Chapter 9
AVERY
I’m a mess.
Not only physically, because jam dripped from a piece of toast I took a bite of, but mentally as well, because my brain has a visual of Max without his shirt on quick recall. It’s been almost a full day since that moment, which tells me I’m struggling in the mental attention area.
He might not have completely defined abs, but he is definitely fit. And the sweat seemed to accentuate his lean physique.
Ugh, I sound like Sarah, practically salivating over him. I need to stay away from Max.
I’ve been able to block out most thoughts of men for the last year, so why now? Is it because I’ve been on a man-free diet and now I’m bingeing?
That sounds awful.
I grab the rag from the sink and wipe at the spot on my shirt. At least it’s almost the end of the day. Which means I need to figure out dinner.
Lila walks into the apartment, her expression more somber than the past couple of days. It was her first day back after suspension, and I almost forgot because I’ve been so mentally out of it.
“Hey, how did it go? Were people looking at you like you just got out of jail?”
Lila rolls her eyes. “No. They didn’t say much.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Did you see Joey today?”
She gives a quick nod and says, “He saw me and ran the other way.”
“So why the long face?” I ask, taking a seat at the small dining table. I pat the chair next to me.
She hesitates before walking toward me and sitting down.
“My friend Kylie ignored me the entire day. I waited for her in our usual spot, but I saw her getting into a car with some of the popular kids.”
“That’s okay. Maybe she had to work on a class project or something,” I say, patting her knee.
“She read all of my text messages but never answered.” A tear falls down her cheek.
I sigh, knowing this all too well. “Did she say anything while you were gone?”
Lila glares at me and says, “I didn’t have my phone, remember?”
It’s tempting to laugh, but I work hard to swallow it back, keeping my face as neutral as possible.
“True, but that was part of the punishment. What about when I gave it back?” I’d put it on her nightstand this morning before heading down to the coffee shop. She usually wakes up to the alarm and gets ready and off to school.
She lets out a long, slow breath, and I can see she’s fighting the emotions. “I got two texts after you took it away, but they were both from Tuesday, asking what happened and if I was okay. After that, nothing.”
“I’m sorry, Lila,” I say, reaching over and pulling her into a hug. It won’t help overall, but maybe some comfort will seep through. “Friends can be hard. I had this happen when I was about your age, except my friends kind of pushed me out of the group instead of joining another.”
She wipes at a tear, her lips pinching together as her chin trembles. “We’ve been best friends since fourth grade when we moved here.”
“It might be best to give her some time. Is there anyone else you can hang out with? Someone you get along with in one of your classes?”
Lila sniffs. “Maybe.”
“Focus on finding someone to hang out with a bit. It doesn’t have to be a forever thing, but it’s nice to grow your friendships outside of Kylie.”
She looks like she wants to say something else, but decides not to. We’re quiet for a moment before she says, “I’m going to lie down for a bit.”
“Of course,” I say. “I’ll figure out what we’re having for dinner and let you know when it’s ready.”
She usually helps me in the kitchen since she loves cooking, so it’ll be different without her in the room. But sometimes we need those moments of solace.
Before she leaves the room, I ask her, “Hey, who is Joey’s mom?”
Lila turns to me with a frown. “What do you mean? You just met her the other day?”
“I just thought of her comment asking me if I knew who she was. Is she someone important in town?”
There’s a hint of a smile, and Lila says, “She’s the one on the billboards when we drive back from the airport. She’s in real estate or something.”
I make a face. “The lady with the big hair and the boring beige suit?”
Lila grins even wider this time. “That’s the one. Apparently, she has the biggest real estate business in town, or so Joey tends to brag in the halls.”
Shaking my head, I say, “I was expecting her to be some celebrity I’ve never heard of, and she’s bragging about real estate?”
The smile lessens slightly as Lila says, “They have a big house down the road just outside of town. It’s supposedly right on the beach.”
I shrug. “Sometimes people try to make themselves feel better by bragging about what others don’t have, but I’ve found that it usually means they feel insecure in another area of their life.
Again, Joey shouldn’t be bullying you or anyone, but with a mom like that, I wonder what he’s dealing with at home, you know? ”
Lila gives me a thoughtful look. “I haven’t thought of it like that.”
“And just because we live in a little apartment now, doesn’t mean it’ll be that way forever. Your mom and I are working to make sure you have everything you need.”
“Thank you, Avery,” she says, giving me a tearful smile.
Emotion surges in my throat. “You’re the best niece a girl could have, do you know that?” I open my arms, and she walks into the hug.
“You’re an okay aunt,” Lila says, making me laugh.
“You need to stop growing. You’re going to be taller than me in a month.”
She pulls back, and for the first time this afternoon, I see the confident Lila I know is in there. “That’s not saying much since you’re so short.”
“Five foot five is not that short.”
“Yes, it is. But I guess that’s good so your future boyfriend can be taller.”
I scrunch my nose and frown. “Most guys are at least a few inches taller than me, but I’m not rushing into a relationship right now.”
“It wouldn’t be all bad, Avery. Just because Curt was a bad egg, doesn’t mean all boys are. You’ll find someone worth your time and willing to do anything for you.”
I have to hold back tears once again. “I’ll consider that good advice, in two to three years.”
We both laugh, and I’m grateful for this time with her. But also sad that her mom can’t be the one consoling her. This situation isn’t forever, which is my biggest hope for the future.
And to have a sink that drains properly.