“He came over to ask me questions about his wrist.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Do you realize how convoluted that is?”
Lucy disappeared into Exam Two, leaving David alone to process her response. Whatever did or didn’t happen between Avery and Tucker on Saturday night, the amount of time they were spending together was a pretty solid indication that Avery felt something for Tucker. But David would almost put money on Avery feeling something for him as well. Surely he wasn’t so desperate and clueless that he was making up the spark he felt whenever they were together.
David half-listened as the resident in Exam Two reported the patient’s symptoms to Lucy, finishing with her preliminary diagnosis. Without eyes on the patient, David couldn’t be certain, but based on what he could hear of the resident’s report, he agreed with the diagnosis and was impressed with her competence.
Lucy must have agreed as well. She ordered one additional test then left the patient in the care of the resident and returned to David’s side. As soon as she saw him still slouched against the wall, she rolled her eyes. “Seriously, David. You have to get over this. You look like a kid whose puppy died.”
Lucy moved back down the hallway, David still on her heels. “Here’s the thing,” he said. “I realize I don’t have a lot of experience, but I think Avery is into me.”
Lucy raised an eyebrow. “That’s confident of you. What makes you so sure?”
“I just feel like there’s something there. When we look at each other, there’s this . . . pull. I feel something.”
Lucy turned to face him, placing a hand on either shoulder. “David,” she said, her tone gentle. “You know I love you. And that means speaking the hard truths even if it stings a little.”
David braced himself, already knowing he wouldn’t like what Lucy had to say.
“If Avery felt the same pull that you do, she wouldn’t be spending the night with another man.”
David shook his head. “She said nothing happened. And this situation is different. Tucker isn’t who she thinks he is.”
“Maybe he isn’t. But do you really think learning as much is going to suddenly make Avery have feelings for you?”
“But maybe—”
“Stop,” Lucy said. “I know I encouraged you in the beginning, but it’s time to move on. We’re going out this weekend, okay? You, Haley, me and John. Nothing big. Just something casual. Dinner and a movie, maybe.”
David hated the frankness of her words, and still wanted to argue the point. But he swallowed his retorts. What did he actually know anyway? “Fine,” he eventually said. “This weekend.”
Lucy nodded. “Be sure to say something to Haley about it.” She finally released his shoulders. “Tell her you’re excited to go and ask her if she has a preference for dinner. Make sure she’s not vegan or something. I was hoping we could go to Lewis’s for barbecue.”
David rubbed his temples, wishing he could muster up actual enthusiasm over the prospect of another date. “I’ll ask her.”
“Now go find a patient or something,” Lucy said, as she moved down the hall. “Your brain clearly needs the distraction.”
Two days passed before David saw Avery again. He was at his mailbox when she strolled up, grocery bags in hand. The second he saw her coming up the road, his stupid heart started racing like he was in middle school, watching his crush approach from across the room. Mentally, he’d agreed with Lucy. It did make sense to move on. But that didn’t mean he could get his heart to comply. Not with Avery living right next door.
“Hey,” Avery said, lowering her shopping bags to the ground. “Anything interesting?”
David looked at the stack of mail in his hand, all advertisements and credit card applications. “Does anything interesting come in the mail anymore?”
“My great aunt Virginia sends me twenty-five dollars on my birthday every year,” Avery said. She lifted her hand up to shield her eyes from the late afternoon sun.
“I guess that counts,” David said. Silence settled between them and Avery reached down to pick up her groceries. “How are you?” he asked, not wanting her to leave. “How’s life?”
A shadow of something flitted across her face before she smiled. “Good,” she said. “Everything’s good.” David had the same feeling in his gut that he always got when a patient wasn’t telling him the whole truth about whatever medical incident/accident/stupid behavior had landed them in the ER. He’d gotten pretty good at weaseling his way to the truth, but he sensed Avery might not appreciate the same treatment. She wasn’t obligated to tell him anything, after all. Not like his patients were.
“That’s good,” David said. “I’m glad.”
“And for you?” Avery said. “You’re good, too?”
“Yeah, yeah. Busy. But good.” The small talk was killing him, but he’d endure it if it meant keeping her in front of him for five more minutes.
“Are you headed into work?” Avery looked pointedly at his scrubs.
David looked down, following her gaze. “Oh. Yeah. I work at seven.”
“The night shift, huh? It’s seems like it’s been a lot of those lately.”
David tried not to dwell on the fact that she’d noticed. “I’m on nights another week then I’ll shift back to days.”
“That’s too bad. I was thinking about getting a pizza and was going to ask you to join me.”
David’s heart fell to his stomach and he glanced at his watch. It was already twenty past six. Too late for him to squeeze dinner in before he left. But just the fact that she’d invited him would keep him feeling buzzed all night. “Another time then,” he said, hoping she sensed from his tone how much he would love for that to happen.
“Yeah,” she said, finally picking up her bags. “I’d like that.” She took a few backward steps. “See you later?”
David nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”
She made it halfway to her porch before she stopped and turned around. “Hey. What do you like on your pizza? Just, you know. For next time.”
