Chapter 26 Avery
Friday September 11, 6:00 AM
Of all the dumb things Avery had done in her life, that had been the dumbest. Okay not really, but in the moments between leaving Gabe behind and trekking back to her car, her heart broke into a million pieces.
She didn’t care that random strangers were staring at her while she sobbed, at first walking, then running to the parking garage. Last night she had talked to Claire about how today should go, Claire trying to convince her to tell Gabe how she felt.
“Don’t let a guy like that slip through your fingers, Avery. I know I told you to protect your heart, but what if he’s the one who can help you heal it?”
Avery felt the truth in her words. But ultimately, as Avery fell into bed and fought through a sleepless night, she knew what she had to do. And that was to let Gabe go. If she professed her feelings at the airport, he was impulsive enough to drop everything for her. He didn’t deserve to give up on his dream. He would never ask that of her, so why would she open the door for him?
No, the new plan was to wait until he left. THEN text him. Because then he wouldn’t have the option to stay behind. And at least he’d know the truth, he’d know her feelings for him. If he wanted to respond, fine. But sending him a message could allow her to think through what she wanted to say and allow him to process it without feeling pressured into doing a grand gesture.
Because life wasn’t a movie. Or a Jane Austen novel. Or even a Shakespeare play. Sure, their kisses had been. Their moments of flirting and dancing and banter in a medical clinic for heaven's sake had been movie-worthy or even romcom book-worthy.
But she liked Gabe too much to ask him to choose her over his dreams. No, not liked. Loved. She loved him.
Avery drove in silence all the way back to west Phoenix, in between sobs, reaching home around 6:40 AM . She got ready for the day, Emmett by her side, all the while her body buzzing with what she was about to text to Gabe. She had to time it just right. When would he be in the sky?
By 7:10 AM she couldn’t wait any longer. Avery had to get out the door and to the school to her sub job for the day: art class, which would be interesting. She wasn’t much of an artist, but it wasn’t about her. The students were the ones learning and drawing.
How would Gabe teach art? She shook her head, trying to shake a possible future Gabe out of her mind. She sat on her bed and laced her shoes, Emmett resting his face on her lap.
She smiled at the dog, rubbing his ears. “What you could tell me about Gabe, if you could only talk. What a good dog.” She leaned her head on his and kissed the top of his head. Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she opened the text window and started typing.
AVERY: Hopefully you’ve taken off by now. Our own Indiana Jones, off to find treasures. I’m so proud of everything you’ve done to get where you are. I’m so glad we got to meet and spend time together before you left. You’ve become a good friend.
She sent it. Already it was getting long, and she had only just begun.
AVERY: Ok, more than a friend. I think we both know our timing was off. Our exes didn’t make it easy, did they? *Smiling emoji*
Send a meme here to break it up? No, Avery, focus. Quit stalling and tell him how you feel. Her fingers trembled as her heart poured onto the screen.
AVERY: The truth is, I loved you from the first moment we met. Your big blue eyes could see into my soul. I felt things I had never felt before. Then you rescued me from the students, and I knew. Not because you were some hero, but because you are so caring. You already know I think you’re handsome on the outside, but you are even more handsome on the inside. Your voice, your embrace, your kiss, they all send me to a place I never knew existed. You are out of my life for the next few months, and I can’t make any promises. But when you come back to pick up Emmett, maybe we could start over. Go out on a real date.
There. Send. Avery took a deep breath and shakily let it out. All the pent up excitement and anxiety over what to say flooded out of her. She nodded at her choice to tell him what she felt. Now only calmness remained in her mind and body. She took a deep breath, said goodbye to Emmett and her mom, then headed out the door and drove to school.