Breaking the Silence (Hard Drive Book 2) (11 page)

My parents met me at the hospital and immediately took over my life. They made my decisions for me. I no longer spoke for myself. They lined up every medical professional they could think of to research if my hearing loss could be reversed. It couldn’t. I could only take so much before I e-mailed Lindsay, moved here, and started my classes. That’s it. That’s how I got here.

Rico gazed down at her as he gently brushed her hair from her face. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

Nothing to be sorry for.

“You are an incredible woman, Avery. I don’t deserve you.”

She smiled.
Probably not. But I love you anyway.

Avery snuggled close as she yawned. Rico tugged the blanket she had brought from her bedroom around them both then settled into the pillow she had gotten for him. She pressed her cheek to his chest again, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as she drifted back to sleep.

The soft, warm rays of morning pierced through Avery’s senses. For a moment, she was confused. Where was her mattress? Then, she remembered, as her hands glided slowly over hard contours of a muscular chest. Rico had been her teddy bear last night. I could wake up like this every day, she thought.

She looked up into his sleepy, blue eyes.
Good morning.

He smiled. “Good morning, baby. Sleep well?”

Oh yes, I did. And you?

“Absolutely. Never better.”

Good. Would you like breakfast?

“Sure.”

Avery stood and straightened her rumpled clothes. She then tugged Rico to his feet and led him by the hand to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and scanned inside. She turned to him.
I can make eggs.

He pointed at a container of Greek yogurt. “I will take that if you don’t mind. I need to get to the gym.”

Avery reached in and grabbed two cartons of yogurt. She placed one in his hand and gave each of them a spoon.
It sounds like the perfect breakfast
.

Rico peeled the top off his and took a bite. “What do you want to do today? I can come get you after the gym.”

Avery smiled as she grabbed her cell. After a moment she handed it to him.
I am going shopping and having dinner with Chloe. I probably should have told you that too, since she’s your friend. I don’t have many girlfriends. But then I spent all that time at the race with her. I can cancel.

His scowl quickly melted into a smile. “No. I want you to go. It just caught me off guard. I love it that you’ve become friends with Chloe. She is like my sister. We can do couple things with her and Max. Except for running 5k races. I’m done with that.”

Avery giggled.
So, we are a couple?

Rico cocked an eyebrow at her. “I thought we were.”

Being a couple with Rico Choate. Yes. I think I can handle that.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He didn’t sign in answer. He pulled her in for a deep, long kiss.

Normally, Avery was able to tell when the front door opened. It stuck a little so the house would tremble. But she was so lost in Rico’s kiss that she never felt a thing other than the electric jolt that coursed through her body at his touch. Rico pulled away, his eyes wide like a deer in headlights. She turned slowly in his grasp to see what his gaze was locked on.

Lindsay filled the doorway to the kitchen. Avery couldn’t tell what he was shouting, but it angered Rico. He shouted back, his face twisting and his fists clenching at his side. She clapped her hands together and pointed at her brother to get his attention.
You need to stop. Right now.

Avery…
Even Lindsay’s hand motions were furious.

I said stop.
She turned to Rico again.
You better go. I am going to have another talk with my brother.

“Sure. That works for me.”

She pulled Rico to her for one last kiss, not caring if it angered her brother or not. She felt the tension in him dissipate a little. As they parted, she signed.
Bye. I love you.

“I love you, too. Bye.”
Rico grabbed the handles of the cloth grocery sack and retreated out the back door.

Avery spun at Lindsay.
I cannot believe you!

Me? I come home to find you with…
Lindsay waved his hand toward the back door.
That!

Rico is not a that. He is my boyfriend.

What were you and your boyfriend doing in my house? Why was he here first thing in the morning? Were you sleeping together?

No! We fell asleep watching a movie then he stayed with me when I had a nightmare. Besides, what does it matter to you? I am a grown woman, if you remember. Are you going to hover over me like Mom and Dad did?

