Page 40 of Just One Chance
“But it’s not justified in David’s case. He doesn’t even know Tucker. He’s only saying it because . . .” Avery hesitated. It suddenly felt a little too cocky to say that the reason David didn’t like Tucker was because he wanted to be dating her himself.
“Because he wants to date you?” Melba finished the sentence for her. “Are you sure that’s his only motivation?”
Avery shrugged. “He’s not exactly subtle. The guy literally has zero game. He just puts his feelings out there. Unfiltered.”
“Sounds kind of refreshing,” Melba said. “You never have to wonder how he feels.”
“Maybe,” Avery said. “But it’s also totally disarming. I have no idea how I’m supposed to react when he just straight up tells me that he’s jealous of Tucker. Or tells me that he knows what he wants and that it’s me.”
“He said that?” Melba said. “That’s bold.”
“Not exactly,” Avery said. “But he definitely implied it.”
“So?” Melba scraped out the last bite of her dinner then slid the cornbread in Avery’s direction. “Go on,” she said. “You’ve earned it.”
“So . . . what?” Avery lifted a pie-shaped piece out of the skillet.
“How do you feel about him?”
“I’m dating Tucker, Melba. It doesn’t matter how I feel about David.”
“Fine. Hypothetically, then. If Tucker weren’t in the picture, would you give the doctor a chance?”
Avery chewed her cornbread in silence. Shewouldgive David a chance, as weird as it felt to admit as much to herself. He was so far outside of the kinds of guys she typically dated. But he’d grown on her.
“I think the doctor is pretty cute,” Melba said, before Avery had a chance to answer. “I bet those baby blue eyes charm the pants off of his patients when he’s working.”
“Melba!” Avery said, laughing at her friend. “Shame on you.”
“I wasn’t being literal,” Melba said with a grin. “But you’ve got to admit. Those are some fine eyes.”
“How do you even know that? Have you met him yet?”
Melba looked affronted. “Of course I’ve met him. I ran into him on the beach. I invited him over for a Cheerwine and we sat on the back porch for over an hour talking. He made a couple of really good suggestions about how I can help the arthritis in my fingers.”
“That was nice of him,” Avery said.
“It sure was.”
Avery stood up and gathered their dishes, walking them to the kitchen sink. “Shall I summarize the messages of the evening?” she said. She gave the dishes a quick rinse, then turned around, leaning against the counter. “Tucker is bad for me and shouldn’t be trusted. David isgoodfor me and has killer blue eyes. Does that about cover it?”
Melba scrunched up her face like she was contemplating the mysteries of the universe instead of sticking her nose into the middle of Avery’s dating life. “David has good lips, too, don’t you think?” she said. “Really full and kissable.”
Avery tossed a dish towel at Melba’s head. “You’re terrible, Melba.Terrible.”
On her way home from Melba’s, Avery walked past David’s house. His car was in the driveway, but based on their texts that morning, he was probably just waking up. For a minute, she thought about racing back to Melba’s and fixing a to-go plate of shrimp and grits to drop off for him. She knew he liked it—he’d ordered it when they’d gotten lunch when he’d come to visit the aquarium—and Melba’s was way better than what he’d eaten there. But then Avery’s phone dinged with an incoming text and she stopped thinking about David.
I’m sorry about last night,the text from Tucker read.When can I see you again?
Avery cut between her yard and David’s and headed straight for the beach. Maybe the wind and the sound of the waves would settle her nerves, help her sort out the muddle of emotions swirling through her chest. She sank onto the sand, knees pulled up and looked out at the water. The beach was nearly deserted, only a few people here and there walking through the foamy surf where the water met the sand.
So much about her relationship with Tucker felt right. But there was something niggling in the back of Avery’s mind, something that told her it wasn’tallright. She still had doubts. Hesitations. And if she were being totally honest with herself, David was a big part of that. Because she liked him. And though she’d never admit as much to Melba, she had noticed both his killer eyes, and his full, kissable lips. She wouldn’t have noticed those things if there wasn’tsomepotential for an actual relationship, would she?
She pulled up Tucker’s text and read it again.I think we need to talk,she typed.Can you come over?
I wish I could,he immediately responded.I’m out of town until next weekend. Can I see you on Sunday?
Avery frowned. Sunday was more than a week away. Why hadn’t he mentioned that he was traveling? Is that why he’d left so early that morning?
