer in the headlights.
“I’d forgotten about that. I have to be at the hospital at seven, so I can’t take you,” Justin said.
“Oh, no, that’s not what I was asking at all.” I shook my head. I didn’t want them to think I was begging for rides everywhere. “I just need to get a taxi to pick me up and was wondering if I should order an Uber tonight or do the taxi thing in the morning.”
“Gee, Avery, I would take you too, but I’ve got an appointment in the morning. You can take one of the cars if you’d like.”
“No, but thanks anyway. I’m supposed to get my rental car tomorrow, so then I’d have to figure out how to get yours back here. I can just call a taxi.”
“I can take you.” Just Miles looked at me and smiled.
“Seriously, you all, I don’t want to be an imposition. I can get an Uber or whatever.”
“I’m taking you.” Just Miles’ voice was firm.
“O-okay. If you insist.”
“I do.”
“Well, since I’m supposed to get my car tomorrow, I won’t be a pain in your butts anymore.” I giggled.
“Stop saying that!” Justin said, his voice had edge to it.
“Well, I’m sorry, Justin. I barged in here after not seeing you in over a year. I didn’t intend to move in here, and now I feel like, I don’t know. You all look at each other like, well, oh never mind.” I stood and said in a quieter voice, “I think I’ll just go to my room now.”
I started walking toward the main staircase when I heard Justin’s voice behind me say, “Ava, wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. I want you here. I do, but you keep making those little comments. You’re not imposing at all.”
“Okay, and thanks, Justin.” I didn’t want to look at him because for some odd reason I didn’t really believe him. Something was off here but I couldn’t put my finger on it. He was happy. Caroline was happy. Whatever it was, Just Miles was in on it too. The three of them shared those secretive looks which was the giveaway. I marched up the stairs to my room.