“Maybe we should go.” Avery’s eyes carried a pleading look to them, one that screamed she didn’t want to get in the middle of his family drama.
Laz gave her a solid head nod as his answer.
Avery turned to Marissa, who stood. “Thank you so much for dinner last night and breakfast.” She hugged her. “You’re an amazing hostess.”
“Thanks.” She patted Avery’s shoulder. “You need to come when I have game night.”
“I would love that, but I’m super competitive.” She released Marissa.
“Good. You’ll fit right in.”
Avery stepped over to Bradley when Laz went to his sister.
“Thanks for everything.” Laz kissed Marissa’s cheek.
Marissa hugged Laz, but held on to him and whispered in his ear. “Cut Dad a break. You don’t know everything, okay?”
Laz pulled back and looked back at his father, who now hugged Avery. “I know enough.”
Marissa shook her head. “You don’t. You really don’t.” She guided him to the front door away from Bradley and Avery. “When you come through again without Avery, talk to Dad. I mean really talk to him.”
Laz couldn’t imagine taking time out to discuss anything with his father. “Thanks for everything, including setting me up.”
“I didn’t think bringing family together would be seen as a setup.” Marissa shook her head. “Take care.”
Avery strolled over to the duo. “I’m ready. Aren’t you going to say goodbye to your father?”
Laz looked back at Bradley. He wanted to say so many things to the man. He finally uttered the only thing that came to his mind. “Goodbye.”
* * * *
Avery didn’t expect to be put in the middle of a family feud. Since leaving Marissa’s place, Laz had remained quiet. He said nothing during the drive to the airport. He didn’t say a word as they waited to board. He had even stayed quiet on the cab ride to his apartment.
Avery glanced up at the building before stepping inside the place. She started to haul her luggage up the steps but Laz grabbed her suitcase handle and carried his bag and hers up the steps.
“Home sweet home.” He opened the door and allowed her to go inside first.
Hearing him speak finally had a calming effect on her. She exhaled like she had been holding her breath since breakfast.
Avery glanced around the apartment. Although small, he kept the place sparsely decorated.
“Nice.” She nodded. She turned to him. “Want to talk about—”
“You hungry?” He placed their bags in the middle of the living room and ducked into his galley-style kitchen. “I don’t have much. Crackers, chips, soup.” He opened the refrigerator door. “This Chinese takeout is only a few days old.”
“No thank you. I wanted to know if you want to talk about what happened with you and your Dad back at—”
“The bathroom is here.” He pointed to a door on the other side of the living room wall. “My bedroom is across the hall. You want to lie down for a bit?”
She shook her head. “No, I—”
“Or you can watch TV. I can—”
Avery held up her hands. “Stop it. Why won’t you talk about what happened with you and your father?”
He joined his hands together and rested them on top of his head. “No one wants to reveal the moment their hero disappoints them.” He shook his head. “Growing up, the man could do no wrong in my eyes…until he did. Now I don’t feel like I can forgive him.”
“What if you were wrong?” Avery put her hand to his shoulder. “If my parents never gave me a second chance, I don’t know where I would be right now.” She looked at her watch. “Speaking of which, I need to call them.”
“You need some privacy?” Laz started to push her toward his bedroom.
“No. I’m fine here.” She pulled her phone from her purse and called her parents’ number.
Good or bad, she wanted Laz to hear her conversation.
“I’m going to get something to drink.” He sauntered into his kitchen out of her view. “You want something?”
Avery shook her head when she heard her parents’ phone ringing on the other end. When she heard the line click, her back stiffened.
“Yes?” Her mother’s curt answer chilled Avery’s body.
“Hi, Mom. Sorry I missed church.” Avery slipped out of her sandals and padded over the hardwood floor.
“It’s okay. You are still coming over for dinner, right?” Hope filled Hazel’s tone.
“Um, no.” Avery leaned against the wall that led into the kitchen. “I told Dad that I was going out of town.”
“Out of town? Why?” Her mother’s tone rose to that level of frustration that Avery remembered. “Is there something wrong?”
“No. I hope not.” Avery took a deep breath. Like she did when she performed the second time at Honey’s, she stared at Laz for strength. “It’s for work.”
Laz gazed up at her when Avery stretched her truth.
“Work? Are you working at another diner for Uncle Pig? Your father is here taking a nap, and I know he doesn’t have work elsewhere.” Hazel huffed. “What’s going on with you? Is it some late-term internship or something?”
No time like the present. Avery had to admit her feelings and, most importantly, her plan. “I’m in New York with Laz. You remember him. He was at my place when you and Dad—”
“I remember. Why are you in New York?”
Laz approached Avery and kept his stare connected to hers.
“I’m trying to get my music career started again.” Avery held her head up high. “Laz is trying to help me. We’re going to be meeting with a label tomorrow. Hopefully, it’ll all go well.”
Silence met Avery after her admission, which did not seem like her mother at all. Even when Avery had complained about not liking a shrimp dish at her mother’s favorite restaurant, Hazel had spent the next thirty minutes telling Avery why she had been mistaken.
