Page 43 of Just One Chance
“That’s good,” David said. “I’m glad.”
“And for you?” Avery said. “You’re good, too?”
“Yeah, yeah. Busy. But good.” The small talk was killing him, but he’d endure it if it meant keeping her in front of him for five more minutes.
“Are you headed into work?” Avery looked pointedly at his scrubs.
David looked down, following her gaze. “Oh. Yeah. I work at seven.”
“The night shift, huh? It’s seems like it’s been a lot of those lately.”
David tried not to dwell on the fact that she’d noticed. “I’m on nights another week then I’ll shift back to days.”
“That’s too bad. I was thinking about getting a pizza and was going to ask you to join me.”
David’s heart fell to his stomach and he glanced at his watch. It was already twenty past six. Too late for him to squeeze dinner in before he left. But just the fact that she’d invited him would keep him feeling buzzed all night. “Another time then,” he said, hoping she sensed from his tone how much he would love for that to happen.
“Yeah,” she said, finally picking up her bags. “I’d like that.” She took a few backward steps. “See you later?”
David nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”
She made it halfway to her porch before she stopped and turned around. “Hey. What do you like on your pizza? Just, you know. For next time.”
David figured he’d eat anchovies and dill pickles on a pizza if it meant sharing it with her, but he couldn’t exactly say that out loud. He settled for the truth. “Pineapple,” he said. “Lots of it. And enough Canadian bacon to fill up all the extra space the pineapple hasn’t already covered.”
Avery shook her head, her smile wide. “You’re kidding.”
David shrugged. “I know. My sisters think it’s disgusting too. But pineapple pizza got me through med school. I can’t help it.”
She shook her head again, clearly amused about something, though David couldn’t pinpoint what. “Have a good night, Dave.”
His heart warmed at the sound of the nickname she’d given him that first day they’d met. He climbed into his car and drove to the hospital feeling more optimistic than he’d felt in days. Lucy’s wisdom and council had never steered him wrong. But this time? He was going with his gut. He wasn’t ready to give up on Avery.
***
David glanced at his watch for what must have been the four hundredth time. Lucy shot him a look, her eyes wide and scolding, and he forced his arm under the table, where he might not feel so tempted. It wasn’t that he was having a terrible time. Haley’s company was pleasant, and he always enjoyed being with Lucy and John. He just felt restless. Impatient for the date to be over already so he could figure out a time to actually have that promised pizza with Avery. It didn’t seem fair to give Haley the impression he was interested in something more when his energy was clearly focused elsewhere.
Lucy had insisted it was too late to back out, and he ought to give Haley a chance. Maybe he’d be surprised by the chemistry they felt.
So far, he hadn’t been surprised by anything.
Haley was perfectly nice, had a lovely smile and made him feel exactly nothing.
After the meal, Haley excused herself to go to the restroom and David breathed deeply for the first time all night.
“That bad, huh?” John asked.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Don’t encourage him, John. He ought to be giving this woman a chance.”
John shook his head. “I know the look in his eyes. He’s way too hung up on somebody else for Haley to have a fighting chance.”
Lucy looked at David then, compassion in her eyes. “I don’t want you to get hurt, David. I just have this feeling things aren’t going to end well if you stay on this course.”
David shook his head. “You’re wrong, Lu. I appreciate you worrying about me, but she’s the one for me. I know it.”
Lucy sighed. “Okay. If you say so.”
The group had decided on the newest superhero movie after dinner, and they drove down to the movie theater in Mt. Pleasant for the more comfortable chairs and stadium seating. While they waited in line for popcorn, David froze. On the other side of the lobby,alsoin line for popcorn was Tucker.AndJessica. David quickly turned his back on the couple, spinning in such a dramatic way that he almost elbowed Haley in the head.