David figured he’d eat anchovies and dill pickles on a pizza if it meant sharing it with her, but he couldn’t exactly say that out loud. He settled for the truth. “Pineapple,” he said. “Lots of it. And enough Canadian bacon to fill up all the extra space the pineapple hasn’t already covered.”
Avery shook her head, her smile wide. “You’re kidding.”
David shrugged. “I know. My sisters think it’s disgusting too. But pineapple pizza got me through med school. I can’t help it.”
She shook her head again, clearly amused about something, though David couldn’t pinpoint what. “Have a good night, Dave.”
His heart warmed at the sound of the nickname she’d given him that first day they’d met. He climbed into his car and drove to the hospital feeling more optimistic than he’d felt in days. Lucy’s wisdom and council had never steered him wrong. But this time? He was going with his gut. He wasn’t ready to give up on Avery.
***
David glanced at his watch for what must have been the four hundredth time. Lucy shot him a look, her eyes wide and scolding, and he forced his arm under the table, where he might not feel so tempted. It wasn’t that he was having a terrible time. Haley’s company was pleasant, and he always enjoyed being with Lucy and John. He just felt restless. Impatient for the date to be over already so he could figure out a time to actually have that promised pizza with Avery. It didn’t seem fair to give Haley the impression he was interested in something more when his energy was clearly focused elsewhere.
Lucy had insisted it was too late to back out, and he ought to give Haley a chance. Maybe he’d be surprised by the chemistry they felt.
So far, he hadn’t been surprised by anything.
Haley was perfectly nice, had a lovely smile and made him feel exactly nothing.
After the meal, Haley excused herself to go to the restroom and David breathed deeply for the first time all night.
“That bad, huh?�
� John asked.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Don’t encourage him, John. He ought to be giving this woman a chance.”
John shook his head. “I know the look in his eyes. He’s way too hung up on somebody else for Haley to have a fighting chance.”
Lucy looked at David then, compassion in her eyes. “I don’t want you to get hurt, David. I just have this feeling things aren’t going to end well if you stay on this course.”
David shook his head. “You’re wrong, Lu. I appreciate you worrying about me, but she’s the one for me. I know it.”
Lucy sighed. “Okay. If you say so.”
The group had decided on the newest superhero movie after dinner, and they drove down to the movie theater in Mt. Pleasant for the more comfortable chairs and stadium seating. While they waited in line for popcorn, David froze. On the other side of the lobby, also in line for popcorn was Tucker. And Jessica. David quickly turned his back on the couple, spinning in such a dramatic way that he almost elbowed Haley in the head.
“Whoa,” she said, ducking out of the way. “You okay?”
“Sorry,” David said. “So sorry. I just um, sorry. Do you want butter on your popcorn?”
She eyed him, clearly confused by his behavior, but it’s not like he could explain. “No butter,” she said. “I’d rather not have the extra calories. And a diet soda.”
David made a mental note of her preferences, trying not to make yet another comparison to Avery. Avery liked butter on her popcorn. So much that she’d listed buttered popcorn as one of her favorite foods in a text thread they’d shared one night, back before he’d made things awkward.
Fresh oysters. Watermelon. Navel oranges. Buttered Popcorn. Hushpuppies. And donuts from The Donut Shop over on King Street.
His nearly photographic memory had been an asset in medical school, and always helped when it was time to analyze lab results or recall patient symptoms. When it came to Avery, it just made him see her everywhere. In everything. Reminders of her constantly pinging the places in his brain where he stored everything Avery.
A quick glance behind him showed that Tucker and Jessica were still a few people back in line. He suddenly wished it was Avery he was seeing a movie with. Then all he’d have to do was point Tucker out and she’d know everything she needed to know.
Except, maybe he still could point Tucker out. He’d just have to get Avery to the theater.
John nudged him from behind. “Hey. David. You’re up.”
David looked around, finally noticing that the concession line had moved forward without him. He closed the distance between him and the counter and ordered Haley’s popcorn and diet soda. He was too preoccupied to think about eating himself.
“Seriously?” Haley said. “I’m not going to sit beside you and eat popcorn while you have nothing.”
David had never been so irritated by another human being. Which was grossly unfair. It wasn’t Haley’s fault, though he did find her strict adherence to her calorie count more annoying than attractive.
He looked at the kid behind the concession stand. “Add another popcorn, with butter, and a Cherry Coke to that, please.”
Haley smiled. Probably happy that David was not just eating but eating more calories than she was.
Seconds after their butts hit the seats in the theater, David jumped back up, claiming he wanted to go to the bathroom before the movie started. He made it back into the lobby just as Tucker and Jessica were finishing up at the concession stand. Now all he needed to do was figure out which theater they were going to be in, ask an employee how long their movie would last, calculate the time they’d most likely be leaving the theater, and then somehow convince Avery to come to the theater at the same time.
David tried not to dwell on how ridiculous the entire plot sounded. Or on the lie he’d have to tell Avery in order to get her to the theater. But the opportunity was too good. She’d learn about Tucker and Jessica, and if he played it right, Tucker wouldn’t even know that David was at the theater which meant Tucker would have no reason to follow through with his career-related threats.
