“Good.”
Ava laughed. “Seriously though, the women in his past wouldn’t worry me. Gavin is a lot of things, but he doesn’t strike me as the unfaithful type. That doesn’t mean you’re not in for some work if you take him on. But you know that.”
“I do. He’s not perfect. Thank God. Because with that body, that face, and all that charm, if he didn’t have issues, he’d be impossible to live with.” Live with. Wasn’t that close to what they were already doing? No, he still slept at home.
But I don’t want him to. I want him to stay with me.
“Oh my gosh. He makes my head hurt sometimes.”
Ava nodded. “Welcome to my world. More coffee?”
“Yes, please. I have to get back to work, and between thinking about him and dealing with a few of our clinic managers, I think a double shot of espresso is in order.”
Ava stood. “Coming right up.”
* * *
Gavin sat in therapy, tapping his knuckles on his thigh while Lee droned on about healthy man-woman relationships. Apparently Gavin’s newfound joy with Zoe had freaked Lee out. Then again, maybe Gavin shouldn’t have mentioned the thought about having kids with her.
Of course, most of his thoughts had revolved around effortsto makesaid kids. And if a few years down the road, they still happened to be going out, still fucking like rabbits, and she wanted a kid, he’d happily join her in…in wedded matrimony? Being her baby daddy? What?
His phone buzzed. He wasn’t supposed to take calls during a session, but he rarely got them unless it was an emergency. Especially from his family, because they knew and Zoe knew he saw his therapist from three to four on Thursdays.
“Go ahead. Get it.” Lee waved him to answer.
He saw the number, muted the ringer, and put it away. “Nah, I’m good.”
“Are you really? Then what’s that look on your face?”
“What look?”
“You look upset, Gavin. Scared. But there’s nothing here to be scared about. This is a safe zone,” Lee reminded him, then patiently waited.
Gavin rubbed the back of his neck, knowing he needed to share his growing anxiety. Every time the phone rang lately, he worried. He would have put a special ringtone to the number, but then he’d know for sure when she called.
“Gavin. I can’t help you if you won’t let me.”
“It’s Nicole,” he blurted. “Mick’s wife.”
“Mickey? Your friend who died in that blast?”
“Yeah, him.” Gavin rose and paced, his anxiety building. “She’s called a few times. I think she wants to talk.”
“You think? You don’t know?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t listened to the messages.”
“You should.”
Gavin swallowed. “Ah, would you?”
Lee studied him, then sighed and nodded. After listening to all three messages in silence, he handed the phone back to Gavin. “Can you sit down, please?”
“What? What’s she want?” His knee bobbed, and he tried to stop it, but his heart raced like a jackhammer. He swallowed. “Is she okay?” He couldn’t ask about the baby, couldn’t know if Mick had lost more than just his life.
Gavin sat back, feeling like a pussy when his hands started shaking. It was a phone call, for God’s sake.
Lee nodded. “Yes, she’s fine, Gavin. And so is her son.”
