The next few nights are oddly quiet. Adam hasn’t tried to put me down, not once, and Mom is in her own world with her friends, so I am free to live in my bedroom. It has been wonderful.

On Thursday night, we have dinner as a family, and again Adam is pleasant to be around. Even Mom seems happy. I, however, feel like I’m in the twilight zone or something.

After we eat, I decide not to push my luck. I excuse myself and retreat back to my bedroom. About two hours later, Mom enters.

“Avery, I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure, Mom, what’s up?”

She closes the door and sits on my bed with me. “Look, baby, I wanted to let you know I am so glad you came back home. I’ve missed you for so long; it’s just strange having you back. Adam and I kind of fell into this new ordinary while you were gone. I know things are kind of rough right now. We are all trying to figure out how to live together again. But Avery, I never stopped loving you, and Adam cares a great deal, too. That’s why it seems we’re so hard on you all the time. We just want what’s best for you.”

“Mom, I love you, too. You don’t have to—”

She stops me right there. “Avery, I do. Listen, baby, when your father died, part of me died with him. I didn’t think I would ever love again, but then Adam came into our lives, and I am so grateful he did. He wanted me, and you, too, Avery. He has been a father to you now for ten years. I think it’s time to start showing him more respect. I have made a huge decision. I think I’m going to put him in my will. You don’t care, do you? I mean, there is enough to go around.”

“Have you told him yet?”

“No, I haven’t. I want it to be a surprise. He was so hurt when he learned he wasn’t included. He accused me of not loving him enough. He even went on to ask how much more he needed to do to show his love and devotion to this family. After all, he did adopt you, so I think it’s time to start showing him how much I appreciate him. Besides, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. So, what do you think?”

“Mom, it’s your money, do what you want. How did he find out about the will anyway?”

“About a month ago, he called our attorney for an advance on his allowance, and he was denied. He came home very angry. We started discussing our finances, and I let it slip that he was not part of the inheritance. He went red with anger, but we made up, and I think… no, I know things will get better from now on.”

She touches my leg, and I can’t help feeling this is wrong. I don’t want him being involved in any of our finances, but I can’t tell her that; she’s so happy right now.

“Don’t tell him anything, okay, Avery? I’m going to call Harold in the morning to have the paperwork drawn up. I want it to be a surprise, and it will probably take at least a month to get it finalized, so please, mum’s the word, okay?”

“Yeah, Mom, I won’t say anything.”

She hugs me goodnight and leaves me with my thoughts, which aren’t exactly good ones. I can’t help feeling like something is off. Adam’s a bastard, and I know he’s up to no good. When my father died, he won my mother over, then he took me as his own, and now he wants the money. Something is definitely wrong. I just wish I could figure out how to handle him.

My phone starts to ring, and I answer, seeing it’s Lucy.

“Hey, babes, what’s going on?”

“Lucy, I’m so glad to hear from you.”

“Hey, move out of the way! Hey, Avery, it’s Phil, I’m here, too. Miss me yet?”

I hear Lucy and Phil fight for the phone until I tell them to put it on speakerphone. They fight like small children, and I always have to scold them like a mother.

Laughing, I tell them, “Now isn’t that better? You can both hear and talk to me together.”

Lucy starts first. “Yeah, Phil, move over, you heard Avery.”

“Yeah, well, you talked to her last, so it’s my turn.” Phil just can’t help himself; he has to try and piss Lucy off every chance he gets.

“Hey guys, enough. Tell me what’s been going on with you two?”

Phil says, “Well, besides the fact that I’m still pining for you, as Lucy puts it, nothing much. Lucy has been up to her same shit, driving me crazy.”

“Oh God, Avery, you see what I have to put up with? I need you back.” Lucy doesn’t know how much I want to be there.

“I wish I could, but this is how it has to be. Mom has me busy with all her charity functions, hoping I might meet the right family. You know, just in case they would want me as a trophy wife.”

Oh shit, I wish I wouldn’t have said that, especially with Phil on the phone.

Phil begins with his newfound ammunition. “Trophy wife? Avery Edwards, you are worth so much more than that to me. I can’t believe I have been after you all these years with no luck. Then you go home and your mom has you looking for a husband. Shit, Avery, look no more; I’ve been here the whole time waiting for you. Your mother will love me and my family. Tell her you found your husband.”

Now Lucy’s laughing. “Phil, you’re an idiot. Avery doesn’t want you, and she definitely doesn’t want to be someone’s trophy wife.”

“Stop, Lucy. Phil, it’s not like that. I do love you, but somewhere over the years you became more friend than a boyfriend. Sorry.”

“That’s cold, Avery, putting me in the friend zone. Where did I go wrong? No girl has ever thought of me as just a friend.”

“I’m so sorry, Phil. You’ll find someone; just not me.”

“Yeah, well, Avery, I don’t give up that easy. My mom always said you need to be best friends with your spouse first; the way I see it, we are almost there. Maybe you just need to see me without my clothes on?”

