Page 167 of Triggered By Love
Kerry scrunched her nose and shook her head. “Classic little red dress over jeweled stilettos and a bedazzled diamond clutch.”
“I’ve got just the thing.” She flipped through her dresses. “Slinky red minidress, a pillbox hat with black mesh veil, and a ruby-tipped wand. Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
“Oh, a sexy Dorothy. Jason will flip out.” Kerry flashed her an overly seductive wink and grin. “How is it going with him, girlfriend? You two have been tight, tight, tight.”
Avery’s face heated in a pleasant way, and she knew she was smiling. “He’s wonderful, and that’s an understatement. I’ve held on to my regrets way too long, and so has he. Honestly, he’s exactly the man I need.”
“I’m so happy for you.” Kerry hugged her and bounced up and down. “Finn thinks highly of him, and that’s saying a lot. Finn doesn’t warm up to people much.”
“Yeah, well, Jason isn’t exactly warm and cuddly. The man has so many sharp edges and barbed points.”
“None directed at you, girlfriend.” Kerry poked her shoulder. “That man’s devoted to you. He’s protective, but he lets you get your way.”
“True, he respects my wishes.”
“Then he should have no problem with me and Finn sitting in our original balcony seats,” Kerry said. “Finn feels bad depriving you of your front row seats.”
“Are you sure? The balcony is way up there. Jason wanted you two to have the ultimate experience.”
“It’s sweet of him, but Finn is the type who gets dizzy if we sit too close in the movies. He hates looking up at the big screen.”
“This isn’t the same thing, although it can be unnerving to be so close to the chorus line.” She wondered if they would be close enough to recognize Harvey Leach who was one of the dancers.
“Especially when the hero is shot on Fifth Avenue near the end of the show,” Kerry said. “I heard they’re using real blanks.”
“Meaning the smell of gunpowder could trigger him?” Avery wondered if Finn could have a spot of PTSD.
Kerry blinked and nodded. “He denies being affected, but that last mission he was in didn’t end well. He doesn’t talk about it.”
Finn had returned from the poppy fields of Afghanistan to rescue US troops who were on their way home. There was an ambush, and the survivors barely got out alive.
“I understand.” Avery hugged Kerry. “Anyway, girl. We want to enjoy the evening, so no more doom and gloom. We own Broadway tonight!”
“Woohoo, let’s rock it!”
Chapter Fifty-Five
“To new life!”Jason had his arm around Avery as he, Finn, and Kerry toasted each other inside the limo.
“To new love.” Avery clinked her champagne flute with his and gave him a meaningful look. The deep gaze of her beautiful Madonna eyes shone with a timeless allure, invoking the comforts of home and hearth, and the promise of walking hand in hand with him through the seasons and years of their lives.
“I love you,” he murmured, kissing her softly so as not to mess up her makeup.
She was beyond gorgeous, and the tiny triangular veil over her face gave her an air of mystery and intrigue. She’d even dotted a beauty mark below the corner of her lips.
It shouldn’t bother him that he’d said the “L” words multiple times, and she had yet to return them. She could have as much time as she needed, as long as he was the one giving her the love and care she deserved.
“Kerry, have you changed your mind on where you and Finn will get hitched?” Avery asked her friend, no doubt needing to deflect from his declaration of love.
“You mean ditch the Montauk Lighthouse for The Edge?” Kerry picked up on Avery’s train of thought.
“I’m afraid of heights,” Finn joked, even though he routinely rappelled out of Army helicopters. “The Edge is nice, but it’s not my style.”
“You two should marry on The Point of The Edge,” Kerry said, pointing at Avery and Jason. “Lean out as far as you can. What are you waiting for? Take the leap.”
“Leap, laugh, love.” Avery giggled and held her flute out for a refill. “Except I might get hurt. Jason is all points and edges.”
“A fitting place to pop the balloon,” Finn joked.
