I knew it was time to call Avery, just as Joey had advised. I hadn’t meant to go silent on him, but I needed some space to untangle my emotions, and I felt I had done that. It was time to face the music.
After wrapping up an online interview for my promotional screening, I set my laptop to sleep mode and picked up my cell phone.
The clock on my wall read 6 a.m., a time when most people would still be in bed. Avery seemed like the type to rise early, soI hoped he’d be awake. With a mix of hope and anxiety, I dialed his number.
“Hi…” Avery’s husky voice greeted me. It had a disarming effect, sending a shiver down my spine. I didn’t like how his voice had this power over me. I cleared my throat, attempting to dispel the fluttery sensation.
“Good morning, Avery. How have you been?”
“I’ve been good,” he replied, his voice warm despite the early hour. “Busy with a few things, but otherwise great. And you?”
“Nice. Well, Avery, I want to apologize for not taking or returning your calls over the past week. I’ve been caught up in an emotional whirlwind, making it difficult to focus on anything else.” I hesitated, unsure of how to continue.
“Can you still hear me?”
“Yeah, loud and clear,” he said, with a hint of brusqueness that made me wince.
“Okay, so I’m really sorry. I hope you understand?”
“You don’t have to apologize for that,” he said after a thoughtful pause. “I was a bit hurt at first because I thought we had something good going. But then I realized I can’t force things, so I decided to wait for you to reach out when you were ready.”
“I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way,” I said, my voice trembling slightly.
He chuckled softly, a sound that was both comforting and unsettling. “It’s cool.”
“Cool people don’t usually declare they’re cool, Avery,” I said, trying to add a touch of levity to the conversation.
“Smart response. But what would you have me do? Shout at you? Feel bad for being led on? I was confused by your silence, wondering where I went wrong. So, tell me how you want me to react, and I’ll do just that.”
His confidence was both unnerving and intriguing. It was as though he was betting on Kevin and me not lasting.
“I just needed to be honest with you. I’m in a relationship with someone else now,” I said, my voice steady but my heart racing.
“I understand,” Avery replied. “But that doesn’t mean I’m backing down. I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’ll take my chances.”
I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the situation. “I had to get that off my chest. I need to get ready for work now. Have a great day, Avery.”
“You too, Licia. Talk to you later.”
I wasn’t heading to work, though. My real destination was Kevin’s house. He had mentioned telling his family about us after his follow-up appointment, so I assumed he had already done so. The thought made me jittery with nerves, but I steeled myself and got dressed.
When I arrived at Kevin’s house, I was greeted by a woman I didn’t recognize, playing with a little boy in the yard. They looked like a picture-perfect family, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I didn’t know Kevin’s relatives, so I approached her, assuming she might be a family member.
“Hi, good morning,” I said with a friendly smile.
“Hello,” she replied, extending her hand with a warm, genuine smile.
Her face was smooth and well-defined, with sea-blue eyes and long lashes that gave her an almost ethereal beauty. She looked like a model who had stepped off a runway.
“Are the Browns home?” I asked, shaking her hand.
“I think Kevin is the only one home,” she said, glancing at me with a hint of curiosity.
“He’s in the gym. If you don’t mind me asking, who are you?”
“I’m Licia Michaels, Kevin’s girlfriend,” I said with a hint of pride.
Her smile turned into a smirk.“Interesting.I’m the mother of his son.”
