I rub my temple. Avery was right; her mom would be handy right about now.
“Rhett.” Mom grabs my hand. “Sweetie, there were plenty of reasons you wanted to move on from her. Reasons I completely understand. Maybe you should take it easy. Don’t rush into this.”
“Don’t go there at all.” Dad clutches his fork. “She’s bad news.”
“Come on, Dad.” I scowl at him. “She hasn’t had a boyfriend all year.”
“She was the reason you were beat up. Those boys fractured your skull because of her!”
“She didn’t ask for them to do that,” I respond evenly. “She stopped them when she found us.”
“Not the point.” Dad folds his arms. “She’s toxic for you. She crushed your heart multiple times with those moronic boyfriends of hers.”
“Dad.” I glance upward, hoping she’s still asleep and can’t hear this.
“She’s just like her mother.”
My head snaps around, startled by his comment.
Mom slaps his hand. “Clinton Clark! How dare you say that about Bray! All that happened back then was not her fault. I thought you’d moved on from all that.”
“She was a heartbreaking slut.”
Mom launches to her feet. “She’s been married to your best friend for almost twenty years! Don’t you dare talk about her like that!”
Wow, talk about opening a can of worms. “Mom, Dad. Stop it.”
They both look at me, anger sizzling under the surface.
“Avery’s here.”
“What?” Dad launches to his feet, towering over me. “We have forbidden her coming here!”
That’s news to me. “Look, calm down. Please.”
“No. Is she in the twins’ room?” He marches toward the stairs.
Mom dashes after him as I scramble to cut him off. I manage to push in front of him at the staircase. “Dad, please stop. This is crazy. I love her; she loves me. Why can’t you be happy we finally worked things out?”
He shoves me aside. Ascending the stairs, he then flings open the door to the twins’ room. She’s obviously not in there. Dad’s eyes widen, his face turning red. He swings toward my shut door.
Now I hope Avery is awake, and dressed. “Dad, stop!”
He grasps the doorknob.
*
Avery
Raised voices wake me. I sit up, finding Rhett gone from beside me. Then, their words come clearly. They’re arguing about me. I have to go get Mom.
I scamper to collect my underwear and pull it on. I find my tank top and a pair of Rhett’s sweatpants and whip them over. Then, barefoot, I straddle the window.
The door flies open.
My contacts burn my eyes so it’s hard to see, but by the size of the man, it can only be Rhett’s dad.
“Avery! Go!”
I respond without hesitation to Rhett’s call. I swing my legs out, preparing to run for it. But Clint grabs me by the arm, pulling me back in.
“Dad! Let her go!”
His dad swings me around and all I can see are two hazy outlines. I touch my eyes, managing to pull out the right contact.
A male silhouette grabs me, pulling me against him. “Dad, what’s wrong with you?”
“She was about to run off on you!”
Clint’s anger frightens me as I manage to slip out the other contact. My eyes water like crazy. “I wasn’t … I was …”
“You probably scared her!” Rhett holds me closer. “Talk about overkill.”
“Clint.” Megan’s voice comes gently into the room. “Enough.”
“She goes.” Clint’s cold, hard voice makes me tremble. He’s never been harsh to me, not like this.
“Dad, stop it.”
Clint wrenches me free, pulling me into the hallway. He drags me down the stairs, when the door bursts open. I rub my eyes, trying to see who it is.
“Let her go,” Dad says slowly and deliberately.
Clint tosses me at him. “Get her out of my house.”
I feel like a hot potato as Dad pushes me aside and rushes at Clint. “Don’t treat my daughter like that!”
Megan swears up as storm as I hear tussling. I wish I could see so I didn’t feel so helpless. Then, all of a sudden, I can see. Mom leans in front of me, tucking my hair back as she checks she’s put my glasses on straight, then turns to the wrestling men. “Enough!”
Dad pulls back abruptly.
Mom rushes forward. “You can’t be serious. We’ve all known this was coming for years.”
