Page 63 of A Second Chance

Gwen knew that she meant the three of them living together. “At some point, people leave the nest.”

“What about you?”

Well, she built the nest, so she wasn’t going anywhere. “You can take Mom with you.”

Avery bit back a smile and shook her head. “Not what I meant.”

“Is there some reason you don’t want to live with him? Are you just not ready?”

“It’s not really about me,” Avery fell back on the sofa, looking at the ceiling.

Gwen crinkled her nose, “Yeah… it is.” This whole mess was all about Avery and her life and happiness with Nick.

“But what about you?”

“What about me?” Gwen turned to her sister, who still stared at the ceiling.

“I mean you don’t have anyone. For a while, I thought this Jason thing was gonna be something special, but did that fizzle?”

More like flopped, but whatever. “What are you talking about? Why would my relationship with Jason have anything to do with your life? Do you want to move forward with Nick?” Gwen worried that Nick wouldn’t wait on Avery forever.

“Yes,” Avery said after what felt like an eternity. “But I want you to have someone.”

“Oh, honey, why would you hold up your life for me?” Breathing became difficult. Where was Avery going with such nonsense?

Avery sat up and leaned over and took Gwen’s hand. “You were so angry for such a long time, and I thought that had finally lifted. I want you happy and taken care of, the same way you’ve always taken care of me. Everything you’ve done for years has been for us. You put my happiness first and I don’t want to leave you all miserable.”

“I’m not miserable,” Gwen said, touched, and also a bit defensive. “I’m where I should be, and my happiness doesn’t depend on some man.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“It’s not like you’re leaving town. Just this house. Moving in with Nick will not change our relationship.”

“Things would have to change a little. And all I meant is that I want to make sure you will be okay.”

“You’re my sister, and nothing will ever take that away from us. We’re way stronger than geographical location. But, ya know stay close.” Avery giggled. “I’m always okay,” Gwen added.

“You know I love you, but I don’t buy that you’re okay. You weren’t for a long time… you were angry and sad,” she whispered the last part.

“And it was because of Jason. So, it’s best we’re not together.”

“Wait… what are you talking about?”

“I was angry cause I met Jason right after we moved here. We slept together, and he said he would come back for me. Then when he came back, he completely blew me off… but turns out he doesn’t remember me ’cause of his injuries and all. But now he won’t even confide in me what happened when he left town and the truth behind the rumors. And he isn’t even speaking to me now.” Gwen felt lighter with that spoken out loud. She’d held it back from her sister, and now the truth was floating in the room between them.

Avery’s mouth dropped and she sat eyes wide, mouth open for several beats, before gathering herself. “Wow… he didn’t even remember you, but he fell in love with you again.”

Love? Who said anything about love? “I feel like you’re missing the point of the story.”

“No,youare,” Avery smiled.

***

Gwen tossed and turned, the conversation with Avery replaying in her head, befuddled at her sister’s refusal to move on with her life if Gwen didn’t have a man. On one hand, Avery’s reasons seemed ridiculous, and on the other, incredibility touching. But Gwen hoped that she’d talked Avery into taking the plunge even if she didn’t patch things up with Jason. When it came to him perhaps it was too difficult for a relationship to work if he didn’t give her any reason. Avery’s assertion that he fell in love with her again was ludicrous. One night, after a party in a public hot tub, didn’t ring of love.

Gwen hadn’t let her mind wander back to the night in so long. Weasel’s apartment filled with chattering, laughing, drinking people, the door propped open. New in town, she met him at the counter of the Ellis Diner and he invited her. It wasn’t what she imaged a cop party would look like. He introduced her to his friends and one of them, Jason, about to leave for Afghanistan captured her attention. The conversation and drinks flowed. Hours later their hushed laughter as they snuck into the gate, the pool area of the apartment complex long closed for evening. It was early summer, and a chill hung in the air in the wee hours of the morning and they decided on the hot tub. She’d turned away and stripped quickly, slipping under the bubbles, giggling with the buzz of beer and the naked man entering the hot tub at not nearly the same speed and she’d gotten a good view before he disappeared under the bubbles.

He’d sat across from her, and conversation came as easily as it had all night. She couldn’t recall now what they spoke about, but they laughed and carried on like they’d known each other for years. Then, over the course of the conversation, he’d moved closer. Or maybe she did, or perhaps they’d both migrated closer to one another. Either way, they’d ended up side by side, strangers, buck naked in hot, heavily-chlorinated bubbling water.

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