As I climb into my SUV, I let the phone connect to my Bluetooth speaker, and before I can second-guess my choice, I say two words. “Call Maggie.”
My sister sniffs. “Thanks for calling. I’d been meaning to do the same. I’m sorry I said?—”
“Maggie, you don’t need to apologize again. It’s fine. We’re fine. I was being an idiot. You told me I was, and you were right.” I press my phone tighter to my cheek like someone might overhear as I make my way through my empty house. My chest squeezes as I can’t help but ask, “How is he?”
“Dad’s fine. I don’t think he can make it, so we probably sidestepped a disaster there.” She lets out a defeated laugh.
Immediately, instinct takes over, the one that makes me want to protect the ones I love. I may not have wanted to see him at her nuptials, but I also didn’t want Maggie to get rejected by our dad—again. “Screw him.”
“Ty, it’s okay.”
“No, Maggie. It’s not. I can tell from your voice he hurt you. He?—”
“Ty, I’m letting it go, and you should too. We don’t need him. We never have, and now that Anthony and I have finally sorted things out, we’re in a steady place. I’m on the path to making my own family. I mean, I’m grateful to Dad for my existence—our existence—but that’s it.” She sighs. “Don’t let him be the reason you’ve built your walls so high. I know I apologized for everything else, but I meant it when I said you were too guarded. You are. And you’re only hurting yourself. I won’t apologize for being honest.”
As always, Maggie’s right. I’ve missed her straight shooting. I sigh. “And I wouldn’t want you to.”
“You sure? Kinda sounds like you’re being a liiittle bit sensitive.”
“Okay, Maggie. Lighten up on me.”
She laughs. “Honesty is the best policy, you know that.”
“Glad to see you’re still using the same old excuses.”
“I just want you to be as happy as I am. Don’t let dumb people from your past affect your future, okay? That’s all I’msayin’.”
“Maggie’s a poet.”
“And I didn’t even know it.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
The silence drags on for a long moment as the words settle between us, and then finally, I know it’s time to end this call. It’s time to make a call I’ve been dreading since I toldhergoodbye.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? I got some stuff I need to do,” I say.
“Okay. Me too. Love ya, Ty.”
“You too, Mags.”
When she hangs up, I dial Avery. My heart pounds against my ribs as the phone rings, but she doesn’t pick up.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
AVERY
Ty has tried callingme a few times. I haven’t answered. Do I want to? Yes. Of course I freaking do. But half the time my phone is lost in some random place—a cabinet, shoved between cushions, a fridge—and it’s far too late to text him back. With our history—which is still up for debate—I can’t be texting him at just any hour of the night. If Ty is a “short-term guy only” type, you won’t find Avery Joy Hinkley’s name popping up on his screen at any seedy hour of the night. No sir. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I’ve matured. Grown.
Losing the dream of dancing for the Vista City Kings has only proven one thing to me: dreams change. As much as I wanted to be a Kings Cheerleader, I want to follow my heart more. Which is quite the conundrum because the heart is deceitful, some may say. My head and my heart have never quite aligned. I suppose that’s why, despite the fact I was fired from The Kings weeks ago,and Ty has texted at least once a week since, I’ve never fully given in and responded.
Because what would I say? Jiminy Christmas, WHAT WOULD I SAY? A few options have populated my mind, and none of them feel right. As “right” as Ty feels, I can’t help but wonder if I’m reverting back to what I’ve always done: changing my mind, changing my career, disrupting any chance I have at any semblance of stability in my life.
“Hey, Ty. Yeah. I miss you too.” Is that what I’m supposed to say?
“Yeah, Ty, sure. I’ll just be the side piece to your steady career.”
“Oh, you want me to disappear because you’ve become bored with me, Ty? Say the word. I’m gone.”
Is that what I want? Do I want to answer the phone and react like I always do with a failing relationship, gig, whatever? No. Moving forward, that is not who this Avery is. This Avery respects herself.Valuesherself. This Avery doesn’t answer the phone just because she’s so heartsick some nights she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to sleep. This Avery follows her passions, her hobbies. She accepts the fact that she is an ever-changing human and acknowledges that that is totally okay! At least that’s what she tells herself when she’s hours deep scrolling Pinterest for her next fixation.
