Chapter 29 #2
Opening the lids, I show her the options.
“I made some chicken salad with shredded chicken breast, sugar-free mayo, celery, and onions. I know you love shrimp, so I threw together some Thai shrimp lettuce wraps with carrots and peppers. Or, there’s some leftover Greek salad from my dinner last night. ”
When she doesn’t answer right away, I look up to see her mouth has dropped open and she’s staring at the food.
“Avery?”
She slams her mouth shut and moves her gaze up to mine. “You did all this for me?”
Right. I’m overstepping again. I just can’t find it in me to care.
“Yeah, I did. You deserve to have someone take care of you after the morning you’ve had. Hell, after the years you’ve had battling the unknown. The least I can do is make some food for you and let you relax on my couch.”
I’m afraid I’ve said too much because she’s still staring at me in disbelief. I know something that will snap her out of it.
“Besides, you’re my wife now. Doesn’t the saying go something like, Happy wife, happy life?”
That does the trick.
Avery rolls her eyes and points to the container in the middle. “I’ll have the lettuce wraps.”
I laugh and put a few wraps on a plate and push it toward her. After grabbing her travel cup, I plate some Greek salad for me and slide into the spot next to her.
We start eating and after a couple minutes of comfortable silence, Avery drops her lettuce wrap onto her plate. She lifts her wrist in front of her and taps something on her watch. Then, like nothing happened, she resumes eating again.
I attempt to keep eating but my curiosity gets the best of me. “Everything okay?”
Avery turns in her stool, her forehead wrinkled in confusion. I nod to her wrist.
“Your watch. Was it your heartrate or something?”
She grabs her napkin and wipes the corners of her mouth that are now tipped up.
If I didn’t know any better, she’s trying not to laugh at me.
“Everything’s okay. Just my watch letting me know my heart rate is within normal range again.
I’m surprised you didn’t know already, Doctor Google.
” The dimple pops on her cheek, and now I know she is, in fact, laughing at me.
Relieved, I let out a breath and then shrug, not the least bit embarrassed. “Tease me all you want for researching. So what if I wanted to know everything I could know about POTS? It’s important to you, so it’s important to me.”
Avery’s smile slips for a second, a look of shock flashing across her face for the briefest moment before she paints her smile back on.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just weird for me, I guess.”
I tilt my head in confusion. “It’s weird because it’s me?”
Her arm shoots out, her hand landing on my forearm.
“No! God, no. That’s not what I meant.” She scrunches her nose and bounces her head back and forth as she attempts to find the words.
“Weird might not have been the best word choice. It’s new.
I’m not used to having someone care so much about this part of me.
To the point where he prepares three separate meal choices for me. ”
My stomach sinks and then I’m clenching my fists. She’s been dealing with this for nearly two years, she told me. Last time I checked, she was married for most of that time. What the fuck does she mean, this is new? I’m sure I could guess, but I ask anyway.
“Your ex—” I clear my throat trying to force out his name, although I’d rather never have to say it aloud. “Bryan. He wasn’t very helpful I’m assuming?”
Avery scoffs. “You could say that.”
We’re approaching dangerous territory now.
Her past relationship is the last thing I want to talk about, but if it means getting to know another part of her, it’s something I’m willing to do.
I want to know everything. I especially want to know what this prick did to fuck up the best thing that ever happened to him.
“What would you say?”
The question hangs between us. Avery drops her chin to her chest, and I watch the effect bringing up her ex has on her. I’m about to tell her it doesn’t matter when she looks up at me again.
“Bryan didn’t think anything was wrong with me.
He told me it was just my anxiety and then pretty much told me I was making it all up in my head.
It got to the point where he accused me of being with him for his money for all my hypochondriac doctor’s appointments.
So, yeah, he wasn’t very helpful at all. ”
I will fucking kill him.
Rage doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling right now.
What type of man accuses his wife of lying about her health?
And then to go on and accuse her of being a gold digger?
I’m whipping my phone out of my pocket to pull up our game schedule to see when we play St. Louis when Avery’s hand stops me.
“Connor, you’re shaking.”
I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself down. After my fourth breath, I feel my body relax. It’s not much, but it’s enough to keep myself under control. I think.
