Page 77 of Leave Before I Love You
I attach the address and hit send, a grin tugging at my lips as I step out into the sunshine. It’s no booty call, but it is a headfirst dive into a deep end of a different kind.
I can’t wait to see his face.
Henry
I pull up to the address Avery sent me, half expecting some trendy new restaurant or boutique or plastic surgeon she scheduled to repair my supposed sun damage, but find instead an ornate, gated entrance with a gold sign that readsThe Pines: A Luxury Retirement Village.
I see several multiunit condo buildings when I first pull in, their backsides planted square on the beach, and if I crane my neck, I can see some more private residences through the back end of the parking lot.
I pull into a space in front of the first building, not knowing exactly where I’m supposed to be and why the hell anything would be in a luxury retirement village in the first place.
I blink, glancing back down at the message on my phone to double-check the address, and then smile as I confirm it’s correct. I swear, I’mnevergoing to know what’s coming.
Typing fast, I send her a quick message.
Me: I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be with a woman who keeps me on my toes, but if you tell me we’re swinging with a bunch of senior citizens, I’m going to have to draw a line.
Her reply comes almost immediately.
Avery: HAHAHAHA. Just meet me in condo 305, you idiot.
Shaking my head, I shut off the engine and make my way to the specified building. The whole place screams money—pristine landscaping, valet golf carts, and a fountain in the courtyard that probably cost more than most people’s homes—and old wealth, at that. These aren’t the new, modern tech bros I see out at the clubs; this is wealth a la theTitanic.
I knock on the door of condo 305 with a small knot in my stomach and a gleam in my eye. I’m not sure what the hell Avery Banks is up to, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled she picked a place without paparazzi—an unfortunate reality I’m growing increasingly annoyed with since we arrived back from the island nearly two weeks ago.
When the door swings open, I’m greeted by an elderly woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a mischievous glint in her eye. She fits the location, but she doesn’t fit anything else. Not unless my girlfriend found a way to shape-shift or teleport the two of us about fifty years ahead in Earth’s timeline.
“Avery? Is that you?” I question a little teasingly, and the woman, thankfully, laughs. I suppose I can mark the possibility of dementia-related charity work off the list.
“Oh my, aren’t you just a tall drink of water?” Her gaze sweeps me from head to toe. “The news made you look a little shorter. Less rugged. I mean, my God, sweetie, you’resomething.” She giggles again. “I would have broken your heart back in my day.”
I chuckle a little and try to smile, leaning to look around the random old lady who seems to know me without me knowing her. “Um, thanks…I think. Is Avery here, by any chance? I’m supposed to be meeting her.”
“I’m Ethel.” She grins and holds out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Come on in, honey.”
The thing is, she still hasn’t said if Avery is actually here or not.
She steps aside but not before giving my bicep a little pat. “I’ll get you a nice glass of lemonade if you flex for me just—”
“Hands off, Ethel,” Avery’s voice finally calls from inside, sending a zing of relief down my spine. “He’s mine.”
He’s mine.At ease with those words instantly, I smile again, placating Ethel a little. “I don’t know about flexing, but if you play your cards right, I might be able to lift something heavy.”
Ethel grins. “God, I love young people. You have so much energy and spunk.”
I step inside with a newly renewed bounce in my step, and my smirk only widens as I take in the scene. Avery is standing in the middle of the living room, surrounded by a group of older women draped in clothes and jewelry, makeup strewn all over the coffee table. To her right, a rack of expensive clothes is set up, and one of the women is admiring herself in a floor-length mirror.
“Ladies, this is Henry,” Avery says, turning to face me and then blushing a little before turning back to the women. “The one I was…telling you about.” They all hem and haw a little extra, raking me with their eyes and cooing until Avery slices a hand across her throat for them to cut it out. “Henry, meet Ethel, Blanche, Dottie, Joanne, and Sarabeth. And this lovely woman here is Darla. We’re working on getting her set up with a new wardrobe.”
“Oh, he’s even more handsome up close,” Dottie says, peering at me over the rim of her glasses.
“Like a modern-day lumberjack,” Sarabeth chimes in. “That beard is impressive.”
Self-consciously, I scratch at the facial hair I’ve trimmed to a neat length but haven’t been able to bring myself to shave off yet.
“And those arms,” Joanne adds, fanning herself dramatically. “Avery, you didn’t tell us he was a Greek god.”
Avery rolls her eyes but smiles. “All right, calm down, cougars. Don’t scare him off. Though, come to think of it…you like older ladies, don’t you, Henry?” I nearly snort at the memory of Avery’s island commentary when I told her I had a crush on Ross’s mom. “Maybe this is actually a shopping expedition for your new mate.”
