Chapter Nine
Lennox
Kamden and I settle in on the couch after a long day, the quiet around us feeling heavy but in a good way, like the kind of calm that comes after a storm. The memory of our earlier call with Avery lingers, vivid and unexpected. We’d finally gotten to meet her, even if it was just through a screen, and now neither of us can stop thinking about it. I glance over at Kamden, who’s scrolling through his phone absentmindedly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“So,”
I start, breaking the silence, “what did you think?”
He doesn’t look up immediately, just nods slowly, like he’s savoring the memory of their conversation. “I think they were right. Liam and Jaxton weren’t exaggerating when they said she was something special.”
I chuckle, nodding in agreement. “It’s funny, right? We didn’t get a ton of time to talk, but somehow, it felt like we’d known her longer. She just… fits.”
“Yeah,”
Kamden says, looking up at me with that rare look of open surprise in his eyes. “That’s exactly it. It didn’t feel forced or awkward. I expected to be the odd one out, honestly. But she didn’t make it feel that way at all. She’s got this natural way about her.”
I can’t help but grin, remembering the way Avery’s laughter had seemed to settle everything in the room. “There’s something in her eyes too. I don’t know if you noticed, but they’re… intense, in a good way. Like she sees right through you but isn’t judging. Just taking it all in.”
Kamden gives a thoughtful nod, his gaze turning introspective. “I noticed. That’s what got me, I think. Those eyes. She’s not just going through the motions. She’s fully present, like she genuinely wants to know us, understand us. I can see why Liam and Jaxton are so taken with her.”
I lean back, crossing my arms behind my head. “And it doesn’t hurt that she’s stunning. Even through the screen, she’s got this presence, you know? It’s hard not to be drawn in.”
Kamden smiles, a rare softness in his eyes. “Exactly. And she’s not just physically attractive. There’s this energy about her… calming but strong. We barely know her, and yet…”
He trails off, shaking his head as if he’s still coming to terms with it.
“Yet it feels like we’re already connected?”
I finish for him, knowing exactly what he means. Kamden nods, and we share a moment of silent understanding. After everything that happened with our ex, neither of us thought we’d be so eager to let someone in. That fallout had been rough on all of us, each dealing with it in our own way. Kamden threw himself into the restaurant, Jaxton spiraled a bit, and Liam and I kept us all grounded. But now, meeting Avery, it feels like there’s this possibility, this fresh start we didn’t even know we wanted.
“So, when do you think we’ll be able to make it out there?”
I ask, steering the conversation to logistics. I can feel the anticipation building already, and I’m itching to meet her in person.
Kamden lets out a long sigh, stretching out his arms. “Well, the restaurant’s finally in a good place. I’ve got a solid crew now, and things are running smoothly enough that I could step away for a few days. If everything keeps on track, we could be up there in a couple of weeks.”
“Perfect timing,”
I say, unable to hide my excitement. “A few days with her and the guys… it’ll be just what we need.”
Kamden laughs, his eyes brightening. “Honestly, I think a break’s overdue. And it doesn’t hurt that this time it’s for something—someone—that actually feels worth it.”
Liam and Jaxton were right. Avery isn’t just another pretty face or someone filling a void. She’s different, and I know we both feel it. The chemistry between us was there even through a screen. I can only imagine what it’ll be like in person. I let out a content sigh, imagining sitting around with her, having real conversations, seeing that spark in her eyes, and hearing her laugh without a screen buffering in the way.
As I glance back at Kamden, I see that rare look of peace on his face. For someone who’s usually on edge, whether about work or life, he looks uncharacteristically relaxed. It’s as if meeting Avery has lifted some of that weight off his shoulders, even if just a little.
Kamden checks his phone, his mouth quirking into a half-smile. “I’m going to call it a night,”
he says, standing up and stretching. “But first, I think I’ll check if Avery’s texted yet. Maybe I’ll get lucky and get a chance to say goodnight one more time.”
I raise an eyebrow, smirking as I watch him head toward his room. “Since when are you so quick to check your messages?”
He just shrugs, looking back at me with an expression that’s both amused and serious. “Since she showed up, I guess.”
I chuckle as he disappears down the hallway, and for a moment, I just sit there in the dimly lit room, replaying the evening in my mind.
Avery’s face, her smile, the way her laughter seemed to wrap around us, making everything feel right.
She’s more than just a potential relationship or a spark in a long dry season.
There’s a chance here, a real chance, that she could help us heal from the past, from the wreckage of what our ex left behind.
As I finally get up to head to bed myself, I feel a sense of excitement, of hope, that I haven’t felt in a long time.
Avery’s not just another chapter; she feels like a new book entirely.
A fresh start that might just be exactly what we all need.