Page 67 of Leave Before I Love You
The most perfect, soul-link-affirming, pleasure-bringing sex—
Mid-thought, Harry sings again, the ringing getting incessantly louder by the second. Worried my obnoxious phone is going to wake Henry, I Gumby-stretch my arm over to grab my cell off his nightstand without moving otherwise.
The screen is bright and offensive to my still-sensitive eyes, but with focus, I seeIncoming Call Junequickly.
Shit.If the last two days are anything to go by, I’d say there’s a seventy percent chance she’s on her way to my condo right now.
“Hello?” I mumble, my voice still involuntarily thick with sleep.
“Where the hell are you? Why aren’t you here?” June’s voice is frantic, and I instantly sit up a little straighter.Okay, maybe she’s not on her way anymore and, instead, standing at my door.
Henry’s arm slides off me, and he finally stirs, his brow furrowing in sleepy confusion.
“Are you at my place?”
“Of course I’m at your place,” she says, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Where the hell else would I be, and why aren’t you also here?”
“Listen…” I hedge, glancing back at Henry briefly. “Let yourself in with the key—”
“I’m already in! I still have my own key!” she cuts me off on a yell. “You didn’t answer the door, didn’t answer my phone calls or texts, so I decided to come inside and make sure you’re still alive, but you’re not here! Thank God, you finally answered my freaking call! I was starting to fear the worst! I thought I was going to have to call the cops again and tell them you’re missing, Avery! Can you imagine what that’s like? To think your best friend is missing for a second—”
“June,”I quickly cut her off, deciding that I’ve let her maniacally ramble long enough. “Relax. I’m fine. I’m not missing, okay?”
“Relax?”she screeches, and I rub my forehead, already bracing myself for the hormonal storm.
Uh-oh, here we go…
“Relax?” June screeches again. “Avery, you were missing for two weeks! Do you have any idea what that did to me? And now you’re just…not at home? Without telling me where you are? Where are you, Avery? Tell me right now.”
Henry’s watching me now, his head propped up on one hand, his lips twitching like he’s trying not to smile at what he’s probablyoverhearing from my conversation with a veryloudand worked-up June.
But I’m here. In Henry’s bed.The very last place a lot of people would expect.
Truth be told, I’m not sure if Henry would want my brother Beau to know this. I don’t even know what Henry wants out of this. I mean,I’mthe one who came to his apartment in the middle of the night, not the other way around.
Clearly, something happened between us on the island, but I’m not entirely sure either of us has wrapped our heads around it yet.
I don’t want to assume and make an ass out of you, me, and our entire families, for Pete’s sake.
The whole concept of a committed relationship is a foreign adversary in enemy territory with limited resources. I’m used to flitting from one guy to the next and never settling down, and even though I’m fairly certain I’ve gone and caught a serious case of feelings for Henry, all of that conditioning doesn’t just disappear.
I glance at his handsome face, the realization undeniable.Yes, I have feelings for him.But fuck, that’s kind of scary.
“Avery? Hello?” June is in my ear again, impatience dripping from her voice. “Are you there? Where are you?”
“I’m here,” I answer quickly. “And I…I had an early massage appointment,” I lie, the words just kind of rolling off my tongue before I can even think them through. “Self-care, you know? Obviously, I have to get back on track after…” I stop before I can say anything about my being stranded on an island. Clearly, that’s a trigger for my best friend.
There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and I can practically see June narrowing her eyes. “A massage?”
“Yes, June.A massage.You know, for sore muscles. Probably a smart idea after having to survive off breadfruit and an occasional fish for thirteen days, don’t you think? Or would you prefer I walk around with a constant kink in my neck and end up, like, out of alignment so I can answer your calls?”
“Ugh! No! But you could’ve told me you had an appointment!” she huffs. “I was about to start another freaking search party!”
“Juni, honey, do you think it’s possible you’re being a little controlling?” I tease, hoping to lighten the mood.
“I do not care, Avery Banks,” she snaps. “You need to keep me updated at all times. Do you hear me? All. Times.”
“Fine, fine,” I say, holding back a laugh. “I’ll text you my every move from now on.”