I can’t help laughing. “Lucy, help me out.”

“I can’t, Avery, because honestly, I don’t know many women who wouldn’t want to see Phil naked. Sorry, you’re on your own, woman.”

“See, Avery, everyone wants to see me naked. I’ll send you a picture later.”

“Oh no, Phil.”

Thank God Lucy changes the subject “All right, all right, we didn’t call for Phil to make passes at you. We called for an update on what’s been going on.”

The conversation turns serious now. I need to decide whether to confide in my friends or let it go.

“Avery, you still there?” Phil questions.

“Sorry, guys. Yeah, I’m still here. Something happened tonight, and I’m not sure how I feel about it.”

“What happened? You can tell us, Avery. That’s what Phil and I are for.”

“Well, I don’t know about Lucy, but I can be so much more than a shoulder, Avery.”

“Stop, Phil. Go on, Avery. What happened?”

Here we go, truth time. “It’s Adam. He found out about my mom’s will. He knows now he wasn’t to inherit anything, and now Mom wants to put him in it. She said they argued, then calmly discussed it, and she decided he deserves a piece of the pie.”

Phil whistles. “Damn, Avery, that’s a big one. I don’t know how I would feel if my mom wanted to give some of our money away to another man.”

“Right, I don’t know how I feel. I mean, there’s enough to go around, but I can’t stand him. My only pleasure was knowing he wouldn’t get anything if something happened to my mom.”

“Well, you and Phil can discuss this one. My parents have nothing to leave behind, so it’s easy for me; I have to make my own money. There’s nothing for me to inherit; hence, I’m the scholarship baby. I have no clue what to tell you.”

I love Lucy, but I agree; she hasn’t got a clue of what we’re talking about. She comes from a nice family, but not a wealthy one. Sometimes I wish I could’ve switched lives with her. She never had the pressure that comes along with being the super wealthy. Those expectations were never put on her. I’ve met her family, and they’re so proud of her; you can see the love they have for each other. Now, I’m not saying she has no pressure or struggles; they’re just different. As soon as I can draw on my trust, I plan on helping her, to relieve her of some of them.

Phil asks. “Avery, do you think he’s up to something bad?”

“I don’t know, Phil. It just seems odd. Why now, and why does he need the money? I mean, he is a well-respected doctor here.”

“You’re right to question. If he has his own money, why does he care about yours? Maybe you should talk to your mom some more.”

“I know you’re right, but I can’t. She’s so happy, and he doesn’t even know she’s planning this. How can I go to her with suspicions when she’s doing it on her own?”

“I don’t know, but be careful. If he is up to something, you don’t want to be the last one to find out.”

“I will. Look, guys, I’ve had a busy day. Can I talk to y’all tomorrow? Don’t worry, Phil, I’ll be careful.”

“Okay, we love you, bye.”

I hang up with more concern now. Is Phil right? Should I be worried he’s up to something? Well, I can’t think about this anymore tonight. I’ll figure out more tomorrow.

I dress for bed and hope I can have good dreams tonight.

I hear my phone beep. I look to see who messaged me – oh my God, it’s a picture of a naked Phil. Of course, it’s just his backside, but damn, what a backside. That man has such a nice ass. I guess it’s what I’ll be dreaming about tonight.

Another text comes through: “For your eyes only!”

I text back: “Nice ass!!!!!”

PHIL: “I know, I just wanted you to know.”

ME: “Now I know. LOL.”

PHIL: “Look, Avery, I know that someone hurt you before and that’s why you never gave me a chance. But I want you to know that I might joke around a lot, but I am serious when it comes to you.”

ME: “I know Phil. Someone did hurt me and I wish I could get over him, but I can’t. One day maybe, but I’m not ready. Sorry.”

PHIL: “Don’t be. You are worth waiting for.”

I blush.

ME: “Thank you, Phil.”

PHIL: “Hey, I know you’re not experienced and it’s one of the things I love about you, but after you’ve seen my picture if you’re interested, I can sext you through it.”

I can’t help laughing out loud. He wants to sext. Not happening.

ME: “Goodnight Phil.”

PHIL: “Goodnight, sweet dreams.”

Again, I wonder why I can’t just fall for Phil. He is everything a girl would want, he has a rocking body, and he comes from a family my mother would approve of. So why? The only reason I can think of is he doesn’t know the real me. The me who was a social outcast or the me who was scared pretty much every day of my life. Phil has only seen the part of me I allowed. Even Lucy doesn’t really know. I’ve told her everything, but knowing and seeing are two different things, and even today I’m lying to her. I lie and tell her and Phil everything is fine when it’s not. Only one person knew the real me, and he decided I wasn’t worth the effort, and I know I embarrassed him. He wouldn’t even let anyone know we had any kind of friendship or relationship. I just need to forget about him and move on with my life.

“God give me the power to forget him.”