I reached out and placed my hand over his, offering silent support. He looked at me, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause, as if we were the only two people in it.
Then, as if sensing that the conversation was becoming too heavy, he shifted the topic.
“Enough of sad memories,” he said, forcing a small smile. “Tell me, what made you decide to sign up on Tinder?”
I laughed, the lightness of the question a welcome relief. “Funny thing is, I didn’t sign myself up. My best friend created the account.”
“You don’t say,” Avery said, grinning.
“I swear. She did everything—from creating my profile to choosing the dates.”
“I think I like her already. She sounds like fun,” he said, chuckling.
“She really is. How about you?” I asked, curious about his story.
“Let’s just say I decided to give love another shot. Given my social apathy, I opted for a less aggressive approach.”
“And how’s that been going?” I asked, my interest piqued.
“It’s been a roller coaster, trust me,” he said with a wry smile.
“I can relate,” I said, nodding.
We continued talking, the conversation flowing easily as we shared stories and laughter. The more I learned about Avery, the more I found myself drawn to him. He was kind, genuine, and despite the pain he carried, he had a warmth that was hard to resist.
Just as I was about to dive into the story of how I became a nurse, my phone buzzed, interrupting the moment. I had put it on Do Not Disturb, but Joey’s call came through, causing a pit of dread to form in my stomach.
“I think you should take that. It might be important,” Avery suggested when he saw my hesitation.
Before I could return Joey’s call, a text message popped up:
Kevin suffered a crisis. He’s in the hospital.
Panic surged through me, and I nearly knocked over a china plate as I scrambled to grab my phone, startling Avery.
“What is it?” he asked, concern etched across his face as he quickly came to my side.
“Avery, I need to get to the hospital now,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’m so sorry to cut our date short, but this is urgent.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said gently, understanding the dawning in his eyes. “I completely understand.”
He probably thought it was a patient or family emergency, but the truth was much more complicated. How could I explain that this was about Kevin, a man who had once been more than just a friend?
“Let me drive you,” Avery offered, his tone firm and insistent.
“I can manage,” I tried to sound strong, but my voice betrayed the fear and anxiety swirling inside me.
“You’re in no condition to drive. I can’t let you do that,” he said firmly, grabbing my purse and keys. “Come on, Licia. Let me help you.”
I wanted to argue, but the truth was, he was right. I was too shaken to think clearly, let alone drive. Nodding, I allowed him to lead me out of the house, my mind already racing ahead to the hospital.
When we arrived, the sight of Kevin’s parents and Lexie in the waiting area made my heart clench with fear. The worry etched on their faces told me everything I needed to know—this was serious.
I turned to Avery, my voice barely above a whisper. “I think you can go now.”
“Are you sure? I can stay if you need me to,” he offered, his concern for me evident in his eyes.
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll call you when things settle down,” I promised, trying to keep my voice steady.
