Page 81 of Avery's Hero

Jesus. I bet the kid was scared out of his head. Then to see Avery in my arms…

“He didn’t know about your… friend?” Raven asks.

“No. I haven’t told him yet.”

Bryce pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head. “Sorry, man. That’s heavy. I know things have been tense with Lincoln.”

“This convo was coming. I just didn’t know how to tell Linc, so I put it off. I guess that backfired.”

I grunt when the nurse sticks my shoulder with a needle full of lidocaine. She grins triumphantly. I close my eyes and drop my head back on the bed.

If I weren’t so happy about Avery caring about me, I’d say the day was totally fucked. But all I can think about is the look of relief in her eyes when she saw I was okay.

Now I just need to figure out how to make amends with Linc because I know he’ll eventually learn to love her too.

He has to. There’s no other choice.

Oh yeah, and I’ve got to figure out how to save our jobs.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

I’m not sure who’s happier about my discharge, the nurse, or me. She wastes no time bandaging the wound after the doctor sews me up. Dropping some papers on my lap, she hitches her thumb toward the door. “Out of my bed.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.”

The hospital’s quieter than when I arrived, probably because it’s now four in the morning. It’s still dark outside when I step through the sliding double doors. With a quick scan, I find Avery’s little white Toyota truck. It’s parked on the far side of the lot. I also spot the woman herself. Halfway between here and there, she’s walking toward me. Head down, lost in thought.

Putting myself on a collision course, I head toward her.

The distance closes. Her mouth is compressed in worry, her lip caught between her teeth, but she’s not crying. This is Avery solving problems with her logic.

When there’s just a dozen feet between us, I say, “Heads up, Angel.”

Grabbing her chest, she gasps and pins me with a snappy glare. “You scared the life out of me.”

I catch her in my arms and press a kiss to her frown. “Sorry. Mmmm, you feel good in my arms.”

A warm feeling spreads from where her body’s connected to mine as she slides her arms around my neck. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she says softly.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

When she steps back, she’s definitely shaken up. “Your son is waiting in my truck. He wouldn’t let me take him home without you.”

I glance toward it. The windshield is facing the other way, so I can’t see him.“Is he doing okay?”

“Tired. Upset. But coping.”

“He’s a tough kid.”

She leans her forehead against my chest. “Like his dad.”

“I’m not so tough anymore. Something’s happening to the scrap metal I’ve got in the center of my chest. Used to be hard as steel. Now I’m beginning to wonder.”

“Something similar happened here.” She presses her hand to her own chest.

“So. What does he think about seeing you with me?”

She pulls back, but I don’t let her go too far. I capture her hand in mine. Glancing toward the truck she says, “He was hurt you didn’t tell him.”