Chapter 7
“Funny is not the word I would use. Did you follow me here?” I swear, if I could figure out how, I’d be shooting lasers out of my eyes at the man sitting next to me.
This is unbelievable. After running into Connor at the arena and standing up to him, all I wanted was to decompress with an entire pizza to myself.
When I texted Sadie asking if she knew of a good pizza place close by, she told me I needed to come here immediately.
I never would have come here if I knew there was a chance that Connor would show up.
Connor smirks at my accusation. “If I was following you, don’t you think I would’ve been in here sooner?”
Damn. He’s got a point. So this is just the universe playing a cruel and unusual joke on me by putting us in the same place at the same time.
It’s something I know I’m going to have to get used to considering we now work at the same place. Although, I’ve done a pretty good job of avoiding him at the rink over the past few weeks since the season started. But anything outside of work? Well, I’d rather not bump into him if I can help it.
“Fine. You didn’t follow me. Now, why are you sitting next to me when there’s a barstool with your name on it that you just vacated? On the other side of the bar.” I emphasize my last comment, hoping like hell he’ll leave me alone and go back to where he was just sitting.
He seems to consider my question for a moment, moving both elbows to the bar now where he rests his hands under his chin. After a few seconds of silence, I think he’s decided to just ignore me when he turns to look at me.
“I know it’s been some time since we last spoke or saw each other—”
“Over two years,” I cut him off.
“Right. It’s been over two years. And I’m sorry for that.”
I scoff and turn my attention away from him. I can’t look at him when he is so clearly lying straight to my face. If he was sorry, he would’ve reached out at some point. He didn’t even think about me until I showed up at the team barbecue over the summer.
“Avery. Please look at me.” The sincerity in his voice hits a place deep inside of me that causes me to turn my head slightly. The gold rim around his pupils is all I see when I finally make eye contact with him.
“I am sorry. Things were just…complicated back then. I made choices I thought were best for my mental health. Unfortunately, those choices meant leaving some important things, and people, behind.”
His mental health? In all the years I’ve known Connor, from dating in high school to catching up in college with all of our mutual friends, I’ve never known Connor to be open about his emotions.
At first, talking to him about anything deep was like pulling teeth, but eventually he started opening up to me about things.
But now here he is, giving me the smallest crumb about what caused his abrupt exit from my life two years ago.
We weren’t close by any means after he broke my heart, but he was still a part of my life.
He still showed up to every reunion with our old friends, every big life event one of them might be having. He was still Connor.
His eyes search mine as he waits for me to respond.
Things between us might be complicated. More than complicated.
I’m not sure if there’s a word out there to describe all we’ve gone through and the position we find ourselves in now.
But he’s extending an olive branch by letting me in.
And if I’m going to make things work here in Green Bay, I need to let go of the past and find a way forward.
Which means I need to find a way to move on with Connor in my life.
“I’m sorry things were so difficult for you and I appreciate you being honest with me right now. I know things with us have been strained since high school.”
“Avery—” Connor attempts to cut me off, but I put my hand up.
“Let me finish.” He nods, so I continue. “It’s different having to be around your high school sweetheart, especially after you completely vanished.”
Connor casts his eyes downward, a look of remorse flashing across his face.
I reach out and place my hand on his arm.
“But that was a long time ago. I’m here now.
Hopefully for a long time, if things with the Bobcats work out.
We’re going to be around each other a lot more than just yearly reunions.
I’m ready to let the past be the past if you are. ”
His eyes land on my hand, which for some reason is still resting on his forearm. I yank it away as fast as I can, like I’ve just touched the hot burner of a stove. I watch as his eyes move back up to my face.
“I’d like to find a way to move forward so it’s not as awkward as the barbecue. The guys on the team still ask me why I looked like I saw a ghost that day. But there’s some things we should talk about, Avery. Where’s Br—”
Thankfully, his question is cut off by the bartender placing Connor’s pizza down in front of him. I know he was about to ask what happened with me and Bryan. And I’m just not ready to tell him. I’m not ready to tell anyone outside of my therapist’s office.
“A large deep dish with chicken, bacon, and pineapple.”
I suck in a breath. Connor must notice because he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he keeps his eyes on me as mine bounce between his food and his face.
The bartender, totally oblivious as to what is transpiring here, keeps talking.
“In all my years, I’ve never had two complete strangers order the exact same pizza with that god awful topping on it.”
I’m still at a loss for words, which is ridiculous. It’s just pizza. But Connor never let me live it down. Not after that first day at Lombardi’s, or any time after that we’d order pizza. He always claimed pineapple still didn’t belong on pizza.
“Don’t knock it till you try it, Johnny.” Connor’s eyes never leave mine, even as he speaks to the bartender he’s apparently on a first name basis with.
The two of us are locked in a stare off and I see Johnny make his leave out of the corner of my eye.
“I thought you said pineapple should stay in fruit salads or on upside-down cakes. You never tried it again after…”
I don’t finish my thought. By the drop in his expression, I know he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Finally, he looks away. He grabs a slice of pizza but before he brings it to his mouth he turns to look at me again.
“It’s not horrible.”
And then he winks at me before taking his first bite.