Page 75 of Substitute for Love

He’d be fine. Avery was going to move on, and he would too. He was getting the chance of a lifetime, and he’d be too busy to even think about anything else.

GABE: My Indiana Jones hat is already packed.

Maybe he should wear the hat to the airport. Go out in style. Start a social media account and share his adventures. This was going to be amazing.

He tapped on the Substitute App, clicked on his lit class assignment for tomorrow, and canceled it. It required a reason, which he typed in: “Off on my Egypt adventures soon. Will say goodbye next week before I leave.”

Tossing his phone on the seat next to him, he turned on his truck and drove home.

Chapter 24: Avery

Thursday September 4, 7:08 PM

Marshall pulled out Avery’s chair at the Mexican restaurant, something he had never done before, causing her to pause. Had he really learned chivalry in the short time since she had been gone? What was it, like three weeks ago she had driven away from him?

He sat across from her, and she had to admit, he was more handsome than she remembered. His dark eyes and smolder had made her heart skip a beat since the moment they met in high school. But then toward the end of their relationship, his face had lost its luster in her eyes.

But now, he looked different. More grown up or something. Handsome, but in a different way. How?

Maybe because she had forgiven him. As he had bear hugged her in front of the gym earlier, Marshall had told her over and over again how sorry he was. How there was no excuse for the way he took her for granted. How he regretted not treating her like a queen.

“You deserve to be happy, Avery. And I can make you happy,” Marshall had told her. Funny that Gabe had told her the same thing earlier, only he hadn’t insinuated he had to be part of her happiness.

Gabe had let her go. She’d realized that as he had left the classroom earlier. It deflated her, but Avery knew it was for the best. From that moment, and the few hours she spent working at the library up until meeting up with Marshall, she had to force herself not to text Gabe. She knew it would lead him onand make her more confused. No, she couldn’t do that to either of them. No matter how sad it made her.

“Can’t believe I used to live here. It’s so hot,” Marshall commented, taking a drink of ice water the server had left. “Do you miss Flagstaff? The town, I mean.” He opened his menu and browsed the selections.

Avery wasn’t hungry. Looking at Marshall made her lose her appetite. She wasn’t even reaching for the chips and salsa at the table, and Marshall hadn’t noticed. Gabe would have noticed or shoved them all in his face like a goofball. She smiled.No, stop it, Avery.Probably shouldn’t have agreed to come to this restaurant. And sit only a few tables away from where Avery and Gabe had sat not that long ago.

Oh yeah. Marshall. “Uh, yeah, I miss the weather in Flagstaff, sure. But the winter in Phoenix will be way better.”

Marshall let his menu drop a little and he peered over the top of it, his dark eyes boring into her. “So, your mind is made up? You’re staying for reals?”

Avery sighed. Here it was. And they hadn’t even ordered yet. “We broke up, remember? I left on purpose. You knew that, right? Plus, my mom needs me.” She looked away, taking a sip of water to keep herself from saying anything else. She wondered what Gabe was doing. Walking Emmett, probably. Wait a minute. If Gabe was leaving soon, what would happen to his dog?

Marshall placed his menu on the table and reached his hand across the table. “You had every right to leave me. But I’m here to convince you to come back. I miss you, Avery.” She looked back toward him and set her glass down. His hand lay open, willing her to put her hand in his. Should she?

If Gabe had been sitting across from her, he wouldn't have made her do anything. He’d playfully let her be herself and go with it. Heck, he’d encourage her to be whatever she wantedto be. From a hot mess of a first day substitute to a headstrong know-it-all.

Gabe would let her be herself and love her anyway.

Marshall put on his mysterious eye routine, peering at her seriously, like he owned her. “I talked to your old boss. They’d have you back in an instant. And our apartment? I’ve prepaid the next few months. Sold off a few of my electronics, but it was worth it. See? I’m totally growing up. And I have you to thank for it.”

Avery had grown up, too, but it had had nothing to do with Marshall. It was in spite of him. She took a leap of faith to move back to Phoenix, start subbing, and became good at it. She got a job at the library, which she loved. Even though they were both part-time gigs, she was happy.

The question was, would she be happy when Gabe left?

“Avery? You’re leaving me hanging here.”

She finally looked in Marshall’s direction. There he was, right in front of her, and she still wasn’t even thinking about him or any possibility of a future of the two of them together. Actually, she was thinking about how annoying and fun it would be subbing with Gabe again tomorrow.

“I’m leaving you hanging? Really, Marshall? How about the time you didn’t even acknowledge my birthday?” Avery snapped, and a satisfaction filled her.

“But, I got you flowers, didn’t I?” He played dumb.

She rolled her eyes. “Please, I bought those myself. Don’t pretend you ever did anything for me.” She turned from him, bile rising. Being around him made her feel sick.

He reached his hand across the table. “Don’t say that. You don’t mean that. What about our hikes? Weekend movie marathons? Driving down to the valley to check on your mom?” Avery turned back and peered at him. The old Avery would have allowed all that to slide, but she was not the old Avery.

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