Page 83 of That First Date

I’ve never been more thankful in my life than right now that I told Avery to come in at noon today. I think a subconscious part of me wanted the morning to take some extra space before every part of her invades my senses, my space. She’s done nothing but consume me since this started. In both the best and worst ways possible.

The best… because nothing feels better than having her around. She brings me—dare I say? Happiness. Everything feels easier when she’s around. I feel things I haven’t felt in years since Becky built the wall around my heart. Avery makes me want to take a sledgehammer to every wall I’ve ever put up. I’m a glutton for punishment clearly because that life isn’t for her.

Which brings us to the worst… she keeps saying she’s not wired for this. All she’s known her entire life is an independent and fierce role model. Her mom is amazing, no doubt about that. She looks up to her, and hell, a part of me does too.

That’s why I made the decision to book the flights for her to come down here to spend the weekend with us. I didn’t meet her until that weekend, but with a little help from Peyton, we arranged it and made it look like Peyton’s idea, because she and I were not in a place for us to say it was me at the time.

Avery has talked a lot about how much her mom means to her. She told me the story about her dad walking out when she was young. And she briefly mentioned how her mom has always sort of struggled financially. It was the least I could do bringing her mom down here for after everything she’s doing for me.

I thought my little breather this morning would help relieve some of this built-up tension by the time she gets here, however I'm more on edge than I was before because there was just a huge ball dropped on me.

A cabin in the mountains.

A weekend.

With my boss.

With Todd and Vivian.

With… Avery.

I decide I need to take a walk around the block to get some air. I stop at the little coffee stand outside of the building and get myself a cup of black coffee. Don’t ask me how a cup of caffeine can ease the tension, when most have the opposite reaction. But it works.

I don’t know what happened from the time I left until the time I walked back in, but my front desk receptionist is on the verge of tears, and I can faintly hear a male voice on the other line shouting at her.

“What’s going on?”

She covers the phone with her hand so the person doesn’t hear her. “This man is angry. He’s trying to get in touch with Avery. He keeps screaming and—”

I cut her off by yanking the phone out of her hands, more forcefully than I intended too. But anger shot through my blood at the fact that he was screaming, and it was about Avery.

“Hello?”

“Who’s this?” The man on the other end huffs out.

“I’m about to be your worst nightmare if you keep yelling at my receptionist the way you have.” I keep my tone steady and give the receptionist a small nod that she can go. She didn’t waste another second before she was scurrying down the hall to the break room. “Who. Is. This?”

“I’m looking for Avery.” His voice grows louder. “She’s my girlfriend. I can’t get in touch with her. Who are you?”

My anger turns to rage the second I hear him saymy girlfriend.

There’s no way Avery has been hiding a boyfriend all this time.

No. Fucking. Way.

“Name.” I practically growl into the receiver, my knuckles turning white as I grip the phone in my hand.

“Avery. I’m looking for Avery.”

“No,” I snap. “Yourfucking name.”

He huffs out an amused breath like he thinks this is funny. “You’re an angry elf, aren’t you?”

“I don’t have time for games. You’re callingmyplace of business. Looking formyemployee and yelling atmyreceptionist. So yeah, you could say I’m fucking angry right now.”

“Christ,” he mutters. “I’m Dean. Where is Avery?”

Dean.

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