Chapter 56Avery
Chapter Fifty-Six
Avery
My eyes flit as the waiter pours my second glass of wine. It's a deep, rich red that matches my mood. The sound of laughter and chatter fills the trendy Italian restaurant, a welcome change from the dreariness of my own thoughts.
Samantha, Jessica, and Emily are talking animatedly, catching up on the latest neighborhood gossip and the kids' antics on the hockey team. They'd insisted that they take me to dinner tonight, given that tomorrow is the rescheduled board meeting. Samantha's husband graciously volunteered to babysit.
"So," Samantha says, turning to me with a pointed look. "You've been pretty quiet on the group text lately." She raises an eyebrow. "What's going on with you and Victor?"
My stomach tightens at the mention of his name. I force a smile. "Ah, yes. I haven't really responded, have I?"
"No, you haven't," Jessica chimes in, leaning forward. "Come on, spill! We're dying for an update."
I take a long sip of wine, buying myself a moment. How do I even begin to explain the complicated mess that is me and Victor Stone right now?
Emily reaches over and pats my hand reassuringly. "You know you can tell us anything, right? We've got your back."
Her earnest expression makes my smile more genuine. I'm so lucky to have friends like these - moms who understand the ups and downs of balancing kids, careers and dating.
I set down my glass and sigh. "Honestly, there's not much to tell. We haven't really talked since the last hockey practice..."
My voice trails off as I think back to that chilly evening at the rink, the tense set of Victor's jaw as we parted ways. The memory still stings.
Samantha frowns. "Really? But you two seemed to be getting along so well. What happened?"
I shrug, fiddling with my napkin. "Oh, you know how it goes. Sometimes things just don't work out the way you thought they would. "
It's a vague answer and they know it. But I'm not ready to divulge the real reason for my distance from Victor. Not here, not now, with the board meeting looming over us like a dark cloud.
Jessica opens her mouth to press further, but thankfully the waiter arrives just then with a tray of delicious-smelling appetizers. The conversation shifts to lighter topics as we dig in, and I'm grateful for the reprieve.
My resolve to keep the Victor situation to myself lasts about as long as it takes us to finish the appetizers. As the waiter clears away the empty plates, Samantha fixes me with a knowing look.
"Avery, I know you're trying to avoid the subject, but we're your friends. If something happened with Victor, you can tell us."
I take a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the stem of my wine glass. "I found something on his phone," I admit quietly. "An email he sent to his PR team, asking them to dig up dirt on me."
A shocked silence descends over the table. Emily's eyes widen, while Jessica's narrow in concern.
"Are you sure that's what it was?" Jessica asks gently. "Maybe you misunderstood..."
I shake my head, the memory of those damning words still seared into my brain. "No, it was pretty clear. He wanted ammunition against me."
Samantha reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. "Oh, Avery. I'm so sorry. "
I blink back the sudden sting of tears. "I just don't get it. I thought we had a real connection, you know? But I guess to him, I was always just another obstacle in the way of his big project."
"He's an idiot," Emily declares, her normally soft voice fierce with loyalty. "Any man would be lucky to have you in his life."
I manage a watery smile. "Thanks, Em. I just... I feel so stupid for letting myself trust him. After everything with Eric, I should know better than to get involved with someone like Victor Stone."
The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I know they're true. Victor and I come from different worlds, and no matter how strong the attraction between us, that's not something I can ignore.
I drain the last of my wine and signal the waiter for another round. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "But that's not even the worst part."
Samantha leans in, her brow furrowed with concern. "What do you mean?"
I fiddle with my napkin, avoiding their gazes. "When I confronted Victor about the email, he admitted that he'd asked for the information. But he claimed it was before we'd really gotten to know each other."
Samantha sits back, considering. "Well, maybe that's not such a big deal then. I mean, it's not uncommon to research your opponents, right? "
I frown, shaking my head. "It goes beyond that, Sam. It speaks to his character."
I pause, trying to find the right words to express the turmoil inside me. "More than that, it just drove home how different our worlds are. He has a whole PR team digging up dirt on people, while I'm out here fighting to protect the community I love."
My voice cracks slightly as I continue. "And he wanted me to give all of that up, to walk away from everything I've built here. To what end? So he can put up some shiny new development that'll probably just push out the local businesses and jack up rents and I can bury my head in the sand about it?" I shake my head. "And there's a deep down part of me that wonders if all of it was a ploy to get me to stop opposing his development. A big distraction. And, it's worked." I blink away the tears from my eyes.
Samantha reaches out, her hand warm on my arm. "Oh, honey. I'm so sorry you're going through this."
I blink rapidly, determined not to cry in the middle of this crowded restaurant. "I just feel so foolish, you know? For letting myself believe that maybe Victor and I could find a way to bridge that gap between us."
I shake my head ruefully. "But I guess when it comes down to it, we're just too different. And I'm not willing to sacrifice everything I hold dear for a man who sees me as nothing more than an obstacle in his path."
The words hurt to say aloud, but I know in my heart they're true. No matter how strong my feelings for Victor may be, I can't ignore the fundamental differences between us.
I have to put my community, my family, first. Even if it means walking away from the man who's captured my heart so completely.
Emily shoots me a sympathetic smile. "You're not foolish, Avery. You followed your heart. There's nothing wrong with that."
Jessica nods in agreement. "Exactly. And you're not alone in this. We've got your back, no matter what."
I feel a swell of gratitude for these incredible women. They've been my rock through so many ups and downs over the years.
"I know I couldn't do any of this without you guys," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "You're more than just my friends. You're my family."
Samantha squeezes my hand. "And you're ours. Which is why we hate seeing you hurting like this."
I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "I just keep thinking about Olivia. She's finally starting to come out of her shell, making friends and thriving on the hockey team. I can't uproot her now, not when she's doing so well."
The thought of tearing my daughter away from everything she knows, everything she loves, is unbearable. She's already been through so much in her young life. I won't put her through that kind of upheaval again .
"Olivia is lucky to have a mom like you," Emily says softly. "A mom who always puts her first, no matter what."
I manage a wobbly smile. "She's my world. I'd do anything for her."
And that, more than anything, is why I know I'm making the right decision. No matter how much it hurts, no matter how much my heart aches for what might have been, I have to put Olivia's needs above my own.
Even if it means saying goodbye to Victor for good.
"Speaking of hockey," Samantha says, steering the conversation to safer ground, "the first playoff game is the night after the board meeting. And they're going up against the team that won the championship last year."
I wince. "That's going to be a tough game."
"No kidding," Jessica agrees. "But the kids have come so far this season. I really think they have a shot."
"They've improved a ton," Emily chimes in. "And it's all thanks to Victor's coaching."
I feel a pang in my chest. As much as I try to steer my thoughts away from him, he keeps finding his way back in.
I take a sip of my wine, trying to drown out the sound of his voice in my head. The way he laughs. The way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles.
But it's no use. He's everywhere, even when he's not.
The conversation swirls on around me, but I'm only half-listening. My mind is a million miles away, replaying every moment we've shared. Every glance, every touch, every almost-kiss.
I know I need to let him go. I know I need to put some distance between us, for both our sakes. But it's easier said than done.
My phone buzzes in my purse, and I fish it out, my heart leaping into my throat when I see his name on the screen.
Victor
Can we talk? Please. I miss you.
I stare at the words until they blur before my eyes. My fingers hover over the screen, itching to respond.
But I can't.
I won't.
With a heavy heart, I slip the phone back into my purse and force myself to tune back into the conversation. I paste a smile on my face and nod along, even as my heart fractures a little more with every passing second.
I know what I have to do. I just hope I'm strong enough to do it.