Passionate Kisses

by Various

  Fond memories. Avery wouldn’t trade them for anything.

  At least she had a chance to meet her birth mother and ask the questions she’d always wanted to know. Then she could move on. If she formed a relationship with her, great. If not, it may sting for awhile, but Avery had a place to come home to. Mom and Dad would be right there to give her all the support she needed.

  As for Rodney, well, she hoped he would keep in touch too. Something about the way he took off didn’t sit right with her. Avery couldn’t put a finger on it. She could just be overthinking it.

  Leaves rustled behind her. Avery whirled around. It wasn’t windy, so that wasn’t the reason. “Hello?” she called, suddenly wishing she wasn’t walking alone.

  Snap!

  What was that?

  Avery’s heart skipped a beat. Her pulse quickened and she gathered her wits and called out again, but this time, she clutched her purse, ready to strike if someone bolted from those trees. She couldn’t see anything, or anyone, for that matter. The hairs on the back of her neck stood. An invisible hand of ice crawled down her back.

  Someone was there. She knew it, though she couldn’t see them.

  Her heart thundered in her chest.

  Run! She needed to run!

  So she did. As fast as she could. Through the trees, her shoes pounding through the mud and the puddles. Were they following her? Avery lost her footing and fell, scraping her arm against a tree. The sound of footsteps near her sent her into a scream.

  She got to her feet, ignoring the biting sting from her arm. She had to get to Jameson’s. Now. She gasped for air as panic settled in. In the distance, a shadowy figure darted through the trees. Avery swallowed hard, and made a run for it. Jameson’s wasn’t that far. She’d made this walk many times. Never, never ever had anyone or anything scared her this bad on the trip. Until tonight.

  She knew this town, this area.

  Except for now. All Avery knew was how frightened she felt.

  Someone grabbed her arm and she let out a piercing shriek. Her purse was on her other arm, so Avery yanked it off her shoulder and started pelting the person. “Leave me alone!”

  “Avery! What the hell? Stop, it’s me. It’s Jameson!”

  Jameson?

  A light flashed in her face. Jameson held a flashlight.

  “Oh God, Jameson. I’m sorry.” Avery dropped her purse and let him put his arms around her. She trembled, her knees buckled and if she hadn’t been leaning on Jameson, she would have fallen.

  “What’s going on? You’re terrified. You’re bleeding!” Jameson looked at her with concern.

  “We need to get out of here. Someone’s following me.” Avery gasped for a breath, trying to calm her her heart, which was beating erratically.

  “What? Avery, are you sure?” Jameson bent to pick up her purse and led her to the house. She couldn’t help herself, she kept turning her head to look behind her, in fear that whoever followed her would now get both of them.

  “I’m sure, Jameson. I heard the twigs and leaves. I saw a shadow,” Avery snapped.

  Okay, it wasn’t his fault. He’s just making sure.

  Jameson stayed silent as he took her inside.

  “Hey. I’m sorry. I’m just a bit spooked. I don’t mean to jump all over your case.” Avery softened her tone, hoping to smooth things over. Relief washed over her when Jameson closed and locked the door behind her.

  “It’s okay. I know you’re upset. I was caught off guard when you pelted me like that. We’ve gone through those woods so many times. Never have I seen you so spooked.”

  “That’s the same thing I was thinking.” Avery thought back to the text message and now this. “Where is everyone? What were you doing out there?”

  “You’re the first to arrive, and I went outside waiting for you. Ever since your friend Lucas had an issue with someone trying to run him off the road, I wanted to look out for you. I should have just come to the inn and drove you, or walked with you.” Jameson handed Avery a water. “Let me see your arm. How is Lucas’s ankle, by the way?”

  Avery stared at Jameson. What was he talking about? Avery recalled Lucas talking about something with his ankle the other night, but she’d never asked about it, and he never said a thing.

  “Umm, it’s good. Better.” She winced as Jameson touched the sensitive skin around her cut. “How bad is it?”

