“I know.”
“I'm serious. You travel constantly. Even with Olivia's help, it's going to be overwhelming.” She looks up at me. “Maybe keep two? The ones you're most attached to?”
I consider it. She's not wrong. Six dogs are a lot for anyone, especially someone with my schedule. “Which two would you keep?”
“That's easy.” She gestures to Princess on her lap. “This one, obviously. She's sweet and calm. And Trouble, because he's got personality.” She grins. “Plus, you two are basically the same person. Impulsive, reckless, charming as hell.”
“You think I'm charming?”
“I think you're a handful. But yeah, charming too.”
“You know what's funny? Trouble is basically me. But you're definitely Princess. Beautiful, poised, and pretends she doesn't need anyone but secretly wants all the attention.”
She throws a puppy toy at me. “I do not pretend I don't need anyone!”
“You kind of do.”
She's quiet, then sighs. I look at the puppies crawling around together. “Maybe you're right. About keeping two. Princess and Trouble. I'm trying to be better than my reputation. Less trouble, more responsible. Dividing my attention between all six is a lot.”
“Is that why you bought a four-hundred-thousand-dollar car and totaled it on the same day?”
Ouch. “Fair point. But I'm serious, Avery. I want to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Us.” The word hangs between us. “I want to do us. For real.”
She goes very still, her hand pausing on Princess's head. “Liam, what's the longest relationship you've ever had?”
“I don't know. Maybe two months?”
“Two months.” She shakes her head. “That's not a relationship. That's barely past the honeymoon phase.”
“So?”
“So how do I know this isn't just novelty?”
“Because I've never met anyone like you,” I say, and I mean it. “I think you came into my life at exactly the right moment, when I'm finally ready to get serious about something other than hockey.”
“You don't even know me.”
“I know enough.” I lean forward, needing her to understand. “I know you're brilliant at your job. I know you try to hide behind professionalism, but you feel things deeply. I know you're terrified of losing control, of being vulnerable. I know you came racing across Manhattan last night because you thought I was hurt, even though you've been pushing me away for days.”
Avery stares at me with wide eyes.
“I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But I want to try anyway.”
She's quiet for a long moment. “Your lifestyle doesn’t exactly scream 'serious relationship material' to me.”
The words sting, but she's right. “I'll prove it to you.”
“How?”
“I don't know yet. But I will.” I reach across the space between us, taking her hand. “Give me a chance. That's all I'm asking.”
She looks at our joined hands, then back at my face. “You're asking for too much too soon.”
“Meaning?”
