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My thumb hovers over the email from Jenna. I've been avoiding it for days, but suddenly the weight of everything - the development, Avery, this lonely Christmas - pushes me over the edge. I tap it open.
The first few lines are nothing new. Born in Boston, orphaned young. Raised by her grandparents. A small inheritance that barely covered the move to Worcester. I skim, my jaw clenching. It's all stuff I already knew, stuff that doesn't matter.
A sharp knock at the door cuts through the silence. I jerk, nearly dropping my phone.
"Who the hell?" I mutter, pushing to my feet.
I yank open the door and freeze.
Olivia stands there, her chin tilted up defiantly. Her eyes, so much like her mother's, bore into mine.
"Mr. Stone," she says, her voice startlingly firm for a ten-year-old. "Do you need help getting my mom back?"
I blink, thrown completely off-balance. "Olivia? What are you-"
"Because I have a plan," she interrupts. "And I think you're gonna need it."
Chapter Fifty-Six
Avery
My eyes flitas the waiter pours my second glass of wine. It's a deep, rich red that matches my mood. The sound of laughter and chatter fills the trendy Italian restaurant, a welcome change from the dreariness of my own thoughts.
Samantha, Jessica, and Emily are talking animatedly, catching up on the latest neighborhood gossip and the kids' antics on the hockey team. They'd insisted that they take me to dinner tonight, given that tomorrow is the rescheduled board meeting. Samantha's husband graciously volunteered to babysit.
"So," Samantha says, turning to me with a pointed look. "You've been pretty quiet on the group text lately."She raises an eyebrow. "What's going on with you and Victor?"
My stomach tightens at the mention of his name. I force a smile. "Ah, yes. I haven't really responded, have I?"
"No, you haven't," Jessica chimes in, leaning forward. "Come on, spill! We're dying for an update."
I take a long sip of wine, buying myself a moment. How do I even begin to explain the complicated mess that is me and Victor Stone right now?
Emily reaches over and pats my hand reassuringly. "You know you can tell us anything, right? We've got your back."
Her earnest expression makes my smile more genuine. I'm so lucky to have friends like these - moms who understand the ups and downs of balancing kids, careers and dating.
I set down my glass and sigh. "Honestly, there's not much to tell. We haven't really talked since the last hockey practice..."
My voice trails off as I think back to that chilly evening at the rink, the tense set of Victor's jaw as we parted ways. The memory still stings.
Samantha frowns. "Really? But you two seemed to be getting along so well. What happened?"
I shrug, fiddling with my napkin. "Oh, you know how it goes. Sometimes things just don't work out the way you thought they would."
It's a vague answer and they know it. But I'm not ready to divulge the real reason for my distance from Victor. Not here, not now, with the board meeting looming over us like a dark cloud.
Jessica opens her mouth to press further, but thankfully the waiter arrives just then with a tray of delicious-smelling appetizers. The conversation shifts to lighter topics as we dig in, and I'm grateful for the reprieve.
My resolve to keep the Victor situation to myself lasts about as long as it takes us to finish the appetizers. As the waiter clears away the empty plates, Samantha fixes me with a knowing look.
"Avery, I know you're trying to avoid the subject, but we're your friends. If something happened with Victor, you can tell us."
I take a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the stem of my wine glass. "I found something on his phone," I admit quietly. "An email he sent to his PR team, asking them to dig up dirt on me."
A shocked silence descends over the table. Emily's eyes widen, while Jessica's narrow in concern.
"Are you sure that's what it was?" Jessica asks gently. "Maybe you misunderstood..."