  “A bloody scrape. I think you’ll live a long and happy life,” Jameson teased. “I’ll go get some stuff and clean it, then bandage it for you. Be right back.” Jameson took off, leaving Avery alone.

  She’d have to ask Lucas about the car incident. Were the things related? His incident, then tonight, and the text? Just small things, but they kept adding up.

  Something wasn’t right. Avery was glad more than ever that they’d be getting out of town for awhile.

  Avery heard voices, then heard the knock at the door. She opened it carefully. It was just the rest of the band. “Avery! What happened to you?”

  She stepped back to let everyone in. Then Jameson returned, holding a bottle of peroxide, cotton swabs, and a box of bandages.

  “I decided to take on a tree and it won?” she joked.

  “Silly girl. Shouldn’t do that.” Randy ruffled her hair.

  “Yeah, well, too late for that.” Avery clenched her teeth when Jameson began to clean her wound. “That hurts like a mother fu-”

  “Hold still, Avery,” Jameson pleaded, gripping her arm a little tighter. “I’m almost done.”

  Avery stiffened, but did her best to comply, when all she wanted to do was yank her arm away and tell Jameson to shove it. He was only trying to help, but damn it, that sting was getting near unbearable!

  True to his word, Jameson finished cleaning the cut and placed the large bandage over it and smiled. “There. That’s all taken care of. Want a lollipop for your great cooperation?” He shot a grin her way.

  “For that amount of pain, I want two,” Avery grumbled.

  Jameson’s grin widened. “Sure thing.”

  “Brat.”

  “You guys ready to play or what?” Randy asked. “I want to make some music!”

  “Yeah, let’s do it,” Avery said, wanting to forget about the pain in her arm and the events of the night. Jameson and Avery were the last to head into the garage, where they practiced when they were at Jameson’s.

  “You all right?” Jameson touched her shoulder. “I don’t like that someone may have been following you. And with Lucas’s incident the other day ... I don’t know, Avery, but something tells me to keep an eye out.”

  “I’m okay. Shaken up, in a bit of pain, but you know me. I’m not that easily rattled.” Avery brushed it off, hoping to just forget it. “I’ve got something to tell y’all tonight though.”

  Jameson’s brows raised a notch, but he didn’t say anything.

  For the next hour, they played music. Avery felt much better and safer doing the thing she loved so much. Her shoulders relaxed and she could feel the tension leaving her body.

  The time flew. Before she knew it, practice was over. As everyone gathered up their instruments, Avery cleared her throat. “Hey, guys. I gotta tell you something.” That got their attention. All eyes were now on her with curious looks on their faces. “I’m going to be leaving for a few days, maybe a week or so. I have the opportunity to meet my birth mother.”

  Okay, why didn’t anyone say anything? The quiet, still room was killing her. Then all at once, everyone cheered, congratulated her and gave her hugs.

  “That’s great!”

  “Wonderful to hear!”

  “Go, Baby Stetson! You deserve this.”

  “Thank you guys. I appreciate your support. Y’all have been so great to me. I love each and every one of you,” Avery said, looking around the room at their faces.

  “Aww, don’t get all girly emotional on us now,” Marty teased, messing up Avery’s hair affectionately.

  “I don’t mean to. Well, okay, y
es I do. I just wanted you guys to know how much I appreciate your friendship. Being in the band with you, making music, it’s been an experience for me. I love to express myself through music. And I know I’ve been holding back in the sense of wanting to stay close to home, but if you’re all on board, I think we should take this to the next level. I know you skirt around that topic because of me.”

  Now she really had their attention. They all were shocked.

  “It is more than just a side hobby for you all, right?”

  Had they never really discussed this? Of course, everyone had been excited when Rodney approached them with the idea of meeting someone in the music business. For so long, it had just been about playing music, doing something everyone enjoyed and did well.

  “Avery, wow.” Randy was the first to speak up.

  “I know. It’s not something you expected me to say. I’ve just had a lot of time to think lately, about my future, about taking that next step,” Avery admitted. She’d had a lot of thinking in general, but that was another story.

