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“I don’t like that tone…” He challenges me. If anyone in my family can read me better than anyone, it’s Thomas. “Did Bill make his decision for the company yet?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. But I feel pretty confident after this weekend.”
“Then why does your face look like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like your cat got run over by a garbage truck.”
“First of all.” I laugh. “You should know I’m not a cat man. Dogs over cats every day.”
He takes a sip of his whiskey. “Noted.”
“Second of all, I think Todd screwed it up for himself bringing his chick along for the weekend.”
“How so?” He tips his head to the side in question.
“The guy had no chemistry whatsoever with Vivian. The entire weekend, she was almost repulsed by him. Like she couldn’t get away from him fast enough.”
“I mean, have you seen the guy?”
“Touché.” I point a finger at him and smile.
“How did it go with Avery though?”
I tip my head up over the brim of my whiskey I just took a sip from as the words left his mouth. I almost choke on it, because just her name causes me to lose my breath.
“Fine,” I lie.
“Spill.”
My palms feel sweaty as I white knuckle the glass beneath them. But again, I know Thomas will be the only one of the guys that understands.
“I told her I love her.”
“Fuck.” He runs his hands down his face, and frowns.
“Yeah…”
“What happened?”
“Well, she didn’t say it back.” I let out a displeased scoff. “But can you fault her for it? The girl has never done this before. All she knows of love is her piece of shit father walking out on her mom when she was young.”
If I could find the guy and strangle him with my bare hands, I would.
“I can’t even imagine walking out on James like that and never looking back.” Thomas’ face wrinkles in disgust. “The thought of it actually makes me queasy.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Listen,” he says, leaning on his elbows over the table. “No one really understands what she’s been through likeshedoes. I don’t even think Peyton and Kali know this side of her. She puts up a very strong front. From what I hear, she’s been through a lot.”
“I know.”
“She’s the type of girl who's wild and free because she refuses to let her past define her.”
“What do I do? I don’t know how to ease her worry that I won’t be like him, assure her I won’t walk out on her the way he did.”
“I don’t have all the answers to that because I know that you wouldn’t. You aren’t like that.” He shakes his head and offers me a smile. “The best thing you can do is have patience with her and continue to build that trust. It’s clear that she has difficulty trusting that someone won’t walk out on her.”
