When I get home, I plan to shower and regroup, maybe hang with Connor to distract myself. I’mnotgoing to tell him everything that’s swirling through my mind about Avery. He’d just tell me “I told you so.”
But maybe we can chill by Landon’s pool or something. We should take advantage of our remaining time together anyway.
Only once I’m get home, Connor’s on his way out in Princeton Soccer sportswear, his contacts on in place of glasses and his car keys chiming in his hands.
“Oh, are you going to work out?”
He stops and looks conflicted. “Yeah.”
Usually, he would ask me to join him, but he’s been so sneaky lately.
“Guess I’m not invited. Have a good time.”
“Yeah,” he repeats before shuttling out the door.
Okay?
Shower for me it is.
Before I get to the bathroom though, a text comes through in the three-way chat with Taylor.
AVERY: Hi Taylor, Aiden said earlier that it might be time to start ending the dating story, but I don’t feel comfortable with that? It’s working, right?
Huh, so she really didn’t feel good about Aiden’s perspective either. I sit on my bed, now feeling my emotions settle from her words and dying to see how Taylor responds.
TAYLOR: He and I haven’t discussed that, to be honest. I don’t see why there’s any reason to pull the plug yet, unless you two want to.
AVERY: Okay. It just feels like it hasn’t been a lot of time, and we want to make sure all our progress in our public perception sticks.
TAYLOR: Definitely.
TAYLOR: I suggest we wait at least until September when Rawley’s season starts. You’ll presumably be in the playoffs, Avery. Plenty to distract everyone with then.
Feeling bolstered by the conversation, I weigh in. Just so everyone’s clear.
RAWLEY: I don’t want to pull the plug now.
Avery puts a heart reaction on my comment.
TAYLOR: That’s settled. It’s ultimately up to you two, but I agree it’d be prudent to wait.
I let out a big exhale.
With that resolved, time for a shower.
But then my phone rings. It’s Avery.
“Hey, Avie.”
“Hey. I just wanted to say, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to Aiden earlier. Or to you before you left.” She sounds genuinely upset, if only at herself.
“It’s okay.”
“His suggestion just threw me for a loop. But the more I sat with it after you took off, the more uncomfortable I got.”
“I’m glad we got it handled.”
“Me too.”