“No,” Clint says, pointing at her. “He can do better.”
His words make my heart hurt. Rhett probably could do better than me. I’ve messed around with his feelings for too long.
“Avery could do better than him!” Dad lunges toward Clint, but Mom and Megan jump between them.
“This is insane!” Megan pushes Clint against the wall. “Bray’s right. This has been coming since we caught them kissing in the bushes at six.”
“She crushed his heart.”
“He crushed hers!” Dad yells.
“Stop it,” I yell, then add softly, “Please.”
Rhett pushes through to me. He grabs my hand. “We’re going to be together. No matter what has happened in the past. We’ve forgiven each other. We’ve admitted what we did wrong. We love you all, and it hurts to see you fighting over us like this.”
He looks down at me, his eyes softening. “We’re going to be together.”
I smile up at him, my heart melting.
Clint swears, turning away. Dad slumps back against the wall. “Avery, baby, is this really what you want? All year you’ve cried over him.”
“Yes, Dad. We … We hurt each other a whole lot, but we want to move past it. Please. You’ve always liked him; don’t change that now.”
Dad rubs his face, looking Rhett over.
Mom grabs my arm. “Megan?”
Megan hurries over, grabs Rhett’s arm, and they pull us outside. We head onto the street, leaving the dads to settle their differences. As we walk down the street, Mom says, “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday,” Rhett answers. “We met up in town and it all just fell into place.”
“Finally,” Mom says on a sigh.
“Bray,” Megan says, her voice tense, “I’m concerned about this. I’m afraid it will tear our families apart.”
Mom shakes her head. “Only if we let it. Plus, I think these two have struggled for long enough to be together, don’t you? This could turn out to be something that strengthens us.”
“I hope so,” Megan says weakly.
We walk to the park and sit around a picnic table by the stream. Mom stares out at the water, a hint of sorrow in her eyes, before she looks to me. “Avery, sweetheart, tell me what happened.”
I lean against Rhett’s shoulder and tell her everything, except I leave out that we slept together. With things as tense as they are, that one needs to be left for another time. Both she and Megan listen closely, nodding every so often, and glancing to Rhett when he adds to what I’m saying.
When we finish, Mom looks to Megan. “I think it sounds reasonable. Both of them are invested and know what they’re getting into.”
“Mom,” I say. “Why can’t Dad and Clint be happy for us?”
Megan shakes her head and answers for Mom. “They’re both stubborn, hardheaded men. They’re afraid this will end their brotherhood, which is ironic considering how much they fight about this. You see, if you break up, they will have to take their own child’s side, thus becoming divided. They’ve never been divided before.”
“We’re not breaking up,” Rhett says, wrapping his arm around my waist.
Mom squeezes my hand. “Okay, kids. We better go make sure the house is still standing and your dads haven’t killed each other. You both stay here and spend some time together, catching up. Chances are, your siblings will be all over this soon enough.”
She stands, kissing my head, before she and Megan leave us.
Rhett pulls me closer, nuzzling my ear. “You smell so good.”
I giggle. “I haven’t showered yet, and sex is a lot grosser than I’d thought.”
He chuckles, kissing my neck. “I can’t believe we did that. Talk about intense.”
I rest against him, enjoying his affection. A month ago, I thought this would never happen, but here I am, in his arms, giving my whole self to him. But … “We can’t tell anyone about that yet.”
His breath on my neck gives me goose bumps. “Our dads would lose their freaking minds.”
“What a mess.”
“Yeah, but I think Mom’s right.” He strokes my abdomen as he kisses my shoulder. “They’re just scared. We’ll have to show them there’s nothing to be scared of, because now I have you, there’s absolutely no way I’m letting go.”
I smile, closing my eyes as the breeze lifts my hair. “Me either.”
*
Rhett
Our siblings go mad when they find out. My sisters turn into squealing yuppies and won’t stop gushing.