“I’m not going to lie, Aves. I’d like to murder that motherfucker right now.”
Avery laughs and shakes her head. The next thing I know, she’s standing up, and I’m ready for her to tell me she needs to go. I’m about to protest when she takes my phone from my hand and shoves it in her pocket. Then she reaches her hand out to me.
“Why don’t we go watch a movie instead?”
Without hesitation, I take her hand in mine, the soft skin of her palm like a caress against my rough, calloused one. She leads me to the couch, and once she sits down, I don’t join her until I know she’s comfortable and has everything she needs.
Grabbing the blanket that hangs along the back cushions, I carefully drape it over her legs, earning me a smile that sends my heart haywire. Before I sit down, I remember something.
“I’ll be right back.”
Jogging into the kitchen, I open the pantry and grab the caramel corn I bought earlier today. Ripping the bag open, I find a small bowl in one of the cupboards and fill it up. Reaching for her water cup, I take that with me, along with the bowl of popcorn, and join her back in the living room.
I set her water on the coffee table and then offer her the snack. “I figured you might want a snack.”
Avery grabs the bowl from me, looking down at its contents. She goes as still as a statue. Her eyes are locked on the kernels, and I begin to rock on my feet, unsure if I’ve made a mistake.
“I thought it was your favorite. I can get you something else.”
I attempt to reach for the bowl, but she leans over it, covering the top with both her arms. “No. Stop. It’s still my favorite.”
Our gazes stay locked on each other, the tension building once again. I clear my throat and survey the space on the couch. There’s plenty of room for me at the other end, but being that far away from her sounds like torture.
I hesitate for a beat before lowering myself onto the cushion next to her, sitting close enough that I can smell her sweet perfume. Draping my arm behind her along the top of the couch, I turn my head to find she’s already watching me.
“Is this okay?” I ask, nodding to where I’m sitting and my arm draped behind her.
“Mm-hmm.”
I mentally fist pump, exhilarated by the mere fact that she’s allowing me to sit this close to her.
The movie begins, but I couldn’t tell you anything about what’s happening on the screen. I’m too focused on the way her leg keeps brushing against mine each time she shifts, or the way her shoulder keeps touching my arm each time she reaches for another handful of popcorn.
And her laugh. God, I love her laugh. It’s better than anything that’s happening on my TV, I can tell you that much.
I’m trying to focus on the movie but it’s simply background noise at this point, because I’m far too aware of the woman next to me. Her proximity is becoming overwhelming, the need to lean closer and inhale her scent combined with the urge to pull her into my arms is almost too much.
We’re halfway through the movie when my warring thoughts win out, and I reach for the remote to pause it. Avery is curled under the blanket next to me, my arm still resting on the couch behind her, when she picks her head up off the cushion and looks at me in confusion.
“Why’d you pause it?”
I turn my body on the couch so I’m facing her and take a deep breath. I have to find a way to calm the fire building inside of me so I ask her something in an attempt to distract myself.
“That app on your watch. Can other people connect to it?”
Her eyes narrow and her forehead creases. “I’m not sure I understand.”
I lift my leg onto the couch and scoot closer to her. My fingers behind her start playing with the ends of her hair and she leans into my touch. The simple movement gives me the confidence to push on.
“Feel free to tell me I’m an overbearing asshole, but I was wondering if maybe I could download the app and connect to your information so I can be alerted if your heart rate spikes?”
Avery sits up and pulls her legs in front of her. She crosses her feet at the ankles and tilts her head slightly.
“Why would you want to do that?”
I exhale a laugh. “Because I don’t think I will survive in Sweden, being an ocean apart, not knowing if you’re okay or not.”
Her lips part as she sucks in a breath. I can tell she’s shocked, but I don’t know if it’s a good shock, or bad shock.
“You can tell me no and it’s none of my business. I completely understand. I just thought—”
“Sure,” she cuts me off. “You can log into my account on your phone.”
We sit there, staring at each other, unsure of what to say next. This feels like a big moment. She’s trusting me with her health and wants to let me in on something extremely personal.
I reach behind me to the end table and grab my phone. Unlocking it, I hand it to her.
“Can you show me how it works?”