21. Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty One
Licia
You know that feeling when heartbreak becomes so routine that you start to feel numb? That’s exactly where I am right now—hurting, but carrying on with a fa?ade of calm.
I hadn’t heard from Kevin, and I was earnestly hoping not to. This wouldn’t be the first time he went MIA, leaving me to figure things out alone. In a way, his silence made certain decisions easier.
As the nurse manager in the hospital's outpatient unit, I had responsibilities that demanded my full attention. The role came with perks, but it also came with pressure.
"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown," they say. I was on a mission, fueled by both pain and passion. There hadn’t been a stronger motivator for getting things done right.
“Licia, excuse me. Are you free for a second?” Melony asked, poking her head into my office. Her eyes held that familiar mischievous glint, a look she often used to get her way without anyone suspecting a thing.
I set the documents I was sifting through on my desk. “Do you need me for something?”
“Actually, it depends on how you see it.”
I just knew it.
I waited for her to sit down, but she lingered at the door, scanning my face as if it held the key to some unsolved mystery.
“You don't expect me to offer you a seat, do you? Because if you do, you’ll be standing forever.”
She laughed, finally pulling out a chair. “Sorry, I was distracted. Nice new flower vases, by the way.”
“Mel, I know you’re not here to talk about vases. What do you want this time?”
Ignoring my cynicism, she leaned in with a grin. “Well, I was hoping you could cover for me in the meeting with the director this afternoon. Just come up with a smart excuse for why I had to leave early. I need to be home by 3 p.m.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why, if I may ask? What’s happening at 3?”
“It’s top secret, but I’ll tell you.” She hesitated, her excitement barely contained.
“Okay…” I said, trying to sound interested. Melony was a delight, but I wasn’t in the mood. The smallest distraction from work brought Kevin back to mind. I shut my eyes briefly, trying to push thoughts of him away.
“Are you okay?” Melony asked, her tone softening.
“Yeah, I’m good. What were you going to say?”
She seemed skeptical but decided to drop it. “I have a date with Corbin. We’re kind of a thing now.” Her voice was full of excitement.
“Corbin?” I repeated, trying to place the name. “Which Corbin?”
“How many Corbins work here? Corbin from PT.”
“Wow, Melony.” I clapped my hands together, genuinely surprised. “How long has this been going on?”
“Since that breakfast celebrating your promotion.”
“You two used that as an opportunity to get closer? Smart move.” I laughed.
“Anyway, you can’t tell anyone. Promise?”
“Of course,” I said, trying to stifle a laugh. Melony couldn’t stay serious for more than five minutes, and I loved her for it.
“I’m really happy for you, Melony. Corbin seems like a great guy.”
“He is. He’s so intentional and a really good listener,” she gushed.
“Well, you need someone to listen to all the stories you dish out uninvited.”
“Are you calling me a chatterbox?”
“I didn’t need to. You just did.”
“Admit it, you’ve benefited from my stories.”
“I never said otherwise, but that doesn’t mean you don’t talk too much.”
“At least you didn’t lie about getting good intel from me.”
“So, do you love him?” I asked, partly out of curiosity and partly because I wanted to distract myself from my own love life, which was in shambles.
“Kind of… sort of. It’s too early to say, but we’re good.”
“Alright, go do your thing. I’ll cover for you.” I tilted my head toward the door.
Melony’s smile grew wider. “I knew I could count on you. Thanks a lot.”
“Go before I change my mind,” I teased, but she wasn’t fooled.
“See you tomorrow, Licia.”
“Yeah, sure.”
I was genuinely happy for Melony and her newfound love. If only I could be that happy. With a sigh, I returned to my work. I needed to prepare my report for the meeting, so there wasn’t time to dwell on my wistful thoughts.
***
After the meeting, I drove to a fruit stall near the city center to grab supplies for the house. Joey was visiting later, and I needed to restock. She’d nag me endlessly if I didn’t.
I wandered through the market, my thoughts heavy with the weight of everything unsaid between Kevin and me.
A light breeze carried the scent of fresh apples, and for a brief moment, I felt a small sense of peace. I took my time, inspecting each piece of fruit, allowing the simple task to clear my mind.
The vendor, an elderly woman with kind eyes, gave me an extra pear, saying it was her favorite. I thanked her, smiling genuinely for the first time that day.
Once home, I decided to shower and maybe catch a quick nap before Joey arrived. It had been a long day, and I was desperate for some rest.
As I stood under the warm water, I found myself thinking about Avery. His sudden interest in my life was unexpected, and despite my better judgment, I couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were. Was he serious about me, or was I just another challenge for him to conquer?
