AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I watched as she made her way to Avery. She looked so small and broken. I felt responsible for her, even though it should be the other way around.
I carried our suitcases inside and sat them down in the mudroom area that you walked into from the garage.
“I already showed your mom her room,” Avery said from the shadows, startling me. “Your room’s ready too. My parents will be back in time for Christmas, but once they get back, they won’t mind if y’all stay here.”
“Thank you, Avery. I can’t begin to express to you how much this means to me,” I cried softly.
“Hey,” she whispered, hugging me. “I’m happy to help…but what happened?”
“I can’t talk about it right now. I’m sorry,” I sobbed, covering my face with my hands.
“It’s okay,” she rubbed my back. “I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready. It was something with your dad, though, wasn’t it?” She questioned.
I nodded; she didn’t need more of an answer than that.
“He’s worse than what you told me, isn’t he? Did he hurt you, Livie?” She pulled away, looking me over.
My whole body was sore and I knew my arm would be bruised come morning.
“In more ways than what you’re thinking,” I whispered.
“Oh, Olivia,” she hugged me again. “I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this.”
I hugged her back, tightly, thankful again, and definitely not for the last time, that I had a friend like Avery. She could say crude things and get on my nerves sometimes, but at the end of the day, she had my back and I had hers. If that wasn’t friendship, I didn’t know what was.
She released me, wiping at her tear-streaked face. “Let me show you your room.”
I followed her through the massive house and up a sweeping staircase.
“This is my room,” she pointed to an open door. “Don’t hesitate to wake me up if you need anything or just a shoulder to cry on,” she smiled lightly. Opening a closed door at the end of the hall, she announced, “This is your room.”
It was a large, nicely decorated, guestroom. The walls were painted a light brown color with carpeted floors in a similar shade. The bed coverings were all white and the furniture was black.
“You’re probably going to want to sleep in, so I should warn you, my brother Nick will be here tomorrow. Don’t be surprised if you see a guy walking around in his boxers, scratching his balls, it’s normal.”
I laughed. I could always count on Avery to make a serious situation not so dark.
“Thank you again,” I told her.
“Not a problem. I’m going back to bed,” she padded down the hall and into her room. “See you in morning,” she chimed and closed the door.
I knew I should grab my suitcase, and try to go to sleep, but I didn’t want to.
I wanted Trace.
I wanted to tell him everything.
I wanted him to make me forget.
???
I found myself running up the steps, leading to Trace’s loft apartment, and banging on his door.
I kept knocking and knocking. I started to question whether he was even there and then I began to worry, what if he was here but otherwise occupied?
Trace would never do that to you.
The door opened underneath my banging fist, and I tumbled inside, captured by warm strong arms.
