Page 13 of Leave Before I Love You
One. One freaking fish in two long, really fucking hot hours, and I only got him because my spear glanced off his head at just the right angle to stun him.
Tom Hanks, my ass.He made it look a hell of a lot easier than this.
A few hours later, when Avery walks out of the makeshift tent, her face is as contrite as I imagine my own. Both of us feel badly for having lashed out at each other; that much is obvious, even if saying it aloud cuts a little too close to the bone.
The sun is down and the moon is out, and as far as I’m concerned, that may as well mean our fight happened on a different planet.
Timidly, Avery takes a seat in the sand on the other side of the fire, and I offer the remaining half of the fish I saved for her to eat should she change her mind and want it.
Her nose scrunches as she takes it and puts it to her mouth to try a bite, and I smother a smile of both pride and gratitude that we don’t have to fight about this anymore. I know the taste is bland, the only appeal the gentle smokiness from the fire, but it’s sustenance, and at this point, that’s what’s important.
Two hours have passed since I sent her running into the tent crying, and things, seemingly, are as back to normal as normal gets when you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere with no communication with the outside world.
When she takes a second bite, I clear my throat and test out bringing polite conversation back between us. A lot of topics seem tricky, given our circumstances, but there’s one thing Avery loves more than anything in this world—her best friend, Juniper.
“You think June went all Helen Hunt when she found out we didn’t make it to our destination yesterday?” I ask, trying to cut some of the lingering tension with humor. “Like, has the Coast Guard been involved and a whole map with search grids and shit?”
Avery nods. “I’m sure. She’s probably ready to strap herself inside a helicopter, not that Beau’ll let her.” A frown creases her forehead. “I just hope she’s not stressing herself too much with thebaby and all.”
“She’s strong,” I say with reassurance. “I’m sure she’s out there rolling heads but taking care of herself at the same time. And if she’s not, Beau will do it for her.”
“She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met,” Avery agrees, glancing at me in a flash of firelight that makes me feel a tingle of vulnerability.
This is probably the most serious I’ve ever seen her, and in some ways, I don’t know what to do with it. We’ve always had a chemistry between us, but her personality is normally a force field against it. Seeing the exposed raw edges of what’s underneath might just make us both a little too defenseless.
“Other than you, actually,” she adds quietly. “Both of you are stronger than I’ll ever be.”
The compliment is both fortifying and uncomfortable, and my fingers tingle with an overwhelming surge of anxiety. She has no idea that being strong is usually happening when you feel your very weakest.
And for good reason.
Resilience, as it were, is best tested under a load, and for better or worse, Avery’s never had to carry much of anything on her own.
Until now, that is.
“Are you kidding?” I say, my voice as warm as I can manage, given the subject matter. “Avery, look at us. At where we are and what we’re dealing with. It’s at complete odds with your normal life, and yet you’re rallying. You took my direction on the dive and fought in the water just like I told you. You’ve adapted to the circumstances and, despite not wanting to, just ate that stupid fish because you know it’s the best thing for both of us. I think you’re handling everything really well.”
Avery smiles, and for the first time, without the perfectly curated makeup, the designer clothes, the endless distractions of her world, I feel like I’mreallyseeing her.
No parties to get to. No stores to shop at. No shiny things to show off.
It’s just her. And me. And the wild, wide open.
The moon looks massive out here, hanging over the water like something out of a painting, making me feel incredibly small in the scheme of things. Makingusfeel small. And yet, all I can focus on is her. The way the firelight flickers against her skin, casting shadows over the delicate slope of her nose, the high arch of her cheekbones, the deep golden of her hazel eyes.
Avery has always been my best friend’s little sister—the one with the beautiful eyes and gorgeous smile and a personality too big for any one room to contain. But today, on day two of no one but each other to count on, she’s turning out to be a hell of a lot more.
Millions of expected things. And even more surprises.
I mean, she’s avirgin, for fuck’s sake.Avery.Boy-crazy, kiss-crazy, plain-crazy Avery.
Tonight feels too fragile to push anything further—especially since she was mad at me no less than ten minutes ago—but tomorrow, I’m making it my mission to figure out why.
“Well, thanks,” she says, stretching her legs out toward the fire. “But will you change your mind if I complain about how much I miss my warm bed and Starbucks and,ah God, Marty, my nail tech…he’s going to be wondering where I am!”
Shaking my head, I laugh softly and watch as the fire pops and crackles and sparks into the pitch-black night sky. “Nah. I’d say those are fair complaints. It’s all the stuff you’re used to.”
“And what about you?” she hedges. “What are your complaints—other than being here with me?”