  “Our little Baby Stetson is growing up and ready to fly the coop,” Marty said with a smile.

  “It’s a big step, but I only have one life, and I want to be able to say I’ve gotten the most out of it.” Avery ran a hand through her hair.

  “Well it’s something we’ll all have to figure out, how to go from here,” Jameson said.

  Avery nodded. “Okay. Thanks for listening.” Shouldn’t they have been a little more excited? Maybe she’d just caught them off guard. Avery hadn’t approached them about pursuing music professionally. They had always gone with the flow and had a blast. Avery wouldn’t know what to do without her band mates and friends.

  “Do you want me to take you home?” Jameson asked, turning to her. “I’m nervous about you walking back. But I’ll leave it up to you. I’ll walk with you, drive you, whatever you’d like.”

  Jameson had been so great about everything. Avery missed spending time with the man she’d grown up with. Still fearful about losing their friendship, Avery hadn’t done her best to help things go back to normal. Yet here he was, still by her side, being a good friend. Avery hugged him. Jameson stiffened at first, then hugged her back.

  “What’s that all about?” Jameson asked when she let him go.

  “Just me being all emotional again. That was for being such a great friend ... especially after everything. I’m just in awe at how times and things change. I hate that we didn’t work out, but I’m so thankful for our friendship.” Avery wiped a tear away.

  “I hate it too. I haven’t forgiven myself. It seems like you’re happy with Lucas. I see you two eyeing each other all the time.”

  “Oh Jameson. I-” Avery’s heart sank. She hadn’t even thought of him seeing them, and she knew Jameson took their breakup hard.

  He waved a hand in dismissal. “No, it’s okay, Avery. I know you have to move on. I understand you don’t feel the same. You were my friend first, my best friend, and I don’t want that to go away. I know that things have changed, and we can’t get back fully to what we used to be, but I do want you to be happy. That’s important to me.”

  “I don’t even know what to say right now, Jameson. Thank you. You’ve been a great friend all these years. I hope one day you’ll find happiness.” Avery met Jameson’s gaze. “Do me a favor. Please, forgive yourself. Let go. We can’t change the past, or how we dealt with it, but we can move on. You deserve happiness.”

  “I’m not there yet, Avery. I know I shouldn’t hold on to these feelings, but I’m not over you. I’m not over at how dumb it was for me to do what I did.” Jameson was so stricken, his eyes full of hurt and misery.

  Avery bowed her head. What more could she say? Jameson lived in a pool of hurt, and no matter what she said, it would only be on his own time that he got over his feelings and dealt with them. “Well, just know, if you want to talk, I’m always here for you. Okay? Always. No matter what.”

  “That means the world to me, Avery. I don’t deserve you being so great to me, but I appreciate every bit of it.”

  “Oh Jameson. I wish you didn’t feel that way. You deserve a lot. And one day, you’ll see that. Come on, take me home before I cry again when I don’t even know why I want to cry so much.” Avery swatted him on the leg and bolted from her seat as Jameson chased her, laughing.

  She had so much to be thankful for.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lucas sat across the table from Avery’s parents. It was high time he’d sat down with them. To her mom and dad, Lucas was just a guest at the inn, but with his revelation to Avery about who he was, he thought it was best he talked to them, too. Especially since he was the one taking Avery on this trip. Avery was a grown woman, but Lucas felt a responsibility to make sure she was safe and taken care of. He wanted to take care of Avery.

  This was the second time he’d been in the house, and now that he didn’t have Avery next to him to distract him, Lucas had a chance to look around. Photos of Avery hung on the wall, from when she was a child, to her teenage years and adulthood. There were photos of her with her parents, there were photos of Paula, and photos of a baby and toddler Lucas didn’t recognize.

  The Callimers were a proud, happy family. Lucas had no idea the last time he’d been in a house filled with so much adoration and a comforting, homey setting.

  He wanted her parents to know he had good intentions.

