Page 81 of Substitute for Love

GABE: I’ll be right out.

Gabe had hardly slept a wink. He had rehearsed everything he wanted to say in his head, but nothing felt right. He threw his luggage in Avery’s trunk and got in the passenger’s seat.

“How was Emmett last night?” Gabe asked.

Avery navigated the parking lot and exited onto the street. “Totally fine. Slept on the floor at the end of Mom’s bed.” She glanced over and smiled.

“Oh, this is for you.” He pulled out an envelope with some of the cash from the sale of his truck and placed it in the slot under the radio. “For dog food. Should cover four months. I’ll send more when they extend. I meanifthey do.”

“You don’t have to do that.” She offered a humble smile. “He’s our dog now. Well, for the next however long.”

Avery pulled onto the freeway. They had exactly twenty-six minutes together until the airport—he had checked—depending on traffic. Several moments of silence passed between them. What could he say? What could he do? There was so much in his heart that he couldn’t put into words.

“So I—” she started.

“I wanted—” Gabe said at the same time. He turned to find her flushed and breathing shallow.

“You go ahead,” he said.

“No, you go first,” she replied.

Thoughts ran in every direction in Gabe’s brain. Should he tell her how he really felt about her? Or would that make things more complicated? His heart was beating so fast, like he was going to burst. Regret washed over him, knowing that this could be their last moments together. Of course, he did have to get Emmett when he returned. But their lives would be on opposite paths by then. Maybe he should stay? Give it all up for her?

She fidgeted with the steering wheel and stared straight ahead, as if avoiding any glances at him. “You’re going to have so much fun,” she blurted. “What are you excited for the most?”

Oh. She told me to go first, but then she asked the most yearbook type of question ever. What was Avery thinking? Feeling? Was she hiding what she truly felt, like Gabe was?

He stole glances at her while she checked the rearview and side mirror. “It’s a pretty coveted site. My professor has been after it for years. We’re hoping to find some key pieces for the region. And it’s a good opportunity to build my resume for future projects.”

Gabe imagined exploring the area, being surrounded by ancient history. As excited as he was, he was sad not to share it with someone. With Avery.

Okay, it was now or never. You gotta tell her, Gabe.He mustered up all the courage he had within him.

“I… I know I waited until the last minute. But I have something I need to tell you.” His heart pounded. Heat radiated from his chest, up his neck and to his cheeks.

“Akkk! Why?” Avery swerved to avoid a driver pulling into her lane. She held her hand over the horn but didn’t press it.

Gabe’s gut dropped to the floor. All that build up and cut off by a dumb driver? Should Gabe continue or let the moment pass by?

Avery turned to Gabe for a split second. “I bet you won’t miss driving in Phoenix. What were you saying?”

Gabe closed his eyes, his courage leaving him. “It’s just that…”

The airport appeared ahead. “Which airline again?” Avery asked.

This was his fault, waiting until the last possible second to pour his heart out, but gosh dang it, if she’d quit interrupting he could at least get through the sentence. Maybe it was a sign this wasn’t going to work. He should let it go and see what happened when he got back. Maybe she’d still be around. Maybe Gabe would be more mature and ready for a girl as special as Avery.

He pointed. “Right up there is fine.”

She pulled up to the curb and parked, then popped the trunk and hopped out, meeting him at the back of the car. Gabe followed, his hands shaking as he reached for his luggage.

“Are you okay?” Avery said, grabbing his hand. He looked up to find her face right next to his. Cars whizzed by as announcements sounded over the loudspeaker from the building.

“Yeah. I mean, no. I mean—” Gabe tried to talk, but yet again the loudspeaker blared about driving procedures around the airport. This really was the dumbest place he could pick to pour his feelings out to the girl he loved.

“What?” Avery yelled, dropping his hand then putting it to her ear. “I can barely hear you.” She reached for his luggage, grabbing the smaller carry-on, and Gabe pulled out the larger one. They got his bags to the sidewalk.

Just then an airport patrol car pulled up and honked at the car behind Avery’s, telling it to move out of the way. “Seriously, they are relentless here,” she said. “Are they like this at every airport?”

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