Avery. I blink hard to make sure I’m not seeing things. When I open my eyes she’s still there, and she’s so fucking beautiful.
I stand still beside Brad, not moving a muscle; hell, I’m not sure I’m breathing at this point. I’m waiting for her to realize I’m here. I’m not sure how she’ll react. She’s made it clear to our friends and family that she didn’t want to see me over the years. I honored that and never tried to reach out, but I watched her. Sounds like I’m a damn stalker, but I did what I had to do. I had to see with my own two eyes that she was okay. Brad or Harley, even her parents or Alan, would tell me where she was going to be and I would show up in the shadows, just to get a glimpse of her. Not a single day over the past four years have I not thought about her, loved her.
Now she’s back. I told myself that if she was with someone once she graduated, if she was happy, I would back off and let her be just that—happy. But she’s not with someone. Brad, Harley, Alan, her parents, all of them have made sure to tell me that. It gives me hope that they’re rooting for me, for us.
Her eyes find mine and she stills. I don’t look away. I can’t. Instead I ball my hands at my sides, fighting the urge to pull her into my arms.
“Dylan,” she whispers.
That’s when I break eye contact. As soon as I hear my name roll off her lips, I close my eyes and remember a time when that alone put a smile on my face. I’m fighting that same smile now, but I know I need to keep that shit locked down.
“Aves,” I use the nickname that only I ever used. I hope that’s still the case. By the way her eyes are now closed and her chest is rapidly rising, I would say so.
“Look,” Harley says. “This was bound to happen, considering the two of you are walking down the aisle together in the wedding that is just three weeks away. You both said this would not be an issue.” She stands with her hands on her hips, a worried expression on her face.
“It’s good to see you,” I say, ignoring Harley.
Slowly she opens her eyes and I can see the hint of tears. I take a step toward her, but Brad reaches out and puts his hand on my arm, stopping me.
“Is it?” she chokes out.
Fuck me! “Avery—”
“Don’t bother, Dylan. I promised Harley and Brad this wouldn’t be an issue and it won’t be. Unless it’s wedding-related, I don’t want to see you. We’re going to have to find a way to live in this small town together. You did fine with it that summer, so I’m sure we can do it for the next fifty years.”
The only thing I want to do for the next fifty years is love her. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, to love her and for her to follow her dreams and be happy.
“Dylan?” Harley says.
“It won’t be an issue.” The words are sour rolling off my lips. I don’t like this plan, not one fucking bit. I need to convince her that I did it for her, show her that I still love her. Remind her what we’re like together.
“We needed a break anyway. You ready to head home?” Harley asks Avery.
“Yeah, thanks.”
I watch as she stands and places her phone in her back pocket. I’m in the path of the basement steps, which means she has to walk right past me. I should move, but I don’t. Instead I wait patiently as she rolls her eyes and walks past me.
Reaching out, I grab her hand. She whips around, surprise all over her face. “I missed you,” I tell her.
“I’m not buying your bullshit, Dylan. It’s been four years. If you missed me, you would’ve contacted me. Where were you, huh?”
I bite my tongue, not wanting to out our friends.
“That’s what I thought.” Jerking her arm out of my hand, she stomps up the stairs.
“Well, that went well,” Brad says.
“Dylan,” Harley sighs. “Why didn’t you tell her?”
I shrug. “It’s not the right time. She’s still pissed and she’s not ready to hear it. Besides, I don’t need her pissed off at the two of you before the wedding. Let’s get through the big day and see what happens.” I know my Avery; she’s not one to let go easily. Once she finds out that our friends and even her family helped me see her over the years, she’s going to be pissed. I don’t want anything ruining the wedding, so I’m just going to sit back and plan.
Harley surprises me when she wraps her arms around me in a hug. “You’re a great guy, Dylan Knight. She loves you even if she’s not willing to admit it.”
“For now, I love her enough for both of us.” Over the years, I’ve embarrassed myself in front of our friends and family with my outbursts of missing her. I took tears and beers to a whole new level.
“I’ll be back later. I don’t want to leave her right now” Harley says to Brad.
“Do what you need to, babe. We were just going to play some pool. Be careful, I love you.” He leans down and kisses her.
“That was not what I expected,” Brad says once Harley’s upstairs.
“What did you expect? Tears of joy and we live happily ever after?”
“No, dick.” He punches me in the arm. “I expected tears and more… yelling.”
“There were tears.” He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “She was close to exposing them. Did you hear her voice crack?”
“Then why did you stop her when she was trying to leave?”
“Because I needed her to know that I missed her. I meant what I said, I won’t mess up the wedding, but after that it’s no holds barred. I’m going to fight for her.”
“Great plan, but what happens when you lose the fight?”
Losing isn’t an option. “At least she and I both will know that I tried.”
“So you’ll move on, just like that?”
“Not even close. She’s it for me.”
“So, single for life if she shoots you down?”
“It wouldn’t be fair to anyone else to only get half of me.”
“Random hookups?”
I shrug. I’m not capable of more than that with anyone other than Avery.
“That’s some deep shit, D.”
“Rack ’em,” I say, pointing to the pool table. Talking about it gets me nowhere; I need to decide how I’m going to go about this. I’m heading into the fight of my life, and I’ll be damned if I go down easy.
A few hours later, I find myself driving past her parents’ place on my way home just to see if I can get a glimpse of her. I still drive the same old pickup truck, and yes, I still live at home with my dad. I did what I told her I would do. I worked and saved every penny, and now I have a pretty nice nest egg for us to start our life together.
My phone vibrates as soon as I pull into the drive.
Alan: I hear you got to see her today.
Me: Yeah.
Alan: I figured you would tell her everything the first chance you got.
Me: Nah, I don’t want to ruin the wedding. She’s going to be pissed at all of us.
Alan: She will, but she’ll get over it.
Me: I hope so. Not going to be an easy fight.
Alan: You fighting?
Me: For her, always.
I don’t wait for a reply; I know I won’t get one. In the house, I find Dad making a sandwich.
“You want one?” he asks.
“No, thanks. How was the shop today?”
“Same old.” He adds some chips to his plate, then takes a seat at the table. “I hear Avery’s back from college.”
“She is.”
“For good?”
“Yeah, she graduated.”
“I know that. Is she staying around?”
I nod. “She’s going to be teaching at the high school.”
“You talk to her?”
“I said hello in passing at Brad’s.”
“You got a plan?” Dad’s always a man of few words, but when he does speak, you listen.
“Working on it.”
“Good.”
“I’m going out,” I say, turning to head back out the door.
“You just got home.”
“Need some time.”
“Be safe, Dylan.”
Waving goodbye, I head out the door, drive to the shop, and park around back. Unlocking the door, I make my way up the steps to the roof. I’ve spent a lot of time up here over the past four years. This is where I brought her for our first date and many more after that. This is also the place where I broke us. Being up here makes me feel closer to her.
I lie down on the old patio couch and close my eyes. If I try really hard, I can feel her here with me. I remember every minute, every touch, every kiss, and every breath of our time together.
Now I need to remind her.