Of course, that meant Avery would have to not mention that the only reason she came to the theater was to meet David. Or maybe pick up David? He hadn’t quite decided what his lie was going to be. But that was a risk he was going to have to take. The first step to having a chance with Avery was getting Tucker out of the picture.
As Tucker and Jessica approached the long hallway that led back to the theaters, David ducked into the alcove right outside the women’s restroom door. A woman coming out of the bathroom shot him a look, and he grimaced. “Sorry. Just waiting for my friend.” It was a pitiful explanation. Who waited for a friend six inches from the actual bathroom door?
“Creep,” the woman muttered under her breath.
David winced at the insult but didn’t have time to dwell on it. He turned his back as Tucker and Jessica walked past, then darted out behind them, hoping against hope that they didn’t turn around. They went into the theater two doors down from his own to see a slasher movie he was almost positive Jessica would not have picked to see on her own. Once they were inside the theater, he backtracked to the lobby, asking the first employee he saw what time the slasher movie started and ended, then compared those times to the ending time of his own movie. There was about a twenty-minute difference—Tucker’s movie ending first—which meant David had to figure out a way to get Avery to walk into the theater at the same time Tucker’s movie was letting out. And she had to do it without seeing David, or at least without Tucker seeing David.
David pressed his forehead into his hand. There were too many variables. Too many things that could go wrong.
“David?”
David looked up to see Lucy approaching him.
“What are you doing out here? The previews are almost over.”
“I, um, I got distracted.”
Lucy looked around. “By what?”
David looked over his shoulder before answering. He felt cagey and uncomfortable, like he was already seconds away from getting caught even though he technically hadn’t done anything worth catching. “Tucker and Jessica are here,” he whispered to Lucy.
Lucy furrowed her brow. “What? Where?”
“In the next theater.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Whatever you’re thinking, David, stop. Don’t do it.”
“If I can just get Avery here, she’ll see for herself what Tucker is doing. She’ll see what I can’t tell her.”
“It’s a bad idea.”
“Why?”
“Because a million different things could go wrong.”
David huffed, but he couldn’t disagree with her. His list hadn’t gotten quite to a million, but he’d already thought of at least a dozen ways how proceeding with his plan could backfire in his face. But if it all went right? That potential outcome was worth the risk. “If I love Avery, I have to try and make things right for her.”
Lucy froze and her face softened. “You love her? Are you serious?”
David sighed. “I don’t know. I think so. I know I’ve never felt this way before.”
“What if Avery already knows about Tucker’s fiancée and she doesn’t care? What if she likes the lack of commitment, the no-pressure nature of that kind of relationship?”
“Avery’s not like that,” David shot back, fire in his voice.
“Are you sure? Has she told you?”
David thought back through all the things Avery had told him about Tucker. He’d always thought she sounded like it was a relationship—a real one. But she’d never really talked about the true nature of their relationship. Probably because David had always been so confrontational whenever Tucker came up.
“She’s a grown woman. And you’re meddling like you’re still in high school.”
David’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t meddling. He was helping out a friend who needed to learn the truth about someone she needed to be rid of. The sooner the better. �
��I’ll be in in a minute, okay?”
Lucy shook her head. “What am I supposed to tell Haley?”
“Don’t tell her anything. I’ll be right there.” David pulled out his phone and scrolled through his texts until he found the last message from Avery. When he looked back up, he saw Lucy disappear back into the theater. Glancing at the time, he did a quick calculation of the exact time Tucker’s movie would be out, then tapped out a text to Avery.
Hey. I’m at the movie theater in Mt. Pleasant and I need a ride home. Any chance you can come and get me? Movie will be out at 10:40. He hit send, then held his breath.
She replied almost instantly. That’s soooo late. How did you even get to the movie theater if you don’t have a ride home?
I’ll explain later, David texted back. Please? Just come. He hoped the added gravity to his message would inspire her to make the trip without asking anymore questions, and that when she realized the real reason he’d asked her to come, she’d forgive the lie.
Chapter 15
Avery pulled into the movie theater parking lot just after ten thirty. She’d almost told David no, but something about that text he’d sent—she could tell he needed a friend and was happy he’d called her. She’d been thinking about him more and more ever since her conversation with Melba and had all but decided she’d call things off with Tucker to more fully explore the possibility of dating David.
She pulled out her phone and sent David a text. I’m here. Parked toward the back.
She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes but opened them right back up when her phone dinged with a text.
Actually, can you come inside? There’s someone I want you to meet.
Avery stared at the text. Someone he wanted her to meet? At the movie theater? What on earth? Why was he being so vague? She looked down at the yoga pants and oversized sweatshirt she wore and sighed. I mean, she still looked decently cute. She’d made a tiny bit of an effort because she was coming to see David, and suddenly that had more significance than it did the week before. But she was still dressed way down.
Always & Forever: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (ABCs of Love Collection, Books 1 - 4) Page 61