Avery had to break up the silence. “Mom?”
“And school?” Hazel’s voice came out low, almost like she didn’t want Avery’s father to hear her.
“I’ve got a few weeks left. I’ll still finish.” Avery pushed herself away from the wall and stood on her own two feet. “This is my time. If I don’t do this now, I may never get another chance.”
Avery heard rustling on the other end of the phone before she heard her mother say, “Talk to your father.”
For this conversation, Avery wanted to take a seat. She backed up out of the kitchen area and padded over to the living room where she took a seat on a bright green couch that definitely did not match Laz’s tastes.
“What’s going on? Avery, is that you?” Clinton’s stern voice would have bowled Avery down had she still been standing.
“Hey, Dad. Look, I won’t be at work for the next couple of days.” She glanced up at Laz for confirmation.
With a glass of water in hand, he didn’t agree or disagree with her. He sat on a chair opposite from her and took a drink.
“Why is that? Are you in trouble again?” He sniffed. “Why does your mother look so upset?”
Avery closed her eyes at that bit of news. She didn’t want to distress her mother or anyone. “I told her that I was in New York with Laz to hopefully jumpstart my music career.”
Clinton sighed. “God help you. You’re not on this again.”
She heard drawers opening and being slammed closed.
“Tell me where you are and I’ll come up and get you.”
“Dad, no. This time around, I’m fine. I didn’t call to ask for help.” She scratched her head. “It would have been nice if you would support me and my decision.”
“No parent wants to see their child disappointed or hurt. Going down this path will only lead to failure.”
&nb
sp; Avery’s heart stopped at that proclamation. “Thanks, Dad.”
“If you aren’t at work tomorrow night, I’ll have to let you go.” The frustrated tone left his voice. Now he sounded saddened and pissed.
Avery took a deep breath to keep herself from breaking down over the phone. “Fine. As always, thanks for the support. Glad you believe in me.”
“I do, but—”
“Tell Mom I love her.” Avery disconnected the call and tossed her phone to the empty space next to her.
She tried hard not to break down. When she gazed up at Laz, the tears came flooding down. Had she just made a colossal mistake by choosing to be selfish?
Laz sprang from his chair and came over to her. “What’s wrong? What did he say?” He handed her a handkerchief from his pocket.
Of course he would have a handkerchief on him.
“They were not happy about me coming out here and doing this.” Avery wiped her eyes and under her nose. “He said if I’m not home in time for work tomorrow, I’ll be out of a job.” She cried harder again. “I can’t win. Every time I think I’m okay, something happens.”
Laz drew her into his arms. “We can’t always be the light in our parents’ eyes. You saw that with me.”
Avery pulled back from him. “No. Your situation was different. You’re disappointed with your dad. He, however, thinks the world of you. You can see the pride he has for you in his eyes. My parents see me as a disaster. I can never do anything right.” She pointed down. “This time, though, it all feels right. I don’t know if it’s the timing or the feedback to my singing.” She paused and stared at Laz. “Or you. I want it this time. I want to make it so badly.”
“I know. I’m here for you.” He hugged her again. “Maybe if you go back home with a signed contract, they’ll feel different.” He kissed the side of her face. “And speaking of signed contracts, since I’m home, I’ll look over your proposed changes. We can talk about them and iron some things out. Then, before tomorrow, you can officially be my first client.”
Avery nodded.
“Good. Now, what do you want to do?” He rubbed his hands together.
“A tour. Give me a tour of your place.” She looked around the small room and had a feeling the tour wouldn’t last very long.
“Sure.” Laz stood and held out his hand to help her to her feet. “This is the living room slash dining room slash entertaining area.”
Avery glanced back at the couch. “And this?”
Laz smiled. “A gift from Marissa. You couldn’t tell?”
“I could tell it wasn’t your style.”
He held her hand and led her to a small alcove where a piano sat. “This is where I relax. Playing music allows me to think or sometimes not think. I can be myself.”
“I know what you mean.” Music had done a lot for Avery in her life.
He pulled her over to a door on the other side of the piano. After flipping a light switch and standing off to the side, he said, “Bathroom.”
The small space had a black-and-white checkered floor that matched the white tiles surrounding a white claw-foot tub. He went against the whole black-and-white theme by hanging bright red washcloths and towels in the space.
“And…” He walked backward to a room across from the bathroom. “My bedroom.”
Avery looked around the space. She had to admit. He kept the place clean and neat, nothing like her place. The dark colors he used to decorate the room gave it a dour demeanor, nothing like the man who had managed to curl her toes and step outside of her comfort zone.
“Nice.” She turned to him. “Would I stay in here?”
“Of course.” He cocked a smile. “I can take the couch.”
She shook her head. “Why would I want you on the couch after everything we’ve done and been through?”
“Because I don’t want you thinking that I would bring you here only for one thing.”
Avery put her fingers to her lips. “Because of what I can do with my mouth?”