While the twins bounce around Avery, Brad grabs my shoulder. “You and my sister, huh?”
“Yup.” I look him over. “Dude, did you grow a foot?”
“Close.” He grins. “Anyway, so you and my sister. About time, eh? The pining was getting ridiculous.”
“I never pined,” I say in a growl.
“No, I mean her.” He gives me a smug look. “She was a mess without you around.”
This is oddly satisfying. Avery needs me. “Really? Like what?”
“Well …” He leans closer, a sparkle in his eyes. “You heard she slept in your bed the night of the winter formal.”
I snort. “Yeah, I heard that turned into a nightmare.”
“She went with Sam to that, by the way.” He folds his arms. “Just so you know, she’s not the only one who missed you around here.”
I smirk. “Aw, Brad. Did you miss me?”
“I will deny it if anyone asks.”
I chuckle.
That night, Avery and I sit on the couch, watching a movie. It’s late, and she’s dozed off in my arms. I look down at her, gently sliding off her glasses. She looks so peaceful when she sleeps. But I have to go home.
Carefully, I slide out from under her, then rest her head on the throw pillows. I toss a blanket over her and flick off the lights.
“Rhett?”
Her frightened voice makes me freeze. “Yeah, Ave?”
She lets out a long sigh. “Please don’t go.”
“I need to get to bed.”
“Stay here, please. Like we used to.”
“You want me to sleep in Brad’s room?”
“No.” I see her shadow sit up. “In here. With me.”
Her soft pleading voice pulls me to her. “Won’t your dad flip out?”
“Only if we go to my room or get naked.”
I chuckle at that. “All right.”
I shuffle across and she makes room for me. I lie down, then she crawls on top of me. I’m surprised by how comfortable it is having her nuzzled up on my chest.
“Rhett?” she says softly.
“Yeah?”
“I’m afraid if I let you go for one second, I’ll find out I’m dreaming. You’ve been gone for so long this feels surreal. I want to stay with you all summer, so I can make up for being such an idiot for not seeing sooner how much I love you.”
“Oh Avery.” I stroke her hair that has returned to being curly. “You’ve already more than made up for it.”
She sighs, relaxing over me. “Stay with me.”
I smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Ten
Rhett
Avery’s whole face lights up when she laughs. Although she hates the stream, it’s so hot and it’s the only place to cool off in town. No one has pools, except the boarding school, and it’s closed for maintenance.
She charges me again and I scramble back into the waist-deep water, splashing her. She screeches, covering her face, then laughs again.
“Avery!”
We look over to Nova standing by her car. She never steps foot into the park. Ever.
“So you finally hooked up with him, huh?”
Avery retreats from the water and I admire her long hair and curves in the one-piece and board shorts. Although she reveals nothing, the image of her naked is burned into my memory. Shoot, I’m getting a hard-on. I’m staying right where I am.
“Nova! I haven’t seen you in forever!” she says as she slips on her flips flops. “How are the kids?”
“Mine, or the brats?”
“Ah, which is which?”
Nova smirks. “Smart girl.”
Avery leans against Nova’s car while I wait for my erection to subside. When it finally does, I make my way over and wrap a towel around Avery.
Nova nods to me, lowering her sunglasses to look me over. “He’s grown to be kind of cute.”
Avery smiles up at me. “I think so.”
“But he’s a Clark, ugh.” Nova’s lip curls. “His mom is Megan. She so—”
“Obnoxious,” Avery and I say in unison.
“Exactly.”
Avery giggles. “Nova, we all know you secretly love Megan.”
“Nope.” She shakes her head, but smirks. “Not even close.”
“Lucky I’m more like my dad,” I say.
“Ugh, no. Clint’s a jerk.”
Avery leans back against me. “According to you, so is Dad.”
“Paul.” Nova rolls her eyes. “He shot me once. What else do you expect?”
Avery laughs and kisses her cheek. “Mom and Dad want to see you. We’ll be over in a while.”
