Chapter 19 Gabe
Avery’s lips had touched Gabe’s as he was trying to explain things between him and Claire were weird, but they were definitely NOT together, no matter what it looked like to anyone else watching.
Her lips had burned Gabe’s like the sun, but in a good way. She had told him they were only friends, and sure the kiss just now didn’t have the same level of passion as their kiss after the dance on Saturday.
Then why? Why did she kiss him? What did it mean?
The students cheered so loud he could hear them through the closed windows and he’d probably get fired for leaving them in there alone for that long, not to mention the principal would see a video and he’d probably get written up.
He took a deep breath as Avery’s car disappeared down the street, a smile spreading across his face. The little interlude with Avery had definitely not played out the way he had expected. Gabe thought for sure he’d be embarrassing himself over the loudspeaker. But even as she left, he felt cheated. He never got the chance to explain to Avery that there was nothing between him and Claire.
Gabe shook his head. Time to go back to work. Why was he so gullible? And why did he listen to the students, anyway? He was the one in charge. He jogged back into the building, realizing something. He took the dare because it was a test for Avery. The students had caught him looking at her as she walked toward her car, and they dared him to go kiss her right then. He knew if she refused, he would for sure know they for sure were friends and they had no chance. But even though Avery kissed him, Gabe was still as confused as ever.
He opened the door of the classroom to everyone clapping. He rolled his eyes. “I’m going to get into so much trouble for that.”
“Worth it!” one of the senior boys said and fist bumped another student. Gabe had to agree. His impulsive side had yet again gotten the better of him, but in this case he’d do it again. Avery had chosen to kiss him for whatever reason, which was better than the alternative.
“Alright, I won the dare,” Gabe announced. “That means you all are QUIET as… as… as Indiana Jones tiptoeing through a tomb of snakes while you do your assignment.”
A few students made faces at his comment, but to Gabe’s surprise, they dutifully got to work and hardly said a word the rest of class.
He grabbed a stress ball and leaned back in the teacher’s chair. So, Avery had seen him and Claire hugging. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, trying to let out his frustration. Should he try to explain things to Avery? How the hug meant nothing between him and Claire? Gabe wondered if Avery even cared. They had agreed to be friends, but then she had kissed him. Had it meant something?
A ping on his phone notified him of a new email. It was his professor. “How’s it going on the sponsorship paperwork? Deadline coming fast.”
The archeology project was what he wanted, more than anything. He’d waited years for this. In the meantime, he’d discovered he was good at teaching, and he discovered a friendship-maybe-more-situation with Avery. But neither were anything that couldn’t wait until after this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Working on it.” Gabe typed his reply. “Not to worry.”
Truthfully, he was a little bit worried. He didn’t have a lot of time, and he didn’t have a lot of options. Although he was about ready to send the paperwork to his parents, he still needed to call them and explain himself. Prep them a little before they opened the email asking them to sponsor his trip. What would he say to them? This was a make-it-or-break-it moment. He could NOT mess this up.
He needed a phone conversation script writer. A writer, anyway. Avery? She had said she’d help him with his grant, and this was technically part of the grant. So yeah, she’d probably help him. He wanted her help. But Gabe didn’t want to seem too desperate. But if she came over to help him, maybe he’d get a chance to explain the whole hug in the parking lot thing.
Yeah. He wanted her to know Claire meant nothing to him. That he wanted Avery. But only if that’s what she wanted.
Who was he kidding? If Avery liked him, she wouldn’t try to help him leave town for months. Wouldn’t offer to help get Gabe out of her life. So yeah, clearly he was reading too much into the kiss. In fact, maybe she resented the whole Claire-Gabe thing and was even more motivated than ever to get him out of town.
“Mr. Manwaring? Mr. Manwaring?”
“Huh?” He looked up. A lone student with a backpack over one shoulder stood in front of him.
“Bell rang. School’s out.” The student exited as Gabe said goodbye and waved.
Wow. He had been so deep in thought he hadn’t even heard the bell or anyone else leave. Get it together, Gabe. Clearly, he had to get over Avery. He had let himself get too distracted. It was all about the archeology trip now. He pulled out his phone.
GABE: Need some help on the project tonight. Are you available after dinner?
AVERY: Sure. As long as all the student dares are over.
GABE: Promise. This is strictly business.
He sent Avery his address, then headed home. After a quick dinner and playtime with Emmett, he got to work on his laptop. Gabe read through all the paperwork again, making sure he wasn’t missing anything. It was ninety percent ready by his estimation. He could finish the last bit before Avery arrived, then he could email it to his parents.
