Chapter 17
Ava slid the last bite of birthday cake from one side of her paper plate to the next. The evening had gone okay so far, but she had the distinct impression that the peace wouldn’t last long. Soon war would break out, and it would be all her fault.
Maverick’s medical assistant had attended to him throughout the night, propping him up so he could eat when the others ate, and so that he could see everyone’s faces while they sang Happy Birthday to him and Memphis.
But he was flat on his back again now, and thrumming his fingers furiously at the side of his bed while the group shared memories and joked about their past life that seemed so far away from them now.
Ava fixed her gaze on Maverick’s hand. He wasn’t a violent person; she felt safe in saying so. But she couldn’t escape the energy that pulsed from his corner of the room. When she was a small child, there were many times that Ava had been playing near her dad in the house or out in the yard, thinking all was right and fine. Until his violent outbursts proved otherwise.
It wasn’t long before she started to sense his looming anger, no matter how suddenly it came on. By a very young age, she’d discovered through observation, repetition, and incidents too painful to forget that his horrible outbursts were often products of a slow boil beneath the surface. Fury festering in dark corners of his mind. Trapped in the soured depths of his heart.
And then there was Wren. His outbursts weren’t nearly so frequent, but they were twice as deadly. The staggered occurrence made them harder to predict. That dark energy would pulse from him like a soundless vibration for weeks. She’d spend evenings flinching away from him in reflex alone, and he’d laugh and act like it was all in her head. Only to surprise her with a real doozy days later. It was like he enjoyed catching her off guard. And the days leading up to it, where she was living in constant fear of him, those only made him feel more powerful.
Ava shuddered in response.That’s in the past,she assured herself. Wren would never hurt her again. Not even in recollection. She’d do as the counselor suggested—use the memories when they came (because they were sure to come) to remind herself of what she’d done to escape him. She’d been brave. She’d been strong. She’d said yes. An act that might seem so little, so small, so easy—was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Or perhaps it had been the following through part that challenged her most. How many times had she been tempted to call or text Wren from the department store and give him a heads up? A final goodbye. An explanation for why she’d left.
A wry laugh got caught in her throat. Like he didn’t know.
It was then Ava caught sight of Richard across the room, his eyes locked on hers. “Hi,” he mouthed.
Ava shot a glance in Maverick’s direction before replying with a mouthed “Hi” of her own. It would hardly serve them well to sit across the room from one another if Richard persisted on staring at her like a…a man in love. Warmth pooled around her heart, almost dispelling the energy she detected in the room, but not quite.
It was this—what was happening between them—that had Maverick in what Ava viewed as a dangerously slow boil. Sure, no one had come out and told him about what Ava and Richard had shared. Of course not. And they’d been very careful around one another during their time there. But Ava had the distinct impression that he somehow knew their secret.
“Well, it’s getting late,” Betty said as she came to a stand. “I’m so tired, I feel like I’ve been herding cats all day. Think it’s about time that I sink into a nice hot bubble bath.”
“We should probably all get going,” Andie said while coming to a stand as well. “Let’s let Maverick rest up so he can keep healing.”
Memphis was next to hop to his feet. “Thanks for coming everyone, and for the fun birthday celebration. You guys go ahead and we’ll get everything cleaned up.”
“I’mnot cleaning it up,” Maverick blurted from his bed.
“You are if I wheel you over to the table,” Memphis razzed.
Betty rushed over to the buffet area. “Why don’t I help you out a bit here?”
Emmitt tossed an arm over his head as he moved toward the door. “Well, happy birthday, brothers. Another year older and uglier too. Better luck next year.”
“Hey wait!” Maverick blurted, bringing the movement in the room to a sudden halt.
“We didn’t even play any games yet.” He waved a hand toward himself. “Richard. Will you help me?”
“Sure, man.” Ava gulped as Richard slid his plate onto the side table and came to a stand. He passed Betty, Trenton, then Andie, since each stood closer to Maverick than he’d been, until he was a foot away from his bedside.
“What can I do for you, bro?”
Emmitt, who’d been halfway out the door, stepped back inside, his eyes locked in their direction.
Memphis moved in closer too, his nostrils flaring slightly as he eyed the two of them.
Ava scooted to the edge of her seat, desperate to counter the fizzing flickers of fear threatening to make her insides explode.It’s nothing,she told herself.Maverick wouldn’t do something crazy.She tipped her head to look at his hand once more. It was still now. No more anxious thrumming. Too bad her heart was making up the difference, the pace so rapid she nearly felt ill.
“Remember that game we used to play?” Maverick asked, his voice friendly and light.
Ava felt her shoulders drop an inch.
“What game is that?” Richard asked.
“We tooktruth or dare, and we mixed it withmade you flinch,remember?”
