SHANE
Throughout dinner at an Italian restaurant in Boston, Avery’s quieter than usual. When I surprise her by saying we’ll spend the night in a hotel because I’m too tired to drive back, she studies me speculatively.
“Why would we stay in a hotel when we have family in Boston?”
“I don’t feel like dealing with anyone.” That’s the truth, but staying in an upscale hotel is also about my car being in valet parking all night, and there being lobby camera footage of me. My alibi needs to be well-documented.
I checked in online, so I just drop by the desk to grab a key. Avery stands near me with her hands clasped behind her. Out of my reach.
In the elevator on the way up to the room, I say, “Wanna talk about what happened when you went home?”
“Not really.” Her expression is guarded as her interlocked fingers press into the hollow below her breast bone.
Impatience creeps into my voice, and I don’t try to hide it. “Avery, come on.”
She glances at me, shrugs and looks away. “My mom said you asked her if she was ever sexually assaulted. She was.”
Hell.“I’m sorry that happened to her.”
“Me too.” Avery presses her lips together, and her eyes take on a teary sheen that she has to blink away. “Mom’s not over it. I doubt she ever will be. He got away with it.”
“Too bad she didn’t have a monster to avenge her.”
She looks over at me sharply. “What would a monster do?”
“Monster things,” I say noncommittally. This is not a conversation I should have with her tonight while I’m covering my tracks.
Her expression softens despite my cagey reply. “Yeah, that’s not our kind of problem.”
The bait dangles. I don’t take it.
The elevator doors open, and I extend a hand to usher her out. We’re silent as we head down the hall. The other shoe has yet to drop.
Inside the room, there’s a king-sized bed with a glossy navy bedspread and a thousand pillows. Avery barely gives it a glance as she walks to the far side. She sits in a thick-cushioned gold chair, with a distant look in her eyes.
I drop my duffel next to the bed and walk to her. Sitting on the bed’s edge, I lean forward. “What’s on your mind?”
“You said we own each other, but you don’t really mean that, do you?”
My innocent smile is a cover.
She slides her shoes off and tucks her legs under her, leaning against the side of the chair as she looks at me. Her sigh is troubled. “I think,” she begins, her voice as soft as feathers. “When people get wrapped up in the idea of ownership, things can go badly when one tries to leave.”
The feigned smile vanishes as my eyes narrow. Seems like Sheri managed to plant a dangerous seed.
“Don’t dance around it, Avery. Ask what you really want to ask.”
“How far would you go to keep someone from leaving you?”
“Hard to say. In the past, when a relationship stopped working, I was always the one who left. But those girls weren’t you.” I shake my head, pressing my lips together. “Are you asking what would happen if you cheated on me and tried to take off with another guy? Yeah, that would not go well. If you cheat, you should not let me find out. There would be a fight, and hewould notwin.”
She tilts her head, a small breathy laugh escaping. “That’s not what I meant. At all.” Her fingers rub her forehead, and the big blue eyes roll. “Cheat on you? Who with?” Her gaze locks with mine. “If I leave, it won’t be for someone else. For me, no one compares to you.”
My eyes hold hers for the span of a dozen heartbeats. “Same.”
Her fingers flutter and then come to rest on my leg. “Crushing on other people…that’s not our kind of problem. Our problem is trust. When my mom talked about Ethan today, it made me realize that she trusts him completely. He’s her best friend. They tell each other everything.”
“Maybe they do now. They’re married. They’ve been together a long time.”