One step closer to digging up history, like Indiana Jones. He thought of the time his parents took him to see an anniversary movie marathon showing of the three original movies. Gabe hadn’t even asked—it had been their idea. Besides their Egypt trip, it was one of their best family memories.
It was what really made him want to be an archeologist. Not only because Gabe loved ancient history and discovering and studying civilizations, but also because it seemed to make his parents proud. They hadn’t been there for him much, but they had come through for the archeology stuff. So why was he so worried about this phone call?
Maybe he didn’t deserve this after all. He could have been doing more with his life—in work, in love, and in being a better son. His parents never called him, but when had he reached out to them?
That was one thing he liked about Avery. She was a good daughter. Her mom obviously loved her and even depended on her, and she was glad to help. Their relationship was so loving and what he wanted with his own parents. Or a significant other.
So what was he waiting for?
With more speed and focus than before, he finished his paperwork, tidied his apartment, and was ready to let Avery in when she knocked at 6 p.m. He opened the door too quickly, allowing Emmett the chance to run toward Avery.
“Emmett, no!” Gabe yelled, reaching for Emmett’s collar. But he was already jumping all over Avery, licking her face and acting like she was a long-lost friend.
“Hey there, boy. Ack!” Avery closed her eyes and let her head fall back and laughed the kind of unfiltered laugh of joy. It reminded him how much he wanted to make her laugh so he could keep hearing it.
No, Gabe. Stop it. This was strictly a platonic relationship. It had to be. Avery deserved better than him, and it was time for him to grow up and move on.
He grabbed Emmett’s collar and got him down. “Come on in. I should have put him away before you came.” He led the dog to his bedroom and closed the door. Emmett whimpered for a bit, then was quiet.
Avery was still by the front door, having shut it behind her. “Nice place,” she said.
“Thanks.” He ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not much, but it’s close to the school and has a good walking path for Emmett. You want something to drink? Ice water?”
Avery nodded. “Definitely.”
They went into the kitchen, where his laptop was still open at the kitchen table. After not being able to fix his old one, he bit the bullet and bought a new one. He grabbed a big movie cup and filled it with lots of ice and water. “Here you go. The Phoenix special.” He extended his hand and she reached out to meet the cup, her fingers slightly touching his in the process. He lingered for a minute before letting go, thankful that Avery was here, though he wondered her true motivations for helping him.
“I want you to know that Claire and I are not together. She showed up at the school and it was not my idea.” He blurted it out before he even really thought through it. But now he had said it, the burden had lifted.
Avery stared, not blinking, holding the cup of water in front of her. “Oh, I see.” She took a long drink of water.
Should he press further? Maybe this wasn’t the time. At any rate, Gabe had told her. He cleared his throat, hoping it would also clear his mind. “Let’s get to work, then.” He nodded toward the kitchen table, and she sat in the seat next to him so they could both see the screen. “I was hoping you could double check my paperwork, then I had another final thing I need help with.”
Avery set her cup on the table then nodded. “Yep, anything you need.”
He glanced over at her. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
She elbowed him. “Anything to get rid of you.”
Gabe stifled a smile. “Ouch.” He knew she was saying it playfully. Wasn’t she? “So why’d you kiss me, then?” He slapped his hand over his mouth. Dang it. His chest filled with fire at his unfiltered moment. He didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Avery’s eyes widened. “Well, for one thing, you wouldn’t quit talking. I figured that was the only way to shut you up.”
Gabe took his hand off his mouth and narrowed his eyes at her, pretending to be offended. Obviously he had been blabbering at the time, so of course it made perfect sense.
“Oh. In that case, it worked, I guess.” His heart sank. So it had nothing to do with romance. “Good.” He swallowed down his disappointment, the blood draining from his face.
He noticed Avery’s eyes stealing a glance at him, and his awkwardness got the better of him. “Uh, okay. So. Hmm. Here.” Gabe showed her his paperwork and let her read it alone while he grabbed a notebook from his bedroom, trying his best to keep Emmett from following him back out again. He wandered around the kitchen, getting himself a drink and a snack while Avery read.
She looked up. “Looks good so far. Could I use your bathroom for a minute?”
He nodded. “Yep, down the hall.”
She headed to the bathroom and he sat. Avery had left her phone screen up on the table. After she had been gone for a bit it pinged and a text message showed on the screen. He wasn’t trying to pry, but it was hard not to see the message right in front of his face.
MARSHALL: Can’t wait to see you this weekend.
Gabe’s heart sank even lower.