Page 28 of Just One Chance
“Nice night for a walk,” David said.
Avery furrowed her brow. David’s tone sounded cold and clipped, almost hostile. “Yeah. We thought so too,” she said, pulling closer to Tucker.
“It must be nice walking at night,” David went on. “In the dark. When no one can see you.”
What was he talking about? Why would they care if anyone saw them? “The moon is actually pretty bright tonight,” Avery said. “You can see without any trouble.” It wasn’t an exaggeration. She could even see well enough to notice David almost rolling his eyes. What was his deal?
“Risky, then,” David said, looking directly at Tucker.
Tucker pulled Avery to the side of the path so David could pass. “Don’t let us keep you from your walk,” he said. “We were just headed inside. I’ve got an important call I need to make. Actually, you’ve maybe heard of him. Gerald Stevenson? Nice guy. My father played a round of golf with him this morning.”
Avery looked at Tucker. “You have to call him now? It’s almost ten o’clock.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tucker said, pressing a kiss to her brow. “He’s on a flight to California and my father asked me to give him some information once he lands, which,” Tucker looked at his watch, “should be happening any second now. But don’t worry. It will only take a minute. It won’t interrupt the rest of our evening.”
Avery had been around Tucker enough to know that work calls were fairly common, even work calls at ridiculous hours. But why did he feel like he needed to tell David?
David looked furious as his gaze moved from Tucker, to Avery and then back again. Finally, he took a step forward, moving past them on the path. “Goodnight Avery,” he said, before shooting Tucker a glare that looked like it could wither the magnolias growing on either side of them. Seriously, whatwashis problem?
***
The next morning, Avery showed up on David’s doorstep bright and early. He normally left for work way earlier than she did and he was often gone for what seemed like days at a time. She had to catch him when she knew she could.
She had to knock twice before he finally opened the door. He wore scrubs, his hair still wet from the shower. He wasn’t wearing his glasses, but he also didn’t seem to have any trouble seeing. Was he wearing contacts?
“Hi,” he said, pushing the door open for her. “Good morning.”
“Hi. Um, you’re not wearing your glasses.” It wasn’t at all what she’d come over to say. But his eyes looked so blue against the dark navy scrubs he wore, she’d been too distracted not to say anything.
“No, I’m trying out some contacts.”
Avery swallowed. “You look good.”
David glanced at his watch. “Thanks. Um, I’ve got work in a few minutes.”
“Right. Sorry.” She shook her head, grasping at the real reason she’d come over to see David. “I just wanted to ask you why you were so rude to Tucker last night. Did he do something to offend you that I don’t know about?”
David sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I didn’t say anything rude.”
“Maybe not explicitly,” Avery said. “But your tone sounded like you hated us both. And you were shooting daggers out of your eyes.” Avery had spent a long time lying in bed the night before, thinking about why David was so rude. The only thing she could come up with as a reasonable explanation for David’s behavior was jealousy. It was enough to make her feelings for David sour just a little. She did love that he was so transparent, but this took it a little too far. Petulance wasn’t attractive in anyone.
“He wasn’t exactly nice to me either,” David said, his tone defensive.
“David, I want to be your friend,” Avery said. “Truly. I don’t know if it was jealousy that motivated you last night or what. But if I have to choose between a boyfriend I’ve known for years and a new friend I’ve known for weeks, it isn’t going to be a tough call.”
David stepped back, his eyes sad, and Avery immediately regretted her words. She was maybe being too hard on him.
“I’m sorry,” David said. “You’re right.”
“I’m right?”
He nodded. “About the jealousy, about . . . I’m not being fair to you. I’m sorry.”
Avery paused. She hadn’t expected him to admit his mistake so readily. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” She turned and walked toward the porch steps, but then stopped, facing David one more time. He still stood in the doorway, the storm door propped open against his arm. “Did you have a nice walk?” she asked.
He smiled. “I did. I think I love the beach the most after a good thunderstorm.”
“Me, too,” Avery said. “I always have.” She lifted a hand to wave but stopped for a second time when David called her name.