Laz smiled.
She dragged her fingers down her chin to her throat. “Or maybe it’s because of what I can do here.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He pressed his lips against her forehead and temple before kissing her cheek and going to her ear.
After swiping the shell of it with his tongue and making her shiver, he whispered, “I’m going to work on that contract.”
Avery groaned. “Such a tease.”
Laz laughed as he backed away from her. “You relax, write, watch TV, take a bath, whatever.” He glanced at his watch. “I can take you to my favorite Italian place for dinner later. And then we can come up with a game plan for tomorrow.” He backed up to the doorway. “Basically the plan is that I talk, you don’t.”
Avery blinked.
“I’ll secure that deal.” He winked at her.
An uneasy tickle went up the back of her neck. “Wait. Are you going to tell me the name of the label now that we’re here in New York?”
“Tomorrow. It’ll all be revealed tomorrow.”
The more time Avery spent with Laz, the more he revealed himself to her. Some parts she liked. Others made her question her place there. Did he really think she would want to start her career with someone else pulling all her strings?
Avery mulled over several things in the hours before they walked down a few blocks to dinner. The hole-in-the-wall place didn’t look impressive from the outside, not even the couple of wrought iron tables and chairs that decorated the place. She did note the A rating on the window, so she knew it had to be a good spot.
Laz’s recommendation hadn’t disappointed her. All the food tasted fresh and homemade. It helped that the place looked like the inside of someone’s home, complete with an open kitchen.
Laz held Avery’s hand on the walk back to his apartment. The intimate touch felt so right with him. She almost felt invincible.
“Will you tell me something?” Avery squeezed his hand.
“Anything.” He held up his other hand. “Open book here.”
“You heard my demo. You said you liked my voice.”
“I did.” He pulled her closer to him. “I do.”
“What did you like about my voice?” Avery’s question had less to do with fishing for compliments and more to do with getting constructive feedback. “I’ve been looking at the comments on my video.”
Laz groaned. “I wish you wouldn’t do that.”
Avery grabbed his arm and tugged on it. “Why? I want to know what people like and don’t like so I can improve.”
“Most people who comment come from a real, legitimate place to say something constructive. Others are only interested in a few minutes of infamy to be that disparaging comment that will give them attention. It’s comments like those that I’m afraid will get in your head and stay there. I want you how you are now. Untouched. Pure. Raw. Trust me. Once you get into the business, you will get your fill of becoming jaded. I don’t want that for you now.” He kissed the back of her hand.
“Okay, fine. I’ll try to stay off.” Avery thought about some of the comments. “Overall, though, they have been positive. There’s this one commenter named Kitty Girl who has been my biggest champion. If anyone says anything negative, she shoots them down quick.”
“Great. Your first stalker.” As though one stood a few feet away from them, Laz wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Not stalker. Advocate.” She leaned into him.
Back at his apartment, he took off his shoes and placed them neatly in his closet. Avery stepped out of her sandals and sauntered to the couch where her notebook sat. Even in her thinnest sundress and Laz with his air-conditioning window unit blasting, she couldn’t lower her overheated body temperature.
Laz must have felt the same way. He tw
eaked a knob on his unit and then stripped out of his T-shirt so he walked around in only shorts. The view made Avery lick her lips. Damn, he looked good.
He looked even better after he sat at his piano by a small window. As soon as he touched the keys, he made beautiful music.
Laz played something jazzy that she didn’t recognize at first. When Avery stood and strolled toward him, she recognized the Stevie Wonder song that he had arranged differently. She didn’t think anyone could perfect something Stevie had created. That alone gave him cool points.
When she sang along with the melody, he kept his stare on her as he played. She leaned on the piano while she sang about everlasting love to him. At the end of the song, he reached for her hand and pulled her forward to kiss her.
“I want to play something else for you. You haven’t heard this song before, but you know the words.” Laz smiled and started playing something mid-tempo.
Avery hadn’t heard this tune before, but she liked it. With the right accompaniment and lyrics, it would be a great radio hit and dance track. When Laz started singing, she realized why he said she would know the words. He sang her song “Secret Wish” to her.
It overwhelmed her to hear her words with music that she had to sit on the piano bench next to him. Content to let him sing the whole song, Avery at first didn’t join in with him. At the chorus, she couldn’t let him go at it alone. She sang along with him.
At the end of the song, he rested his hands on the keys before looking at her. “What did you think?”
Avery couldn’t speak, mainly because her throat started to close.
“When I read the lyrics, I heard the music in my head. I hope you don’t mind.”
“And you remember my words. You didn’t miss one word.” She looked at the stand in front of him, the empty stand.
Laz didn’t go by her notebook to recall the lyrics. He knew them by heart.
“What can I say? I know what I like.” He stared into her eyes.
Avery knew what she liked, too. She caressed his cheek before bringing his face down to hers to kiss him. He still tasted of the dessert he had had at the restaurant. Sugary, decadent, delicious.
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