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Authors: Nikki Lynn Barrett
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today.”
Avery walked in sync with Jameson. “How is she doing?” Jameson’s mom didn’t take her husband’s death well at all. They were worried for awhile that they might lose her, too.
Jameson sighed. “Not well. Hanging on, but not well at all. I’m scared for her, Baby Stetson.” The use of her nickname sent a chill down her spine. The way Jameson said those words, he sounded so defeated.
“You let me know if there’s anything I can do, okay?” Avery’s heart broke for him. They stopped outside of Avery’s truck. Jameson’s sunglasses hid his eyes, but his lips were in a thin line as he nodded.
“Thank you. I really appreciate that.” He leaned in and swiftly hugged her for a moment before pulling away again. “I’m glad you don’t hate me. I was really afraid you did. I can’t bear to lose another person in my life.”
“I know, Jameson. I know. We’ll make it somehow, okay? You’ve been my best friend, besides Laura, for so long. We’ll get back somehow. We’re both stubborn. I know we can do it.” Avery wasn’t sure, but she had to give it her best shot. For Jameson. For herself.
“I’ll see you later.” With a wave, he turned, retreating to his own truck. Avery climbed into hers and watched as Jameson disappeared into the horizon. Why did it hurt so much to see him? Why did she suddenly want to cry again? And why did she kiss another man just a few nights ago when she was still obviously reeling from the pain of the breakup with Jameson?
*****
Avery couldn’t help it, but she watched her mother like a hawk all afternoon while working a shift at the inn. She was on front desk duty, and her mother came in and out, asking questions about guests and other information. Every time she was near, Avery searched her face for any signs of too little sleep or stress. There had already been too many losses this year, too much change. Yes, it was a part of life, but lately it seemed there had been an upswing in life’s curve balls. Like a roller coaster ride that Avery couldn’t wait to get off of. She hated roller coasters. No wonder the ups and downs of life drove her nuts lately. They reminded her of the wretched, creaky ride that always freaked her out.
Comparing roller coasters and life, well yeah, there ya go. That’s enough to send anyone over the edge. Grip. Get one. She needed to, now.
“Avery? Avery, are you listening to me?”
Whoops. Mom looked at Avery strangely. She’d gone off in her own little thoughts again.
“Yeah, I hear you, Mom.” Or at least, mostly. The last five minutes, she wasn’t so sure.
“Okay, so you’ll do it?”
Avery blinked. Okay, she’d definitely missed something. Shit.
Her mother laughed. “By the sheer confused look on your face, I was right. You did go off in your own little world. Are you okay?”
Mom knew her too well. Avery could never get away with lying. Not that she ever wanted to lie to her mother, but if she ever did, she would know. Avery wore her emotions on her sleeve, even without intending to, and her mother knew that all too well.
“I’m worried about you, honestly,” Avery said, watching her mother’s face. If only she could read Mom’s mind the way Mom could do to her.
“Why are you so worried about me? I’m perfectly fine,” her mother insisted firmly. “So I fell the other day. It happens all the time.”
Then why are you getting so defensive?
Not very convincing.
The bell jingled, signaling someone coming in. Avery turned around to face the desk and put on a happy smile as the middle aged man walked up to the desk. “Hi! How may I help you?” Avery asked, feigning cheerfulness. The man studied her for a second, his jaw slack, eyes full of curiosity. He had tan skin, a faint hint of a mustache and beard, and his sandy brown hair kept short. He stood straight, at a little over six feet tall. His clothes were casual, wearing blue jeans and a plaid long sleeved shirt that he wore tucked in.
“Do you
Avery walked in sync with Jameson. “How is she doing?” Jameson’s mom didn’t take her husband’s death well at all. They were worried for awhile that they might lose her, too.
Jameson sighed. “Not well. Hanging on, but not well at all. I’m scared for her, Baby Stetson.” The use of her nickname sent a chill down her spine. The way Jameson said those words, he sounded so defeated.
“You let me know if there’s anything I can do, okay?” Avery’s heart broke for him. They stopped outside of Avery’s truck. Jameson’s sunglasses hid his eyes, but his lips were in a thin line as he nodded.
“Thank you. I really appreciate that.” He leaned in and swiftly hugged her for a moment before pulling away again. “I’m glad you don’t hate me. I was really afraid you did. I can’t bear to lose another person in my life.”
“I know, Jameson. I know. We’ll make it somehow, okay? You’ve been my best friend, besides Laura, for so long. We’ll get back somehow. We’re both stubborn. I know we can do it.” Avery wasn’t sure, but she had to give it her best shot. For Jameson. For herself.
“I’ll see you later.” With a wave, he turned, retreating to his own truck. Avery climbed into hers and watched as Jameson disappeared into the horizon. Why did it hurt so much to see him? Why did she suddenly want to cry again? And why did she kiss another man just a few nights ago when she was still obviously reeling from the pain of the breakup with Jameson?
*****
Avery couldn’t help it, but she watched her mother like a hawk all afternoon while working a shift at the inn. She was on front desk duty, and her mother came in and out, asking questions about guests and other information. Every time she was near, Avery searched her face for any signs of too little sleep or stress. There had already been too many losses this year, too much change. Yes, it was a part of life, but lately it seemed there had been an upswing in life’s curve balls. Like a roller coaster ride that Avery couldn’t wait to get off of. She hated roller coasters. No wonder the ups and downs of life drove her nuts lately. They reminded her of the wretched, creaky ride that always freaked her out.
Comparing roller coasters and life, well yeah, there ya go. That’s enough to send anyone over the edge. Grip. Get one. She needed to, now.
“Avery? Avery, are you listening to me?”
Whoops. Mom looked at Avery strangely. She’d gone off in her own little thoughts again.
“Yeah, I hear you, Mom.” Or at least, mostly. The last five minutes, she wasn’t so sure.
“Okay, so you’ll do it?”
Avery blinked. Okay, she’d definitely missed something. Shit.
Her mother laughed. “By the sheer confused look on your face, I was right. You did go off in your own little world. Are you okay?”
Mom knew her too well. Avery could never get away with lying. Not that she ever wanted to lie to her mother, but if she ever did, she would know. Avery wore her emotions on her sleeve, even without intending to, and her mother knew that all too well.
“I’m worried about you, honestly,” Avery said, watching her mother’s face. If only she could read Mom’s mind the way Mom could do to her.
“Why are you so worried about me? I’m perfectly fine,” her mother insisted firmly. “So I fell the other day. It happens all the time.”
Then why are you getting so defensive?
Not very convincing.
The bell jingled, signaling someone coming in. Avery turned around to face the desk and put on a happy smile as the middle aged man walked up to the desk. “Hi! How may I help you?” Avery asked, feigning cheerfulness. The man studied her for a second, his jaw slack, eyes full of curiosity. He had tan skin, a faint hint of a mustache and beard, and his sandy brown hair kept short. He stood straight, at a little over six feet tall. His clothes were casual, wearing blue jeans and a plaid long sleeved shirt that he wore tucked in.
“Do you
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