“That was the plan, but maybe I’m questioning my plan.” I took in a stuttered breath. “Today I tossed a ball back and forth with an elderly man, and it brought so much joy to him. The therapist told me she hadn’t been able to get him to lift his right arm since his stroke and that I’d helped him make a breakthrough. I mean, that really matters. Academia is so much politics, and you don’t help people. It’s not fulfilling like I felt today.” It wasn’t until this moment that I realized how much I enjoyed working with patients and with my hands. “I even fixed a leaky faucet, sanded some woodwork and stained it, and installed some light fixtures.” Kevin had been right. I fit there. More so than I had ever in the stuffy old professoroffices.
“Isn’t fulfilling? Are you saying my job ismeaningless?”
“No, of coursenot.”
“Listen, I don’t have time for your little crisis. You’ll realize you’re not cut out for therapy or blue-collar work and then return to literature soon enough. In the meantime, I need to get back to work.” He hit the button on his computer and the screen wentdark.
“That didn’t go well,” Avery said from behindme.
I turned to find her leaning in thedoorway.
“Eavesdropmuch?”
“Have you met me? Like, all the time.” She sat next to me on the bed and patted my shoulder. “You sure this guy is worth yourtime?”
“It’s not what you think. Edward is solid. A good guy who plans everything. He’s dependable,reliable.”
“So is a good car, but it doesn’t mean you have to buyit.”
I ignored her sarcasm. “He was just surprised that’s all, and if there is one thing Edward doesn’t like, it’s surprises. I shouldn’t have been teasing him like that. At first, I only meant it as a joke, but then I bated him to argue. It was my fault. Trust me, tomorrow he’ll call and tell me he supports me on anything I want to do. Then I’ll explain that I wasn’tserious.”
“Why aren’t you serious about it? You sounded more excited about that place today than you’ve sounded in the last year aboutanything.”
“Let it go, Avery. I’m a lit major. That’s where I belong.” I stretched, relieving some of the kinks that had formed in my neck. “I am and have always been abookworm.”
Avery rested her head on my shoulder. “You know, when Dylan came back into town, I didn’t want to give him a chance, but my sisters convinced me to because they saw what was best for me. Perhaps you should trust us and open up your mind to the possibility that there are other men out there who might be better foryou.”
“This again? I’m not interested in Kevin, we have nothing in common, and just because he makes my pulse rev doesn’t mean he is the commitmenttype.”
“Doesn’t look like Edward is any more into the commitment thing than you are. Besides you’ve spoken to Kevin more than Edward in the last day. According to Joe and Kaley, Kevin wanted everyone to meet you. He’s been talking about you constantly.” Avery studied her nails and sighed. “Come on, Zoey. He’s keeping you a secret. You’ve got to see how messed up thatis.”
“You don’t understand, and you need to leave this alone. Edward and I talk plenty. He’ll call me soon, and everything will be right. I’m with Edward, and if you can’t accept that, then I’ll go back up to school for theholidays.”
Avery held me tight to her side. “No, I won’t let you go. I promise to behave.Okay?”
I caved, never able to be mad at her for too long. “Okay, but let it go. And promise me you’ll give Edward a chance. I’d like us all to meet for dinner next week. Would you do that forme?”
“Yes, I’ll do that for you.” Avery sat straight up. “I have a great idea. Let’s invite Aunt Cathy to dinner,too.”
I smacked her. “Never going to happen. She’d chase Edward off forsure.”
“As I said, we shouldinvite—”
“Avery.” I shoved hard, and she landed on her backside on the hardwoodfloor.
“Fine, fine.” Avery pushed from the floor, rubbing herbackside.
My phone buzzed, so I snagged it from my pocket. “See, I told you he’d callback.”
Avery crossed her arms over her chest and looked down at me. “Really?”
The number was local. I answered, “Hello?”
“Hi, Zoey. It’sKevin.”
Avery sauntered out the door with a back-hand wave and comment. “I told youso.”