Lindsay recoiled at Avery’s words.
You are my baby sister. I do not want some low life hurting you.

How can you say that? You do not even know Rico.

Do you, little sister?

Avery felt her blood boil as she stormed past Lindsay. He caught her by the arm and stared her in the eyes, shifting his body weight so she couldn’t get by.
When he says he is going to the gym with his friends, is that where he really is? He spends a whole lot of time working out…more than most people I know. Can you really trust what he says?

She shoved past him and fled to her bedroom, locking the door to end the argument. Lindsay had no idea what he was talking about. Yet, a nagging voice in the back of her mind echoed his words. Rico went to the gym every day for hours. He was sometimes bruised and cut. For someone just taking classes at Hard Drive to stay fit, he was really beat up. Why would Max allow that to happen?

Not to mention that when they were out in public, people flocked to him. She couldn’t deny it. He was the sexiest man she had ever laid eyes on. But both men
and
women stopped him to talk. Some even asked for a picture with him, and he agreed. He acted like he could be a celebrity. He just brushed it off as a resemblance to someone famous. He seemed comfortable with strangers approaching him. She didn’t think he knew she noticed, but she did. And it was very peculiar.

Avery smiled as she changed her clothes. Things didn’t make sense, but she knew someone who could shed light on her questions. Chloe. And she wasn’t about to wait. She sent a quick text to Chloe, picked up her purse, and stormed out the door without saying a word to Lindsay. It was only a few minutes before Chloe pulled up in front of the house.

Avery slid into the passenger seat with a scowl. Chloe looked at her with concern. “Are you all right?”

Avery sighed.
I got in a fight with my brother.
It’s nothing. I am sorry I rushed you.

“No worries. Max had already headed for the gym.”

Good. I cannot wait to get our girls’ day started.

Chloe winked at her. “Then let’s get started.”

Chloe drove to the mall and parked. The two women giggled as they hurried inside to start shopping. This was just what Avery needed—girl time.

They hopped in and out of each store, looking for and trying on clothes, shoes, and jewelry. They chatted as they shopped. Avery loved talking with Chloe. She never had so much in common with another woman before. Before long, they made plans to run again after Avery got out of school.

Avery didn’t realize how much time had passed until her stomach growled. She checked her watch then signed to Chloe.
Wow. Five o’clock.

Chloe checked her watch too. “No wonder I’m starving. Should we go eat?”

Absolutely!

They wandered back to Chloe’s car with their packages in tow. It didn’t take long for Chloe to drive to the pizza place she recommended. Collapsing onto the booth seat, Avery ordered a glass of water. She looked over the menu. The waiter returned with their drinks then took their food order.

As the young man scuttled back to the kitchen, Avery took a deep breath. Here, it goes, she thought.
I noticed Rico works out a lot.

Chloe smiled. “That he does. It helps that his best friends are there to workout with him.”

Have Max and Rico been friends long?

“Not really. Rico moved to Minneapolis a little over a year ago.”

Where was he before?

Chloe shook her head. “I believe these are things that Rico should share with you. Not me.”

He’s never told me about his family or the gym.

“Again, it would be better if it came from him.”

Avery sighed.
True. I’ll ask him.

“Good. Now, should we call the waiter back and get those mozzarella sticks?”

Most definitely.

The two women continued to talk. One thing became clear to Avery. Lindsay was right. There was quite a bit she didn’t know about Rico. But by the end of the week, she would.

»»•««

The diner was busier than usual on a Sunday night. Rico slumped into the seat of his favorite booth. Max said he was right behind, that he would be no more than five minutes.
Yeah, right.

He dug into the pocket of his shorts for his phone and set it on the tabletop. He was tempted to text Avery. This been the longest they gone without talking since they started dating. It was driving him insane. His heart told him that one text wouldn’t hurt. Yet, she was out with Chloe, and he didn’t want to be one of those boyfriends that hovered over the woman he loved.
Sometimes, this dating thing sucks
.

He felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked up to find Kimmy, their favorite waitress, smiling down at him. She tossed her platinum blonde curls over her shoulder. “How are you, handsome?”

Rico cringed at the pet name. Not that he used to. He used to brag to the other guys about it. Kimmy didn’t give them nicknames. But then, she hadn’t slept with the other guys, either.

She nodded down to his cell. “Waiting on a call? Not from your girlfriend, I hope?”

Rico spoke without thinking. “My girlfriend is deaf. She doesn’t call—she texts.”

“Huh.”

Rico glanced at Kimmy, seeing the sweet affection she had for him suddenly melt into hate. Not that she had the right. They weren’t a couple. They’d had a one night stand once or twice. Had she thought they would eventually become a couple? Had he led her to believe that? Was he really that much of a schmuck?

Max dropped into the seat across from him with a wad of documents in his hand. “Sorry I’m late. Had to take a call.”

“No worries,” Rico muttered.

“Can I get you boys something to drink?” Kimmy near barked.

“Water for us both. Fight camp,” Max answered.

“I’ll be back.” Her eyes were murderous as she stomped off to the kitchen.

Max gestured toward her. “What’s her problem?”

Rico rubbed his face, frustrated. “I
am
that much of an ass.”

“Excuse me?”

“For the first time in my life, I’m realizing just how much of a slime ball I am for sleeping around.”

“I could have told you that.”

Rico snarled at him.

Max continued, “See what happens when you fall in love?”

“Aren’t we here to talk about fight week?”

“After we order.”

“Fine.”

Kimmy returned with their glasses. Her attitude was still icy as she scribbled down what they wanted. Once she disappeared, Max laid his papers out on the table. He had their fight week scheduled down to the last minute. Rico always wondered what would happen if he ever deviated from the plan. He chuckled to himself. He would probably find out in the next week.

“How’s it sound?” Max questioned.

“Where do I fit Avery in this?” Rico countered.

“Well, if you told her about your career in mixed martial arts, she could spend time with you at Hard Drive.”

“Not you too,” Rico growled.

“How long do you plan on keeping such a huge part of your life from her?”

“You guys don’t understand. I tried. She thought me taking a fight or two would be great. But when I mentioned being at the level I’m really at, she thought I was Satan.”

“Rico, didn’t you say she loved you?”

“She does. I think.”

“If she loves you, she will accept this part of you.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You don’t have to be a smart ass.”

“Then don’t lecture me.”

Max leaned back in the booth seat with his arms crossed over his chest. Rico let go a long breath. He motioned to the papers. “Let’s just work on fight week.”

“Shouldn’t you work on your relationship first, Rico?”

“Who’s being the smart ass now, Max?”

Max stared at him for a long, hard moment. With a smile, he returned to his notes. Rico let out a sigh. It was going to be a long week.

Once they ate, Max and Rico went their separate ways. Rico drove home to his apartment, dropping his bag on the sofa as he stepped inside. His first destination was the shower.

As the hot water and soap streamed over his skin, he thought about what Max had said. He wanted nothing more than to bring the two loves in his life together. To have Avery by his side as he stepped into the octagon would be a dream come true.

His mind flashed back to their dinner in Des Moines. There was just no way she would trust him. He shut off the water and wrapped a towel around himself to find a pair of sweatpants.

The flash of the screen on his cell phone caught his attention. He smiled as he read the message from Avery.

How was dinner with Max?

All right. Wish it would have been with you. How was dinner with Chloe?

It was fun. Wish you were there. Will I see you in the morning?

Of course. I can’t wait.

I can’t either. See you then. Love you.

Love you too. Sweet dreams, baby.

Sweet dreams.

Rico flipped on the television as he dropped onto the couch. The day may not have gone as he hoped it would. However, it had certainly ended sweeter than he had planned.