“Yes, I can, because I followed your stupid ass here last night when you came to plant drugs in my son’s car.” My father gestured to the officers holding David. “Get him out of here before I shoot him, for the love of God!”
The two officers hauled David to one of the squad cars and, once he was securely out of sight, my father shook his head and looked around at all the other agents. They all looked as stunned as I felt about what I had just witnessed. I hadn't even registered that James had wrapped his arms around me.
My father cleared his throat and then addressed the other officers and agents. “Ladies and gentlemen, as always, thank you for your service and everything you do. Bringing you all out here and wasting your time will be an embarrassment to my department, and, for that, I apologize. Forgive me, but I needed to be sure. Sniffing out a dirty cop is messy business, and I’m proud to have each one of you on my team, working for the good of Emberford’s citizens. Please pack up and head on with the rest of your day. I’ll take it from here.”
Chapter Nineteen
James
“You’re very tense, my love.”
Avery sighed and turned his head from the car’s window to look at me. “I’ve never brought a guy home to meet the parents before.”
I squeezed his hand. “I’ve already met your father, so I feel like we’re halfway there. If I can get the chief of police on my side as a felon, I think I can handle your mom.”
“Just wait until she convinces herself you’ve stolen one of her cups. Even the chief of police can’t stop her.”
“Yes, honey. But youactuallysteal her cups.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“I’m on the side of love.”
Avery scoffed. “That’s a little wet, even for you.”
“Well, you make me wet. What can I say?” I chuckled and stuck my tongue out at him as I pulled into the driveway of the iconic (at least, in my story) 4077 Boulder Crest Lane. I’d imagined what the house looked like a million times. Certainly every time I addressed an envelope. I’d seen it in the dark that night I came to see Avery wearing the mask, but seeing it in the late afternoon light was an entirely different experience. It wasn’t a mansion or château, but it was a nice-sized two-story home with tidy hedges and a white fence surrounding it. “I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous, too. But we’ve faced much worse than Friday night dinner at your parent’s house.”
“I just wish we didn’t have to dothe thing,” he shuddered. “I want everything to be normal, already. Apologizing and all the other ickyfeelingsand stuff.”
“It’s good to feel things, Avery,” I said. “It helps remind us that we’re human. And, after the heartbreak, you deserve to have that be made up to you. Misunderstanding or not, you mom completely invalidated your feelings when you were trying to come to her for help. There’s gonna be some making up to do.”
Avery turned his head to peer out the window as he collected his thoughts. Then he turned back to me and smiled wickedly. “I’m gonna make her give me half her cups! That’ll hurt!”
I reached up and lightly pinched Avery’s nipple through his sweatshirt. “You are a brat.” Avery squealed and opened the car door to get out of my reach.
I got out of the driver’s seat as Avery made it to the trunk of the car.
“I’ll get it, babe.” I said, shooing him away from the foil-covered casserole dish and the Tupperware full of the most delicious double-fudge brownies I’d ever tasted.
Avery smiled and stepped aside, hanging near to close the trunk after I’d grabbed the goods.
I could sense him getting more and more tense as we approached the front door.
“Maybe I don’t feel good,” he murmured.
“Sweetheart, I’m right here. We’re gonna make it through this, I promise. And we’re having steak!”
Avery smiled and looped his arm around my elbow as we walked into the house. He used the toe of his sneaker to nudge the door closed, filled his lungs with air, and then announced, “Mom, Dad! We’re home!”
Avery kicked out of his shoes and turned around as a dark-haired woman slowly stepped around the corner. She had her hair pinned up atop her head in a messy bun and shared a lot of Avery’s features—the eyes, especially. Hers were glossy with unshed tears that caught the porch light beams floating in through the windows.
“Avery,” she said softly as her lip trembled.
Avery winced. “Please don’t cry.”
But she did. Her first sob escaped as she wrapped her arms around Avery’s back and held him tight against her. “I’m so, so sorry, my baby. I had no idea, I’m…”
Avery pulled back and wiped at his eyes. “It’s not your fault, Mom.”
