Page 52 of Substitute for Love

“Hey don’t forget, you promised to wheel me around the fabric store tomorrow! They’re having a huge sale,” Mom called after her.

“Maybe they have a motorized one,” Avery responded.

While she was in the kitchen, her phone buzzed.

GABE: Thanks for today.

AVERY: Anytime. You’re gonna rock this.

GABE: Thanks for believing in me. Cause I’m not so sure.

AVERY: Remember my first day of subbing? This is like the opposite.

GABE: My hero.

Avery giggled. Before today, she would have read into it more and wondered about his intentions. But since they agreed to be friends, she didn’t wonder as much. Okay, she did wonder. For a minute. Then put the thought away.

After closing the text box, Avery noticed a missed voicemail from Marshall. As she rifled through the fridge for sandwich fixings, she hit play.

“Hey Avery. I’m calling to say I hope you got my texts. I really want to see you. I’m coming down to the valley this weekend and I’m gonna bunk with Claire. Could I take you to dinner?”

She paused, setting the food down on the counter, her heart pounding in her chest. Hearing his voice brought a swirl of emotions—he sounded different. Softer. Almost regretful? But that familiar knot of disappointment tightened in her stomach.

How many times had she heard him promise to change? To stop saying hurtful things, to quit partying with college girls, to be the person he pretended to be at the start. He’d always makean effort, just enough to pull her back in, but it never lasted. And when she finally confronted him, all she got was, “This is who I am. What did you expect? I’m not like those heroes in your books. Those kinds of guys don’t exist.Duh, Avery.”

That conversation had been the breaking point. The memory of those last miserable weeks in Flagstaff hit her like a wave—moving in with a friend while she untangled their lives, the drive back to Phoenix, tears streaming down her face the entire way. She had cried for all the loyalty she’d wasted on him, for every time she watched him walk out the door knowing he was off to meet someone new, for not loving herself enough to walk away sooner.Duh, Avery.

Marshall being Claire’s brother had only made it more complicated. Claire was so convinced that they were soulmates, destined to be together. She had held off telling Claire the truth for as long as she could, but when she was almost back to Phoenix, she made the call.

“It’s over, Claire. Marshall and I want different things. I’m moving back home.”

As much as she had wanted it to work, she couldn’t face a lifetime of being treated like garbage. Sure, she wanted something closer to what she read about in books—who didn’t? But more than that, she wanted to feel good about herself again.

Avery glanced down at Marshall’s texts, her thumb hovering over the screen. The old Avery would have pitied him, would have jumped at the chance to help him be better. But the new Avery didn’t need to take care of him anymore. She felt a surge of strength, a resolve she hadn’t known was there.

“No more‘Duh, Avery,’” she whispered to herself. “Never again.”

With a steady hand, she typed out her response.

AVERY: We’ll go to dinner. We’ll talk. We’ll clear the air. But we are never getting back together.

Chapter 17: Gabe

Tuesday September 2, 8:00 AM

The bell had rung. Gabe’s stomach was full with another glorious muffin from Doreen. Taking roll was done. The history students were reading the assignment and typing out answers to questions. Then they’d discuss.

Avery was teaching creative writing elective down the hall. Andhehad brought lunch forherthis time. He had insisted over text. Originally, he had thought to go all out. Watch a YouTube video making something amazing, buy all the ingredients and even put it all in a fancy container.

But Sunday night after texting her, he had an epiphany.Calm down, Gabe.He had to focus on friendship. Quit going so overboard. Avery would appreciate anything, right? He had decided to go simple. In his shopping cart on Monday, he threw in a selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, crackers. At home, he arranged them in containers like a makeshift charcuterie.

He made sure to pack their lunches in a small cooler with ice packs to keep them fresh. Gabe was proud of himself for the idea.

Yep. He was super grown up. Gabe leaned back in the teacher’s chair while he waited for the students to finish their assignment. His phone buzzed in his pocket.

CLAIRE: You can’t avoid me forever.

CLAIRE: I want to talk.

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