I dressed in comfortable loungewear and settled on the couch, my thoughts still lingering on Avery. There was something about him—his confidence, his persistence—that intrigued me.
But there was also a part of me that was wary, afraid of letting someone new into my life when I was still so tangled up in Kevin.
I was jolted from my thoughts by a call from Avery. I hesitated before answering, opting for silence.
He broke it with a light chuckle. “Hi Licia, I’m at your door.” His tone carried a subtle amusement that unnerved me.
How is that possible? “I don’t remember giving you my address.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I really needed to see you, so I found a way.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Take your time.”
I peered through the peephole, confirming it was him. Tall and confident, Avery stood there , waiting . One question lingered: how did he find my house? But I didn’t have the energy to interrogate him, so I decided to play the nice host.
“Avery, welcome.” My smile was as genuine as I could muster. “What a surprise.”
“Sorry for showing up unannounced. That was rude of me.”
“Don’t worry about it. Come in, please.”
He followed me in, and I motioned for him to take a seat.
“Thank you,” he said, sinking into the couch.
“What can I get you?”
He started to decline but then reconsidered. “Wine would be great.”
“Red or white?”
“Humor me.”
I returned with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and two glasses, setting them down on the marble side table next to him.
“Good choice,” he said, nodding in approval.
“Do the honors,” I offered, settling back into my seat.
Surprisingly, I found myself relaxing in his presence. I wasn’t thrilled about his visit initially, but now, I didn’t mind at all.
He poured the wine and handed me a glass.
“To us,” I said, raising my glass.
He mirrored my gesture, swirling the wine and inhaling its rich aroma before taking a sip. “Classic. You really know your wine.”
“It’s an acquired taste. My Gramps has a cellar full of exotic wines. He spends a fortune on it.”
“Let me share a fun fact,” Avery said, leaning in.
“I’m curious.”
“I worked as a wine connoisseur for three years, traveling to different countries for wine-tasting events. I met my late wife at one of those events in Italy, and that’s when I quit to build a home.”
“That says a lot about you… in a good way. Don’t ask me to explain,” I warned with a smile.
“Okay, no questions,” he laughed.
“Good. You said you wanted to talk.”
I wanted to get to the point of his visit before we got too sidetracked.
“Licia, I know you have a boyfriend, but I can’t stand the thought of you being unhappy. I feel it in my gut.”
“Who said I’m unhappy?”
“Aren’t you?”
Touché.
I couldn’t deny it. I was sad, but hearing Avery say it out loud was a different story.
“Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved. Just say the word, and I’ll bring the world to your feet—no games.”
“Avery, I appreciate your sincerity. I really do. But the truth is, I’m in a rough place with Kevin. I’ve tried to let go for years, but I can’t get him out of my head or my heart. It’s like he’s taken up all the space.”
Tears threatened, but I blinked them back. I couldn’t afford to be that vulnerable in front of Avery.
“This might be a loss on my part, but I can be your rebound guy.”
“I can't do that to you. Avery, you don't deserve to be treated like that. I just want to be happy, not break someone else's heart in the process.”
“Hey, listen. I love you and I want you to be happy. So, let me make you happy or at least try.”
I chuckled, “how do you intend to do that?”
“Go out with me…officially.”
“Avery…”
“You will never know, until we give it a shot. So, what’s it going to be? The ball is in your court.”
I bit my lips together. “Can I think about it?”
“You sure can.”
I was about to respond when the door swung open, and Joey burst in like a whirlwind.
“Licia! You won’t believe what I—” She froze when she saw Avery, her eyes widening. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you had company.”
“It’s okay, Joey,” I said quickly, trying to ease the tension. “Avery, this is Joey. Joey, meet Mr. Avery.”
“Oh! The famous Avery,” Joey said with a grin, her usual spunk returning. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Is that so?”
“Yep. You’re practically a legend.”
“Joey!” I hissed, but Avery laughed, clearly amused.
I believe you were the brain behind setting Licia up on the app. I guess, I owe you a thank you for that.”
Joey curtsied, “at your service, monsieur.”
“Please to finally meet you. Licia has told me a lot about you.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone,” Joey said, backing out of the room. “Don’t mind me. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
As soon as she was gone, Avery turned back to me, his expression serious again.
“Licia, think about what I said. I’m here whenever you’re ready.”
“I will,” I promised, though I wasn’t sure what I meant by that.
He stood up, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment. “I’ll see you soon.”
After he left, Joey reappeared, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Spill.”
“Joey, it’s complicated.”
“You’re not getting off that easy. I want details.”
I sighed, knowing she wouldn’t let this go. “Fine, but can we at least eat something first?”
“Deal. But you better not leave out a single detail.”