“Uh huh.” She turns to her car then stops. She looks back at us, her eyes narrowing. “I sense something.”
She moves closer to us.
I pull Avery closer to me, uncomfortable under her scrutiny. Nova has an uncanny ability to notice things our parents don’t. I think it’s because she works with the kids from the tribal juvie. She’s the only one who knows Donny uses weed. That’s probably why he avoids her.
“Oh. My. Gosh.” Her eyes grow wide. “You guys totally hooked up!”
“No.” Avery leans back, dropping her gaze.
“Don’t lie to me.” She points at me. “I can see it in his eyes. He’s a man who knows what his woman looks like naked. Holy cow. Paul is going to have a fit.”
“Please don’t say anything,” Avery says quickly. “We’re going to tell them, just … not yet. Our dads are still tense. We want things to settle down first.”
Nova leans back. “Shoot! I’m right?”
Avery slumps, realizing what Nova had done.
Nova chuckles. “Wonderful. At least you’re both smart enough to use protection.”
Protection? I tense. I didn’t even think …
“I should go. I’m meeting up with Mom and Dad. You two behave, you hear?” She climbs back into her car and drives away.
A lump forms in my throat. I need to buy condoms, ASAP.
But Avery seems totally unaffected. “Are you ready for lunch?”
I wrap my arms around her. Once won’t have hurt. Lots of people try for months, even years before anything like that happens. From now on, I’ll be careful. “Yeah. Wanna hit the café?”
*
Avery
It’s early July, and Rhett and I haven’t had a moment to ourselves in more than a month. Although we do everything together, I want to be alone with him, staring at the stars, or something quiet and romantic. I think back and realize we’ve had plenty of romantic moments together growing up. I want to relive some of them now I can appreciate them.
So, around midnight, I sneak out of the house. Trotting up the street, I reach the Clarks’ house. Donny sits on the roof outside his window, smoking a joint. Clint would kill him if he found out. I’m surprised he’s brave enough to have it in the building.
I climb up the tree and
onto the porch roof. He nods when he sees me. “Hey, cupcake.”
“Donald.” He’s never liked me much. Now that I know Rhett has been nuts for me for so long, I understand why. He’s super protective of Rhett.
He grins. “Donald. Nice. No one calls me that.” He offers me a smoke, but I shake my head. “Whatever. Come for my boy?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s been out cold for a couple of hours.”
“Yeah.” I reach for the window.
“Listen, cupcake.”
I pause and turn to him.
He takes a deep inhale then leans closer. “I’m only going to say this once, out of respect for Jack, since you’re his sister and all and he thinks you’re some kind of angel. But I don’t like you.”
“I already knew that.”
He chuckles. “Not what I’m getting at. I don’t like you ‘cause you screw with his head. No one messes with my boy and gets away with it, hear me? You screw him over, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
I swallow. Donny is probably the only person I believe would really do something to hurt me. I don’t doubt his threat. “I have no intention of hurting him. I love him.”
“Whatever.” He turns away to finish his joint.
My hands tremble as I pull Rhett’s window open. Donny scares the crap out of me.
I climb in and slide into bed beside Rhett. He wakes and wraps his arm around me. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to be alone with you.” I brush my nose against his. “Do you remember when I was fourteen and we snuck out and broke into the hotel?”
He grins in the moonlight. “Yeah, we raided several minibars for their candy. Dad blew a fuse when he found out we had hit the place. He was so mad that his and the sheriff’s kid had committed such a heinous crime.”
I giggle. “I was grounded for the rest of summer.”
“So was I.”
“But we still snuck out.”
He stroked my cheek. “Yeah we did.”
“Let’s break in again.”
“It’s not really breaking in when it’s never locked up.”
“Then let’s go.”
He grins and shoots out of the bed.
We climb out the window and Donny nods to us. “Rhett.”
“Don.”
“Have fun, kids. Don’t do anything illegal.”
Loving Avery (Bearville County Book 2) Page 7