Page 41 of Substitute for Love

Gabe turned and his eyes rested on Avery. He smiled. “Her? Oh, uh.”

Avery’s eyes opened wide. Did he really get hit that hard? Her heart started beating faster. If he didn’t remember her, then Gabe wouldn’t remember when they met. Or the short time they had spent together. Avery swallowed, her throat scratchy. Theyhadn’t known each other long, but she didn’t want him to lose any of it.

“That’s Miss Williams. I mean Avery. The prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

The doctor wrote some notes, then looked up at Gabe, then glanced over at Avery.

Avery blushed, smiling as she bit her lip. She had dreamed of hearing those words. Just never imagined she’d hear them from a guy she barely knew who probably had a concussion. No matter the circumstances, it was sweet. He was sweet.

The doctor cleared his throat. “How long have you two known each other?”

“Uh… like since Monday?” Gabe answered. Avery nodded.

The doctor set down his clipboard and washed his hands at the small sink. “Huh. I would have guessed much longer.” He dried his hands and sat back down in his swivel seat. “Gabe’s reflexes are good, his pupils look fine, and he’s recalling information fairly well. The best thing is for him to go home and rest. Keep your eye on him for the next hour or so, deal?”

Avery nodded. Okay. This was good news. A sense of relief washed over her.

The doctor went to stand and Gabe put his hand on the doctor’s arm. “Wait, just one hour? Shouldn’t she stay with me the next few days? Just to be safe.”

The doctor laughed. “That’s up to her. Have a good night, you two.”

A nurse returned with a paper of instructions to care for a mild concussion, then left. Avery stood and sighed, and Gabe hopped off the exam table and turned towards her. “See? I’m totally fine. Captain America.”

Avery shook her head and rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance but feeling more relieved than anything. “Practically indestructible.”

He opened the exam room door and waited for her to walk through. “Except I still am super thirsty.”

“Let’s get you a drink, then,” Avery said. They walked out to his truck. She felt a bit cheated by having the school dance cut short. It would be nice to let the semi-date last a little longer. “Do you have a favorite?”

“I don’t know. Whatever,” Gabe said.

“It’s okay. You can try mine.”

She drove him to the nearest soda place over by Claire’s gym. They pulled through the drive-thru, ordered two dirty Cokes with coconut, then parked in the lot. She handed him the drink, and he took a sip that turned into the longest drink she had ever witnessed.

“Oh my gosh, this is amazing,” he said, immediately going back to drinking. Avery stared incredulously while he downed nearly the entire cup. He stopped, sighed, then burped really loud.

“Gross!” She laughed uncontrollably and he joined in. They laughed so much Avery was worried soda was going to squirt out her nose. It kinda burned, but the pure joy in the moment was worth the tiny bit of pain.

They finally calmed down and took deep breaths.

“That was so good.” Gabe ran his fingers through his hair.

Avery was relieved, though she would miss the overly honest Gabe. “I’m glad,” she said. “Do you… do you remember what happened?”

He lowered his eyebrows and pursed his lips. “Got beat up by teenagers?”

“Yep.”

“Got patched up by you?”

She swallowed. “Yeah.”

He stared blankly at her, as if trying to remember. “Then you took me to the clinic and the nice doctor hit my knees. Then we came here. And I let you drive my truck?”

Avery laughed. “I don’t think you realized what was going on right then.”

Gabe sank a little in his seat. “Did I say anything embarrassing?”

---