Avery: Sensual Desire: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 2) (10 page)

BOOK: Avery: Sensual Desire: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 2)
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Do you want to eat out on the balcony? Or would you rather stay inside?”


Maybe at the table or in front of the TV? I think I would prefer that,” I say as I sit up.


Okay.” Avery gets up as well and takes me by the hand. He walks me to the kitchen. “Want some bread with your chili?”


Okay.” I shrug and lean against the counter. I watch him put the pot of chili back onto the stove and reheat it. It soothes me to watch him. Weird, but true.

He looks at me from time to time as if to make sure that I’m not breaking down again, but I don’t. Right now, I merely feel empty. The world seems dull and hazy. I stare into the bubbling pot.


Do you want to taste it?” he asks.

I nod weakly.

Avery takes a teaspoon from a drawer, sticks it into the chili, and blows softly on the small portion on the spoon. Then he holds it out to my lips.

I blow on it again, and then I take it into my mouth. It’s not very spicy, rather mild, for which I’m thankful. “That is good.”


Yeah. Sweet Thing really is a good cook.”


Why, again, do you call her that?” I ask. For some reason, it makes me a little jealous hearing him call his best friend by such a nickname.

He smirks. “In the beginning I called her Tartlet because of the cupcake incident, and then Sweet Thing developed from Sweet Bird, because she tends to chirp like an angry bird when she gets excited or annoyed—and that used to happen all the time. The name stuck. I can hardly remember the last time I called her Camille.”


I see.”


And how did you get Dale from Dahlia?” he asks.


I don’t know. At some point, my mom started calling me that, and my grandpa got it from her. I suspect she called me Dale because she really wanted a boy.”


Really? I can’t imagine that. I bet she was very proud of you. It’s a shame I can’t get to know her.”

I shrug because I doubt he would have liked to get to know my mother. But then I murmur, “Yes, it is,” because I don’t want him to probe any further. I still haven’t told him the true cause of my mother’s demise, after all. And I don’t intend to. Because after that he would cease being this nice to me.

Finally, Avery grabs two bowls from a cabinet and fills them with chili. “Would you cut the bread?”


Sure. Where is it?” I ask, looking around.


In the bread box. There’s a cutting board in the cabinet below, and here’s a knife.” He hands me a bread knife.

I put the knife on the counter, take the bread out of the bread box, and fetch the board from the cabinet. I cut a few slices from the loaf. “Do you have a bowl for it?”

He hands me a round wire basket. I place the slices of bread in it while Avery gets the spoons and something to drink.


Enjoy,” he says with a smile as he sits down opposite me and places a bowl in front of me.

I can only halfheartedly return his smile. I stir my chili, deeply lost in thought. It all still seems so unreal. It will probably take a while before I fully realize that Grandpa is really dead. The beans on my spoon burn my tongue, but even that’s a welcome sign that I’m still capable of feeling something.


I’m really, sincerely sorry about what happened,” Avery whispers.


I don’t want to talk about it,” I answer softly. “I’m not ready.”


Okay, then we won’t. Suggest a topic,” Avery prompts me. “Tell me about your dreams. What’s your ideal life?”


Well, I dream about studying teaching and later having a job that won’t let me go hungry. I’d like a pretty little house, with children and a man at my side, one who really cherishes me … But those are just daydreams.”


Some dreams come true,” Avery says.


So far, only the nightmares have come true for me,” I whisper.

Avery nods despondently and continues to eat, so I do the same. There’s just too much on my mind to make small talk or force a conversation about anything else. I’d like to go home, but I know everything there will only remind me of Grandpa and that will hurt me.


How can I distract you? Or cheer you up?” Avery asks, breaking the silence.

I gaze into his dark blue eyes. “You can’t,” I answer helplessly. “It’s going around and around in my head, and I don’t think it will stop anytime soon.”


I know. I thought we could take a walk along the beach or maybe watch a movie. Nothing spectacular.”

I shake my head. “I think I just want to go lie down again and block everything out for today.”

Avery nods. “That doctor gave me a sedative for you if you can’t sleep. Do you want to take it?”


I’m not sure,” I murmur. I put down the spoon because suddenly I’m not hungry anymore. “May I take a shower?”

He nods. “Of course.”


Where’s your bathroom?” I ask.


Opposite the bedroom. You can’t miss it.”

I get up and carry my bowl to the counter. I quickly rinse it in the sink, and then I go to the bathroom and undress. I stand in the shower and let the warm water flow over my body for a long while. It feels good, which is a third confirmation of my continuing ability to feel. I stare at the drops of water that run down the shower door. Nothing can stop them; any obstacle will simply be circumvented and they keep running. If only I were a drop of water, chasing my goal without letting anything deter me. The tears on my cheeks mirror the drops of water; they keep running, undeterred. They come of their own accord, no matter how hard I try to keep my cool. Grandpa wouldn’t have wanted me to break down. He always told me I was strong, but now I’m weak. Incredibly weak. I lean against the tiles of the shower and feel my legs buckle under me. I let myself sink down onto the shower floor and close my eyes. He was too young to die. And he was
sick
. I can’t forgive him for never telling me, for at least then I would have been prepared.

I love you too, Dale.

I hear his last words again and again, see his face. I have to remember that, have to store it in my head like a treasure. I have to keep all my memories in a treasure chest in my heart, so I won’t forget him.


Is everything okay, Dale?”

It’s Avery’s voice. When did he come in?


Yes,” I call and splash water on my face to wash away the tears.


You’ve been in here for half an hour. I thought something might’ve happened.”

