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“Could we get a picture, man?”
I’d mastered the art of the selfie by now, but Avery reached out for the bag, her coffee, and his phone. “I’ll take it.”
She took a few, like always, and the dude thanked us repeatedly before finally leaving us alone to go inside.
“You DoorDashed breakfast for me?” She smirked at me, then eyed the bag. She only let the expression drop when she brought the to-go cup of coffee to her mouth.
In an ideal world, I would have made breakfast for the two of us and forced her to stay and snuggle on the sofa all day. Maybe put on another movie. Spend some time exploring the side of her neck with my lips, especially that spot right below her ear. The spot that made her breath hitch. But in that scenario, she was mine, and I had the apartment to myself and I had nowhere to be. In real life, I had to DoorDash coffee to her place and then get on a plane.
I cleared my throat. “We all know how you get without your coffee.” I gave her a hard time, but I’d never seen her all that cranky. I was the cranky one in this relationship.
“Ha ha.” She turned and came dangerously close to wiping out because of the damn winter boots.
Somehow, she saved her coffee from a sudden death, even as I scooped her up into my arms.
“Chris,” she shrieked as I cradled her against my chest.
“No face-plants in the snow today. I don’t have time for an ER trip.” At this point, I was already cutting it close. I’d have to leave for the airport in an hour, and I still had to hoof it home and pack.
“Do you have time to come up and eat breakfast with me?” She rested her head against my shoulder.
My heart sank. Dammit. “I wish I could, but I gotta leave at nine.”
Her lips turned down in a pout. “You have to come up to get your boots, at least.”
I chuckled. Although I wouldn’t need them in Florida, I’d appease her and take them with me. As we stepped into her lobby, it was as if the peaceful, happy bubble we’d existed in the whole way here popped. Now goodbye hung heavy in the air between us. Spring training was full of long days and lots of practice. The seven weeks would go fast, but that tingling idea that a lot could change in seven weeks hovered in my mind.
The silence in the elevator was deafening and the jingling of the keys in the lock too loud. The way the door creaked open was almost ominous. Neither of us rushed in. Maybe because she was as acutely aware of these last few minutes together as I was.
Finally, I forced myself to step inside, and I was instantly enveloped in the smell of vanilla cake that always clung to her. I’d have to find a candle to sniff while I was away so I could pretend she was close.
Wow, that sounded pathetic, even to me. I shook off the ridiculous thought and took in the space. I’d been here plenty of times, but I needed a distraction from my wayward thoughts.
Her apartment was homey. Small and cozy and so much like her. Framed photos and knickknacks cluttered every surface. The big puffy couch took up most of the living room, and her only dining area was a bar-height bistro table in the kitchen. She wobbled her way to the table and heaved herself onto a stool, and I followed.
Avery toed off the oversized boots while I took her dress and shoes out of my coat and placed them on the stool opposite her. When she’d finally extricated herself, she pushed to her feet and watched me. Her gaze was intense as she moved closer. My heart hammered louder with each step she took. Instinctively, I sensed the slight change in her. A hesitation, like she was nervous.
When she was standing directly before me, she wet her lips, never breaking eye contact. Her expression was open, needy, as she watched me.
Never in my life had I seen a woman looking more kissable than Avery did at this moment. Finally, she was putting out the signals that I had literally been waiting months for.
I snaked an arm around her waist and tucked her in close. She came willingly, even eagerly, slipping her hands under my coat and clinging to the fabric of my sweatshirt. My hands trembled, and it was suddenly hard to breathe. Bowing my head, I pressed my lips to the top of her head.
She sagged against my chest, whether in disappointment or relief, I wasn’t sure.
Regardless of the thoughts running through her mind, and regardless of how desperate I was for more, Avery was a once-in-a-lifetime woman. She deserved so much more than a rushed kiss right before I left for seven weeks.
“Good luck in Florida,” she mumbled against my chest, clutching my shirt tighter, like she didn’t want to let go. “Have fun. And.” She paused, swallowed hard, and looked up at me from beneath her lashes. “Miss me a little, okay?”
I smirked to hide the way my heart cracked just then. “I’ll try.” The truth was I’d miss her a whole hell of a lot. And when I got back, her year would be up.
Me: Whatcha doing for the big day?
Chris: Big day?
Me: Valentine’s Day! How did you forget already? You sent Puff his favorite sand eels yesterday so he could pass them out to his potential spring flings.
Chris: I do not call them spring flings. That’s you
