Me: Because I need to see you. Address. Now.
Another pause, longer this time. Then she sends it.
I'm up immediately, ignoring the protests from my battered body. I need to see her. She better have a better excuse as to what happened yesterday.
I crank the heat until the water is nearly unbearable, helping to ease some of the soreness in my muscles. My knuckles are bruised and swollen, and my ribs are a spectacular array of purple and yellow.
I look like I've been through a war.
I dress quickly and text Hudson that I need a ride. By the time I'm downstairs, he's already waiting.
“Morning, Mr. Novak,” he says as I slide into the back seat. “Where to?”
The drive takes twenty minutes. Avery's building is in a decent neighborhood, but when we pull up, I immediately notice how inadequate the security is.
There's no doorman, and the front door looks like it could be opened with a credit card.
“Want me to wait?” Hudson asks.
“Yeah.”
I'm about to press the buzzer for Avery's apartment when the door swings open. A guy in running gear exits, earbuds in, not even glancing my way. I catch the door before it closes and slip inside.
Anyone could just walk in here. The thought makes me irrationally angry. Avery lives here alone, and any creep could just stroll right in.
I take the elevator to the fourth floor, my heart pounding. I'm angry that she disappeared, but also relieved that she's okay. I’m just desperate to see her.
I find her apartment and knock. Seconds later, the door swings open.
Avery stands there in yoga pants and an oversized sweater, her long blonde hair pulled back in a messy bun. Except there are bright blue highlights running through it now.When did she do that?
“What's with the blue in your hair? I don't like it. It's not you.” I pull her into a hug. “You better have a good explanation for why you disappeared yesterday. Do you have any idea what I went through? I called you approximately seventhousandtimes. I almost filed a missing person’s report.”
“Wait.” The word comes out muffled against my chest.
The words won't stop. I'm venting now, everything I've been feeling since her phone went dark, just spilling out in a messy rush.
“And then I got in a bar fight because some Detroit asshole was talking shit, and I was already spiraling because my girlfriend ghosted me after the worst loss of the season.”
She tries to push me back, but no way am I letting go.
“We also need to talk about your building security. Anyone could just walk in here.”
“Hey.” She's laughing now, pushing me back hard.
I bury my face in her neck, breathing her in, feeling the tension of the last twelve hours finally start to unravel. “I was so worried,” I whisper against her skin. “Your phone was off and I couldn't reach you and I thought maybe you'd decided this was a mistake, that you were done with me.”
“I can't breathe.”
I loosen my grip slightly but don't let go, pressing kisses to her temple, her cheek, anywhere I can reach. “Don't ever do that again. I was losing my mind.”
“Oh my God.”
“I know, I know, I'm being dramatic. But you scared me, and I needed to see you.”
Then I hear Avery’s laughter, but she’s behind Avery.How?
I pull back, confused, and that's when I see her.