  Lucas just hoped that his intentions toward her romantically weren’t brought up. For that, he didn’t have an answer. Not now. It was no secret and he had been seen with Avery at the inn.

  Avery wasn’t home yet. She’d gone to practice, and thank goodness, Paula wasn’t around either.

  “We’re very supportive of this trip. Avery’s father and I both think this will be good for her. She has always had questions, and though she doesn’t always let us know what she wants in that regard, we want her to have the opportunity.” Avery’s mom looked at her husband for affirmation. He nodded in agreement. Her father hadn’t said much during the time, but he kept casting looks at Lucas, as if trying to figure him out. “I’m glad to know that. I would still abide by Avery’s request, but it’s easier to know that you’re okay with this.” Lucas laced his fingers together, and then spread them apart again. He laid his right hand on the table, and let his other sink to his side. This was so not something he was used to. Sitting in a cozy dining area with the parents of a woman Lucas cared about wasn’t normal either. From what he knew of Avery, family was important to her.

  The front door opened. Lucas turned, wondering who was coming through that door. Avery walked in. When she saw him, her eyes went round as saucers. Something on her arm caught his eye. She had a large bandage covering her arm just above her elbow. “What happened to you?”

  “What are you doing here?” Avery asked at the same time. She turned to the open door. “Thanks for the ride! You can go home now, I’m in!” She closed the door and came into the dining room. The only available seat happened to be next to Lucas. She pulled it out and sank into it.

  “I second Lucas’s question, honey. What happened to your arm?” her father asked, pointing to it.

  “I tripped on my way to band practice,” Avery said. Lucas noticed she didn’t meet her parents’ eyes. There was more to the story, and he intended on getting the full details out of her somehow. “You should see the tree.” She smiled weakly.

  “Oh, Avery,” her mother said, shaking her head. Everyone laughed.

  “Okay, so I’m better at music than I am at making jokes. I know.” Avery laughed. “So, what’s going on here?” This time she turned her eyes on Lucas, questioning.

  “I came to give you all the details of the trip to meet your birth mother. You weren’t home yet, so I have been talking to your parents for the past half hour.”

  Avery groaned. “You haven’t grilled him and then some, have you Dad?”

  “Hey! I resemble that remark.” Her dad feigned hurt while flashing a sar
castic grin. “You’ll be happy to know I have been very good. Lucas here is a nice young man.”

  That felt good to hear, but Lucas had to disagree. He wasn’t that nice.

  “Mom? Has he?” Avery turned to her mother. Avery was smiling. Lucas longed for that kind of relationship. One he would never have because his parents were dead. Gone. For some, having a childhood like his would turn them away from wanting this kind of life. Not Lucas. He yearned for it all the time. He watched the exchange between Avery and her parents and hated himself for turning her world upside down.

  “He’s been a gentleman. Now I, on the other hand, have been inquiring about every little detail from this young man here.” Avery’s mom looked so serious that if he hadn’t been sitting here and known otherwise, Lucas would have believed her.

  “You guys are such teases. Why must you torment me?” Avery placed a hand over her forehead, playing the woe-is-me attitude. Then she burst into a fit of giggles. When she lowered her hand, it brushed Lucas’s and he reached to hold it. Avery closed her fingers over his.

  Lucas felt a sense of belonging.

  “Avery, we can leave tomorrow evening if that works for you.” Lucas hoped that would work for her. She gasped and faced him.

  “That soon? Really? I thought it would take much longer! Wow. Mom, Dad, are you guys really okay with this? And you can find help at the inn? We’ve been so short staffed, and-”

  “Avery, we want you to go. It’s going to be fine. We’re going to manage just fine. We’ll miss you, of course, but I believe that you are going to be in very good hands.” Her father gestured at Lucas.

  Nice.

  Lucas hoped like hell the trip went well. If Avery came back heartbroken and hurt, even if it weren’t his doing, he had a feeling it would take a lot to get in her parents’ good graces again. That put a lot of weight on his shoulders.