Chapter 27 Avery
Avery
Paige’s accusation drew the attention of everyone in their half of the bar and a wave of embarrassment swamped Avery right up to her hairline. She saw Bel visibly gearing up to tear into her stepsister and shook her head to stave off a full-blown catfight.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Avery snapped instead, stalking out from behind the bar. “So don’t come in here, laying into me when I’m working.” She was so over taking this shit from Paige. Sick of taking shit in general. “Don’t fucking lay into me at all.”
The five texts she’d gotten earlier had already unsettled her. So juvenile, so unimaginative. So vicious! Dealing with Paige’s long-held grudge was one thing. Knowing she’d pissed off someone else enough to attack her anonymously was something completely different.
Unknown:
I wrote a poem for you. Want to hear it?
Unknown:
Roses are red
Unknown:
Violets are blue
Unknown:
Life not going to plan?
Unknown:
Well, boo-fucking-hoo
With instant regrets for listing her contact details on her website, Avery had considered showing either Bel or Tanner for a few moments, but she hadn’t wanted everyone else to hear; it wasn’t like they could do anything about it either. It was much easier to block and delete.
And wait for another drama to take her mind off things.
“My mom bought those tickets months ago. It was supposed to be a special night out for them both.” Paige quivered with self-righteous anger. “Thanks to you, she ended up going on her own. She was crushed!”
Avery turned to eye Mandy Roberts, who was hovering by Paige’s elbow and sporting an equally belligerent expression. “Do you have anything to add to this? Because I’m still lost.”
“Look, why don’t—” Leo didn’t get to finish his sentence.
“You and your fucking workshop,” interrupted Paige, cutting him off rudely with the flat of her hand, her glare still fixed on Avery. “What was so important you had to talk to your dad about the details last night? It’s a pile of firewood as it is. It’s not going anywhere!”
Avery’s heart sank into the depths of her stomach as she finally understood where this was heading.
Watching the same realization dawn on Bel’s expressive face, she couldn’t bring herself to look in Tanner’s direction.
Instead, she checked automatically for any waiting customers, praying for someone in desperate need of a beer to save her from this hell.
But, such was her luck, everyone seemed to have a full glass.
“I didn’t see him last night,” she said gruffly. “Whatever he told your mom, my dad wasn’t with me.”
Paige floundered like a trout on a line, her eyes snapping. “Well, where was he then?”
“You’re going to have to ask him that.” Avery ran a weary hand over the back of her neck. “I don’t keep his diary.”
She saw the doubt on Paige’s face turn to suspicion, understanding, dismay, and then right back around to fury again.
“Maybe there’s a simple explanation . . .” Mandy proffered doubtfully, and Avery remembered all the times she’d hoped for that very same thing.
Paige seemed to read the skepticism in her eyes. “This is all your fault!” she hissed, jabbing a finger at Avery’s chest, right over the knot of shame that had begun to pulse in her breast.
“That’s enough.” Tanner took a quick step forward, his eyebrows a heavy, forbidding line Avery hadn’t seen before, the corners of his mouth tight. “You can’t blame Avery for something she’s had no part in.”
“Just watch me,” spat Paige, her nostrils flaring. “If it weren’t for her, my parents would still be together.”
“That’s ludicrous,” Bel scoffed. “Your mom and Avery’s dad fucked up their marriages between them. It had nothing to do with Ave.”
Her stomach churning with humiliation and the resurrection of old wounds, Avery barely knew where to look. “You need to leave, Paige. I’m supposed to be working right now. I can’t be getting into this with you.”
“I hope you lose your stupid job.” Angry tears flooded Paige’s eyes and threatened to fall. “And if your father hurts my mother, I will never forgive you!”
She planted both hands against Avery’s chest and shoved her hard.
As Avery stumbled over her own feet and fell back a few steps—quickly steadied by Leo—Tanner spun Paige around by her shoulder.
“Lay off!” he growled, his tawny eyes flashing dangerously as his usual easy charm melted away.
And Avery caught a glimpse of the leashed temper and deadly intent that made him such a force to be reckoned with on the ice.
“You need to take a breath and calm down.”
Paige chose to do the opposite.
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Fronting up to Tanner with total disregard for their size difference, she took a wild swing at him.
“Paige, no!” Avery scrambled to get between them, but Paige was too fast.
Tanner caught her wrist in mid-air, just before it connected with his face. “Christ, Paige—I don’t want to hurt you!”
“You can go fuck yourself,” Paige cried, utterly enraged, and she used all of her strength to wrench her hand down and out of his grip.
Perhaps she caught him by surprise, or perhaps it was just the angle, but either way her sudden twist was accompanied by a sickeningly hollow pop that echoed in a second of silence, and Tanner let out an involuntary grunt of pain.
Avery’s blood turned to ice as he clutched at his right shoulder, an instant clammy sheen rising to coat the sickly pallor of his face.
Mandy Roberts squealed and Bel clutched at Drew. Sam slammed his beer down onto the bar. “Fuck, man!”
Her mouth falling open in a horrified gape, Paige stepped away. “I didn’t . . . I’m sorry—”
Shoving her to one side, Avery caught her breath at the visible deformity of Tanner’s shoulder beneath the tight cotton of his tee. Arm dangling strangely at his side, jaw clamped, he’d screwed his eyes shut to drag in a couple of deep and ragged breaths. His nostrils flared.
“Tell me what to do.”
The words lurching from her lips rough with distress, Avery’s heart hammered a frantic, helpless beat in the shadow of this new car crash.