34. Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Corbin
Avery didn’t leave. I still can’t believe she didn’t leave. I keep stealing glances at her as we walk through the grocery store, shopping for the coming week. When she left me sitting at the table this morning, it took me less than a minute to realize I couldn’t let her go. I tried to find our server, but when I didn’t see her right away, I dropped a bunch of cash on the table and took off after Avery.
I didn’t know what I was going to say to her or how I was going to fix things. I just knew I couldn’t let her leave that way. I still don’t know why she didn’t leave. She had every reason to go. She wasn’t wrong when she said I was giving her mixed signals. I’ve been such a mess when it comes to her and what I feel that I know I haven’t done anything right with this situation. She was right to call me out on it. I still don’t know what I’m doing or why. I just know I don’t want this thing between us to end. I want to see where it goes. Does that mean we’re a couple now? I’m not sure.
“I need to grab some coffee,” Avery says, cutting into my thoughts.
“I have plenty of coffee,” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “That won’t help me tomorrow morning.”
I have a moment where I know what I’m about to say next could change things between us in a big way. But I don’t stop myself from saying it.
“It will if you stay with me again tonight.”
Her steps slow to a stop and she steers the cart off to the side of the aisle before turning to face me.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
I smile at her. “Probably not. But I want you to.”
There’s a moment of hesitation where I’m afraid she’s going to say no. But then she smiles .
“Okay. I’ll stay.”
I can’t stop the smile that stretches wide across my face. I also can’t stop myself from leaning down to kiss her, right there in the cereal aisle. I don’t care that we’re in the middle of the grocery store. I don’t care that we haven’t defined this thing between us. I just need to kiss her.
After stopping off at Avery’s place for more clothes and the makeup she says she needs, we head back to my apartment where we cook dinner together. Well, she cooks while I mostly watch and keep her company. After dinner, I clean the kitchen and she insists on finishing the movie from last night, even though it’s obvious she’s seen it a million times before. I don’t mind though. I’d suffer through a hundred cheesy romantic comedies if it made her happy.
When the movie ends, I lead her to my bedroom where I take my time undressing her and worshipping every inch of her body. For the first time, there’s no sense of urgency between us. We’re not trying to fit in a quick fuck before she goes home for the night. We’re not trying to sneak around. I work to draw out every moment between us. When I finally sink into her, I can’t ignore how right it feels. Being with her just feels right. I don’t need to understand it. I don’t need to know why. I just need her.
The next few days are some of the best I’ve had in a long time. Maybe ever. I fall asleep with Avery in my arms every night and wake up to her beside me each morning. If anyone had told me that this is what I needed to make me happy, I would have called them crazy. But it’s true. I’m happy. We still haven’t defined our relationship, and we’re still keeping it to ourselves at work. I don’t care what the others think. I’m just not ready to discuss it with them. And I know Jessie. She’ll have a lot to say about it.
Part of me worries this is moving too fast. Avery has spent more time at my place than her own over the last week. Not that I’m complaining. I like having her in my apartment. I like knowing she’s nearby. We’ve talked more in the last few days than we have in the 2 months since we met. I know her favorite animal and her favorite dessert. Sloths and cheesecake, respectively. I also know that she hates tomatoes but not ketchup, which is just weird if you ask me.
We haven’t just stuck to the superficial stuff either. She told me about her parents. I know she was raised by her mom after her dad died when she was a kid. She doesn’t talk much about him. I get the feeling that it’s a difficult subject. Not that I can relate. I mean, I don’t talk about my dad either, but for very different reasons. I haven’t volunteered any information about my family, and Avery doesn’t ask. I think she still feels a little nervous about it after that day at the café. Not that I can blame her. Eventually I’d like to be able to tell her, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to talk about the way I grew up. It’s not something I like to think about, let alone talk about.
My gaze strays to the balcony where she’s pacing the small space as she talks to her mother on the phone. She called after dinner, and I heard Avery mention something about a gown fitting before she stepped outside for some privacy. I know she’s planning a trip home soon for a family thing. I’m guessing it’s something formal if she needs a fancy gown for it. If I needed a reminder that Avery and I come from two completely different worlds, this is it. I try not to dwell on it. I knew she came from money when we met. I’ve known she’s out of my league since before we started hooking up. So, why should I let it bother me now? I push it out of my mind as I put away the leftovers and start to wash the dinner dishes. It’s not long before Avery comes inside and picks up a towel to dry the dishes.
“How’s your mom?” I ask.
“She’s good. Worrying too much, as usual. Obsessing over the party next weekend.”
I nod as if the concept of a worrying parent isn’t totally foreign to me.
“It’s not like we don’t do the same thing every year,” Avery says. “But she’s got to worry it to death every time.”
“Typical mom,” I say, because it sounds like the right thing to say .
“There isn’t much typical about her,” she says, smiling.
We finish the dishes and Avery turns to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I rest my hands on her shoulders and gaze down at her.
“I have a question,” she says cautiously.
“Should I be nervous?” I joke.
“No,” she says. “At least, I don’t think you should.”
“Ask away,” I say.
She takes a deep breath and pulls her lower lip between her teeth nervously before speaking.
“What would you say if I asked you to come to New York with me next weekend?”
Surprise and something like panic hit me at the same time. She wants me to come to New York with her? She wants me to come to some fancy party and meet her mom?
“You can say no,” she says quickly. “I know this thing is still new. It’s okay if you think it’s too soon. Really. I just thought maybe—”
“Yes,” I hear myself saying. “I’ll go with you.”
The smile that lights up Avery’s face is bright enough to illuminate even the darkest corners of my soul.
“Really?”
I lean down and kiss her, unable to help myself. If I can make her smile like that again, I’ll agree to anything. Even if it means doing something I’m not sure I’m ready to do .
“Really,” I say. “I don’t have much booked that weekend. I can probably rearrange some things. Get some clients in early. I’d need to be back on Monday, though.”
She bounces a few times before throwing her arms around my neck. “You have no idea how happy this makes me.”
I hold her to me, feeling myself fall just a little more.