I could see Avery tense up as he laid eyes on the pair and forced a smile. “Michelle! What a surprise.”
As if noticing me for the first time, the woman looked me over. “Where’s David?”
“Oh, he’s working,” Avery said.
I had no idea who these people were, but they were obviously making Avery very uncomfortable.They must be friends with David.
Avery bit his lip and glanced over at me. I just remained silent, trying not to let it bother me that he’d simply saidhe’s at work,and notDavid’s a complete bastard who's abusive and has the worst fucking pit stains onany human ever.
“Actually, Michelle,” he said awkwardly, “David and I aren’t together anymore. This is my boyfriend, James.”
It was like Avery had just read my mind, and it was a little freaky.
I reached my hand out, but she didn’t take it.
“Hmm… that’s too bad,” she said. “You guys were so good together.”
Avery’s demeanor changed as he stood up a little taller. “Yeah, Michelle… we were just the perfect match.” As he spoke, he lifted his shirt to display the yellowing bruises down the side of his ribcage.
The woman’s mouth dropped open. The man behind her spoke for the first time. “That’s a pretty serious accusation to level against a police officer, young man.”
“Don’t you mean that it’s a pretty seriouscrimefor a police officer to engage in domestic violence, Larry? Or does it justcome with the job,as I’ve been told?” Avery wheeled back on the woman. “What do you think, Michelle? I know Larry’s been behind a desk since his spine surgery last year, so it may not be the same. But does he come home and lay hands on you after a hard day?”
“That’s enough,” the man said shortly as he put his palm on the woman’s back and led her away.
Once I got Avery outside and to the car: “I can’t believe you did that! Who were those people?”
Avery put his forehead against my chest, and I wrapped him up in my arms. “That was Larry and Michelle Watts. Larry works on the force with David and my dad. Michelle is his gold-digging wife he met on a singles cruise to Bermuda a while back. I had to attend their stupid wedding last year. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. I just got so angry at the way Michelle looked at you and blew you off. Who the fuck does she think she is?”
I ran my fingers through the back of Avery’s hair and held him close. “Thank you.”
Avery wiggled a bit, and I loosened my grip so he could lean back and look up at me. “For what?”
“For being my person.”
Avery smiled. “Can we go home and have sex now?”
“Say less, baby boy. I’ll have us home in 10.”
Chapter Eighteen
Avery
“James, I’m scared.” The words sounded pathetic, even to my own ears, as the words fell out of my mouth.
“I know, sweetheart,” James replied as he wrapped his arm around my back. I nestled in against his side as we walked towards the employee entrance of Grady’s Garage. “But there’s nothing in this world strong enough to keep us apart. We’ve already proven that.” He placed a soft kiss against my temple. “I’m always going to protect you, Avery.”
“I know, but I’m not sure if I can protectyou.”
“You’ve protected me more than you’ll ever know.”
As we stepped into the garage, Jack emerged from the customer side. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked exhausted.
“Brother,” James said by way of greeting.
“Brother,” Jack responded with a nod of his head.
“Long night?” James asked.
