Chapter 27
Avery
The day has been almost perfect, apart from the fact that I couldn’t bring Nic to this dinner with my friends.
“I was terribly miffed you canceled our hike,” Stella teases me out of earshot of the others.
“I wanted to ask about your, um, situation.” She gives me a once-over.
“I don’t have to ask, though. Nor do I need to ask what you’ve been up to all day.
If ever anyone has perfected the just-fucked look, it’s you.
You’re glowing with post-orgasmic bliss. ”
It’s a hard thing to deny, especially to such a close friend, but I gave Nic my word.
“Not here,” I whisper in Stella’s ear. “We’ll go on that hike soon. I promise.”
The food is as scrumptious as ever at Min-ji’s, where our table gets the royal treatment because of Justine’s presence. The restaurant’s owner spent time in Justine’s shelter for LGBTQIA youths in her teens and she’s forever grateful to Justine for how she steered her life in the right direction.
While Sienna regales us with a wild tale about her dad, Bobby Bright, I think of Nic.
Of the amazing day—and night—we spent together but also of what she told me about her late wife.
Sienna’s dad died in a motorcycle accident.
Her chopsticks flail dramatically—she is her father’s daughter, after all—as she’s getting to the punchline when someone’s phone buzzes on the table.
“Sorry,” Stella says. Sienna and I have been told a million times that when you’re a parent to a small child, putting your phone on silent and away in your purse is simply not an option.
Stella looks at the screen. Then I feel my own phone vibrating in my pocket.
Since Stella is checking hers, I take the liberty to check mine, hoping for a naughty message from Nic.
“What the fuck,” Stella says.
It takes a few moments for my brain to process what I’m seeing. Various of my group chats have shared the same picture and link to an article on TMZ. The picture is of Nic getting into her car outside my house. The article’s headline reads:
Exclusive: Dr. Nic, Therapist to the Stars, in Forbidden Affair with Avery Hall.
My heart pounding in my chest, I skim the article. I read things like: ‘Therapist caught making house calls to Avery Hall’ and ‘Sources say: Avery Hall hooked on her Hollywood shrink.’
Stella stares at me, her mouth agape.
“It’s TMZ,” Sienna says matter-of-factly, glancing at Stella’s screen. “So we know for a fact it’s bullshit.” She gives me a look that doesn’t exactly convey blind belief in what she just claimed.
“Yeah,” I say, the tremor in my voice surely giving away my lie. Because it is true and, for all I care, it can be all over the tabloids. But for Nic’s sake, it really can’t.
I also can’t lie to my friends now and come back on my words later. I’m all for keeping Nic’s secret, but what’s the point in doing that any longer now? Fucking paparazzi.
“Avery,” Justine’s voice is kind but firm. “We’re not just anyone.”
“Oh, Jesus fucking Christ,” I say on a sigh that comes from deep inside me. “I can’t believe this is happening.” I huddle over the table, although there’s hardly still any use for whispering either. “Some low-life pap must have been hiding in my street.”
“She’s the one you’ve been having a secret affair with?” So much for Stella’s discretion. “Your therapist?”
This must be punishment for all the times I wanted to be smug about it to my friends but couldn’t.
“She’s not my therapist anymore,” I say.
“Damn,” Justine says. “Sounds like Dr. Nic is in big trouble.”
“Poor Nic,” I say. “She’s going to lose her license and her practice.” I shake my head. For it to come out like this—for her to go through whatever is hanging over her head now without the autonomy of directing some of the outcome is disproportionally cruel. “And there’s nothing I can do about it.”
My phone keeps buzzing with message alerts, but then it lights up with a call from my agent. If Leslie wasn’t Nic’s sister, I might not have picked up, but I have no choice now—especially because they’re having dinner together.
“Avery.” Leslie’s voice is all business. “Come to my house as soon as you can. Nic’s here. We need to discuss damage control.”
“That was my agent,” I say. “I have to go.” My legs are a bit too shaky to stand on so I remain seated a few minutes longer.
“I’ll take you out the back,” Justine, always the problem-solver, says. “God knows who’s waiting out front.”
“Wait,” Sienna says. “So it is true?” Her eyes are wide as saucers. “You slept with Nic?”
“Babe.” Justine puts a hand on Sienna’s shoulders. “I think we all need a moment to process. Avery most of all.”
“We didn’t just sleep together. We’re in a relationship,” I say. “It’s serious.” I don’t feel a hint of elation at being able to say this out loud. Thank you, Hollywood.
“Oh my god.” Sienna looks genuinely shell-shocked. I’m not sure whether it’s because I announced I’m in a relationship or because of who the other party in the relationship is—probably both.
Stella huffs out some air, then gives my arm a squeeze. “Whatever you need. We’re here for you, okay?”
“Come on.” Justine pushes her chair back. “Give me the address, I’ll get you an Uber under my name.”
“I have my car. I’ll drive.”
“I don’t think you should be driving right now, but I can take you. In my car.”
“It’s okay.” I need some time to think. “But thank you.”
Justine and I stand in the back of the kitchen for a moment while she orders me an Uber. While we wait for it to arrive, she locks her gaze on me.
“Did anything untoward happen?” Justine is not one for joking under circumstances like these. “Did she take advantage of you?”
“No.” The wobble leaves my legs and I stand tall. “Absolutely not.”
She gives me one of her intense Justine-stares. “I trust you to know the difference.”
“We’re in love,” I blurt out.
“We’ll see about that.” Justine’s phone buzzes with an alert that the car is near.
“Good luck,” Justine says as she closes the car’s passenger door.
I sink into the back seat. Mere moments ago, I was laughing with my friends like nothing in the world could touch me—now every ping of my phone is a tiny explosion in my chest. I rest my forehead against the cool glass and hold on to the only certainty I have left: whatever storm is coming, Nic and I will face it together.