Well, something
did
happen. My grandfather is dead! “No, I’m fine,” I say. “I’m coming out now. Could you give me a towel?” I struggle to get up from the slippery floor and turn off the water.

I hear him step closer and see his silhouette on the other side of the shower curtain. He holds the towel up and open for me to step into.


Could you look away?” For some reason I feel uncomfortable with him seeing me naked now.


Sure,” he says, closing his eyes.


Thank you,” I say, opening the door of the shower and watching him. He really does have his eyes closed tightly. I step out and back into the towel, which he drops around my shoulders. “Okay,” I say, and then he opens his eyes and looks at me.


You were crying again,” he states.

I lower my eyes, but Avery raises my chin with his hand and forces me to look at him. “Talk to me, okay? I really want to be there for you, Dale.”


Why?” I ask. I simply can’t fathom why he would care so much as to take care of me and shelter me here.

He utters a soft sigh. “Because I like you, and it tears at my heart to see you like this. You deserve a life not weighed down by worries and grief.” He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly.


You're getting all wet,” I whisper.


I don’t care. I just want to hold you. What’s a little water anyway?”

I close my eyes. Avery seems to know instinctively when I need closeness and tenderness. He’s always there in the right moment. When his girlfriend—ex-girlfriend, to be precise—insulted me, he followed me. Then he was there to hold me in the hospital, and now here he is again. Is it possible that there are angels on earth, people who try to alleviate our suffering just by being there for us? Or is Avery the only angel in the world, sent to me, and only to me? Maybe it’s just his character to always be there for the people he likes. Does he really like me? He certainly told me in no uncertain terms, but can I believe that? Anyone else who barely knew me wouldn’t have cared about my problems or Grandpa's death, but Avery did. He
does
. “Thanks for being here for me, Avery,” I breathe.

He strokes the back of my head and then lets his hand rest on the back of my neck. “I like being there for you, and I always will, if you’ll let me.”


We barely know each other,” I softly insist.


What does that matter? We're getting to know each other. Just let me to be here for you.” He wears that warm smile of his and looks into my eyes when I raise my head.

It makes my heart beat faster, and the only thing I can muster is a small nod.

He lets me go. “I can give you some of my clothes. How about a T-shirt and shorts for now?”

I nod again, unable to do anything else. Avery Morrison makes all my synapses explode, even though my mind should be occupied with other things. I can’t think of sex right now. It’s impossible. I must just be desperate for affection.

He turns away from me and leaves the bathroom. I quickly towel myself dry and then wrap my hair up in the towel.


Here is a … wow,” he blurts out when he sees me.

I scramble to pull the towel away from my hair and cover myself with it again. Stark naked, I feel awkward, even though we’ve already had devilishly great sex together. Avery covers his eyes with one hand, reaching out with the other to hand me the clothes. I let the towel drop, take the clothes, and put them on quickly. “You can look now,” I say softly.

He lets his hand drop and looks at me with a widening grin. “You look a little lost in my clothes.”

I have to smile. The T-shirt is long enough for me to wear as a dress. I’m sure it’s loose, even on him, but the effect on me is a totally different one. “I feel like I’m wearing a dress.”


And you’re laughing,” he whispers.

I didn’t even realize it. “Oh.” I try to stifle my smile.


Why
oh
? I like it when you laugh, and I bet he would have wanted you to.”

I nod, but mentioning my grandpa makes my heart ache again immediately. “You’re right, he would want me to be happy. But right now it only hurts.” I start to cry again.

Avery steps toward me and takes me in his arms. “I’ll be here for you forever.”


Thanks, Avery.”


Call me Ave.”


Okay … Ave.”

He strokes my neck, and I close my eyes. “Do you want me to tuck you into bed?”

Again, I merely nod. I have no words in the face of so much warmth, sympathy, and affection.

Ave picks me up. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he carries me out of the bathroom into the bedroom. “I think you should take one of those pills to sleep,” he says softly. “You were tossing and turning in your sleep earlier.” He gently sets me down, and I lie back. Then he tucks me in.


Okay,” I whisper. “I … I'll take one.”

Avery hands me the bottle of pills from the nightstand. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”


Okay,” I repeat. What a stupid word. I seem unable to say anything else. It irritates me.

I watch him leave the bedroom, still wearing the same clothes he wore earlier today. I can’t remember how I got here from the hospital, but he must have carried me—I certainly couldn’t have done it on my own.

I try to distract myself from the pain of my loss by guiding my thoughts to the memory of last night. I spent half of it in this bed right here. I’m glad I went home earlier than I had planned, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have seen Grandpa again. I might have come too late to tell him that I loved him.

Avery returns with a glass of water and hands it to me. I take one of the pills, wash it down, and then put the glass down on the nightstand. “How long do you think it’ll take?” I ask.


I don’t know. But it will take effect eventually, and I’ll stay with you until it does. And if you wake up later tonight, just call for me and I’ll come.”


Where are you going to be?” I ask, confused.


I’m going to sleep on the couch,” he explains.

I shake my head. “Couldn’t you stay with me? I don’t want to be on my own tonight … please?”

Avery inclines his head and looks at me. A few strands of his long hair fall into his face, and I tuck them back. “Do you really want that?” he asks.


Yes,” I whisper. “I want you here in case I wake up.”

He stands and takes off his clothes all the way to his shorts, then lies down beside me. Before I know it, he has pulled me into the safety of his arms. “I’ll stay with you, Dale. I promise. I won’t leave you alone.”

BOOK: Avery: Sensual Desire: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 2)
4.34Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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