Part 34 (1/2)
”That's what I said.”
”Good, and believe me, I don't want to sound like one of those crazy, overprotective sisters, but...” She pauses when I meet her gaze. Her eyes are dark, serious, and a little bit of fear settles in my stomach as she holds my gaze. ”He is my favorite, really, and I would do anything for him. So please don't make me kill you, because you seem like a great girl and Angie loves you. But if you hurt him, I will be that crazy, overprotective sister everyone is afraid of.”
I don't want to smile, but I can't help it because it's just all so amazing and cute. Jace is so lucky. Nodding my head, my lips curving, I say, ”I won't hurt him.”
”Good, and he won't hurt you. Believe me. He won't.”
”I hope you're right.”
She gives me a deadpan look. ”I'm always right.”
”My uncle Jude says she isn't, though,” Angie pipes up and that has us both laughing as Angie giggles along with us.
I'm glad I came.
But most of all, I hope she is right.
Because I can't handle being hurt again.
I wake to the sound of someone climbing into my bed.
Alarmed, I sit up quickly just as Avery pauses, a grin on her face as she looks at me. ”Hey, just me, killer.”
Letting out the breath I was holding, I reach for her and she falls on me, an airy giggle leaving her sweet lips. I nuzzle into her chest, and she wraps her arms around my head as I close my eyes. ”Hey.”
”Have a good nap?”
”Yeah,” I admit and it really was. I feel recharged, like I could take on anything. But then, I could probably sleep until tomorrow with no problem at all. I got lucky because Markus had to go out to dinner with his dad, so there were no distractions at all as I slept. It was glorious, but being in her arms is ten times better. Holding me tightly, she kisses the top of my head and I melt against her. I don't know how I missed her during my exhausted state but I did, and I'm so glad she's here. Moving my head out from the middle of her chest, I ask, ”How was your day?”
”Busy,” she whispers, her fingers moving through my hair. ”But I had a blast with Angie and Lucy.”
I snort. ”You mean Angie, right?”
Her body shakes with laughter. ”No, I said it right. Both of them. Lucy is fun.”
”Hardly. She's hateful,” I accuse with a grin, and she continues to giggle.
”No, she is awesome. Really, she even threatened me if I hurt you.”
That has me raising my head. ”Really?”
”Yes.” Her eyes are dancing with laughter, but I still have a hard time believing that.
”My sister? That's crazy 'cause she didn't threaten Claire or Baylor.”
”Well, she did say you were her favorite.”
”d.a.m.n right,” I say confidently before kissing her chin. ”Maybe I do like her.”
”Oh, hush.” She smacks my arm. ”But really, I had a blast. Made my s.h.i.+t day better.”
”It was s.h.i.+t?”
She shrugs. ”Just been off.”
”Really? You seemed fine when I saw you.”
”Yeah, but then my mom called, and talking to her just exhausted me. Apparently, my dad forgot to buy my ticket for the game during my trip to New Jersey in two weeks.”
”I thought your whole family was gonna be there?”
”Exactly, but the excuse was he forgot mine 'cause he didn't know what was going on, but it's whatever. And then she brought you up but didn't even want to know anything about you. It's just annoying.”
Tightening my hold on her, I kiss the side of her mouth. ”I'm sorry.”
”It's whatever,” she says again, but I can tell it hurt her feelings. I don't blame her. I would be upset too, and shame on them for making her feel like that.
”Maybe you shouldn't go to New Jersey.”
She looks up, moving her fingers along the hair that's hanging in my eyes. ”Yeah, I considered that, but I have a doctor's appointment I have to go to.”
”For?”
She pauses, her fingers twirling my hair, and I wait. Briefly meeting my gaze, she looks away quickly, and I know she is holding back again. I want to shake her, tell her I'm here to listen, but she is silent as she plays with my hair. ”Avery?” I ask and she shrugs.
”Just doctor stuff, nothing to worry about.”
That makes my eye twitch, and I take ahold of her hand, capturing her gaze. ”What for? Are you okay?”
”I'm fine,” she insists. ”It's just my therapist. She wants to see me one last time before I transfer down here.”
Therapist? Okay.
”Okay,” I say slowly, waiting for her to go on. But it appears she isn't going to. ”Why do you go to a therapist?”
Swallowing hard, she looks up at me and shrugs. ”For therapy.”
I try not to glare, but come on. Really? ”No s.h.i.+t, Sherlock. For what?”
”Um, well, just stuff. I have issues.”
”Like?” Jesus, this is like pulling teeth!
”Why does it matter?” she asks before sitting up. ”They don't affect you. I'm fine.”
”But they affect you,” I say, sitting up, my eyes searching hers. ”Why won't you just tell me?”
”Because it's nothing, really. It's silly. I'm fine as long as I take my meds. I promise.”
What the h.e.l.l?