Chapter Eight
Avery
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I got out of work, but seeing JR leaned up against the side of my car with his arms crossed over his chest, wasn’t it.
Shit.
“Hey, I’m sorry about all that earlier,” I said by way of greeting, my voice audibly tremoring.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he replied. He sounded soothing, like he was talking to a wounded animal, but he kept his gaze lowered on the pavement in front of him.
I sighed and began to apologize for leading him on, but he spoke before I had the chance. “Are you engaged to him?”
I didn’t immediately respond, racking my brain for the best thing to say.
Yes, I was engaged to David, Technically.
We'd just been perpetually engaged for the last 20 months with no forward motion. Every time the subject of wedding planning came up, I always punted. There’s no need to rush.
We have the rest of our lives. Changing the subject. Moving the goalposts.
“I’m sorry if I led you on, but I’m in love with someone else,” I said, dumping it all out on the proverbial table. “I think you’re a great guy, but I just… I can’t do this.”
If I was going to throw my life away by leaving David and risk being completely ostracized from my family and community, it wasn't going to be with some rando. Not even if he was a good flirt (and a hell of a kisser). It would only be for James.
My weird attraction to JR was something I wasn’t able to explain, but it scared the shit out of me. I needed to put a stop to it now. David wasn’t the actual obstacle between us. He simply wasn’t the one.
JR was still and silent for a good 10 seconds. I was starting to think maybe I hadn't actually said the words aloud when he pushed off the side of my car and turned his face away from me. “You deserve better, " he said, and then he was gone.
I got into my car and cranked the heater.
I turned the radio off and sat there listening to the soft squeak of the old belts as I tried to figure out why it felt like my heart was breaking.
I blinked a few times and shook my head as I told myself I was being ridiculous.
I’d only known JR for a few days. A little over a week.
Yeah, he’d been really sweet to me, and his kiss was fucking incredible.
I’m talking break-the-fairytale-curse, get-you-pregnant incredible.
But he wasn’t James, and I needed to stay away from him.
Today wasn’t the first time David had put his hands on me, and I doubted it would be the last. He’d never actually hit me or thrown a punch, but there have been times when he got…
handsy, so to speak. I had no doubt that his violence would escalate.
It always did in these situations. David was obviously intimidated by JR, and that would only bring more problems for both of us.
He was a detective now, and there was no telling what fucked up ways he could make JR suffer.
And for what? A little crush? A free oil change?
I huffed out a breath and put the car into reverse, catching a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror.
“You’re so fucking stupid, Avery.”
***
I collected the mail from the box at the end of the long driveway before hitting the button on my visor.
The garage door rattled as the floodlight came on, illuminating the driveway.
I pulled the car inside next to Mom’s Chevy and started sifting through the stack of envelopes and advertisements as the door rumbled to a close behind me.
Damn thing sounded like it was on its last leg. I don’t think they’ve ever had anyone here to look at it since they moved in… before I was born.
All external thoughts stopped when I came across an envelope with my name handwritten across the front. The envelope was different, and there was no return-address, but I’d know the handwriting anywhere.
James.
With new-found purpose I ripped the envelope apart and pulled out the single page of blank printer paper folded in half.
Avery,
I’m free! We’re FREE!!
Call me please, as soon as you get this! I love you, I can’t wait to hold you in my arms.
You’re my everything.
Love,
James
664-228-5585
I read the note again as my fingers began to shake. It was getting stuffy in the car and I threw the door open to let some fresh air in. I quickly collected my things and headed into the house.
I disabled the alarm and tossed the mail, along with my backpack, on the kitchen table as I kicked off my shoes.
I walked through the living room and double-checked the bolt on the front door before sprinting upstairs to my old bedroom.
I flipped the light switch and headed straight to the air vent in the corner of the room next to the closet.
I grabbed the chair from under the desk and used it to reach the ceiling.
I loosened the screw and the vent dropped down.
I held it with one hand and felt around inside the duct until I felt the draw-string bag and pulled it down.
I stepped off the chair as I un-cinched the bag and pulled out the burner phone I’d stashed there, among the rest of the items. An emergency credit card, and all the letters James had sent in the past. I cursed as I held down the power button, but the phone’s battery had died a long time ago.
I plugged it in on its charger, and impatiently mashed the power button until it had enough charge to illuminate the screen. My heart was racing, and I unzipped my coat and sloughed it off my shoulders, letting it hit the floor as the phone went through its powering cycle at a painfully slow rate.
I opened up a new message and punched in the phone number James had written on the note.
ME: James?
I stood there, frozen in place, staring at the screen. I had so much fear, and so much hope at the same time. I couldn’t believe the day had finally come when I was actually texting him, texting James!
Not some letter that was going to take three weeks for him to even receive, let alone answer. A text. Instant. Direct link. I was becoming more anxious by the second as I waited for his reply.
What if he didn’t reply?
The intrusive thought played back and forth across my mind as I tried to reason with myself.
“Of course he’s going to respond. Why wouldn’t he? This is the day we’ve both been waiting for.”
Right?
I made an ugly, involuntary snorting noise of surprise as the phone buzzed in my hand.
664-228-5585: Avery? Is that you?