Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Not only was this fucker about to propose before, but I’m starting to grow concerned he’s going to do it again if I don’t act quickly.
“Avery, baby,” Justin says, his voice soft and emotional as he sets the bouquet on the table beside me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good,” I say awkwardly, glancing at the flowers. They’re beautiful, but all I feel at the sight of them is a sharp pang of discomfort. This feels wrong. He is wrong—like a chapter I should’ve closed before it even got started. “But we need to talk.”
“Talk. Yes, of course. Let’s talk,” Justin says, sitting in the chair beside my bed. His eyes are full of genuine concern, which is truly appreciated, but if I could scratch his eyes out to make it stop without making a scene, I would. “You really scared me, Avery.”
I open my mouth to say something—anything to ease the tension—but before I can, Beau’s smothered laugh and my mom’s responding chide remind me I’m not alone. Not even close.
My mom, my dad, June, Beau, Addy—the whole fucking Brady Bunch is here, watching my every move. Thank God my grandparents left, or there’d be an even bigger audience to this shitshow.
“Hey, guys,” I say, gritting a smile to make the request feel less abrasive. “Could you…buzz off for a little bit? Justin and I need a moment.”
I just catch Justin’s misguided smile out of the corner of my eye before my dad nods, rustling the herd with a wide sweep of his arms. “Of course. Come on, come on, guys. Let’s give Avery a minute to decompress.”
“I don’t want to go,” June says then, fighting the gentle pull of Beau and my parents and bursting through to come to my bedside. I smile and cup my best friend’s panicked cheek, knowing if our roles were reversed, I’d be a basket case in the exact same way.
“Oh, Juni. I’m okay. Promise.”
“I just want to stay here with you tonight. Know for sure.”
I nod. “I know you do. But you need rest. I can see it in the god-awful circles under your eyes, sweetie. And so do I. Go home, take a bubble bath, send Beau out to get me a new phone…” I eye my brother, and he nods his compliance without complaint. If I can get a phone, maybe I can figure out a way to get in touch with Henry. “And take care of my best friend the way she’d expect me to take care of myself. Okay?”
She finally nods, leaning forward to kiss my forehead before shoving off the bed and melding immediately into Beau’s waiting arm. “I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
I shrug. “I’d expect nothing less.”
A blissful silence befalls the room as my family shuffles out, and Justin shifts to lean a hip into my bed in the spot June just vacated.
He’s still smiling, oblivious to the fact that his presence feels like a weight pressing down on my chest and the bomb I’m about to drop to relieve it.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” he says. “After everything you’ve been through…it’s the least I can do.”
“You don’t have to stay,” I say finally, my voice softer than I intend. None of this is his fault, and that makes it harder than it should be.
“I want to…” Justin’s brows knit together, seemingly clueing in to my stiff shoulders and gritty frown. “Unless you don’t want me here?”
I swallow hard. This is the moment. I could let him stay, maintain this facade just to feel less alone knowing Henry is somewhere in this hospital with his girlfriend Ashley, but it would be a lie. And I’m so tired of lying to myself, even if it’s easier.
“Justin,” I start, my voice firm. I take a deep breath, steeling myself to hurt a nice person’s feelings. “You’re a great guy. Really. And I’ve appreciated you being here for me. But there is no future for us.”
His face falls, and for a moment, I hate myself for being so concise. “What do you mean?” he asks, his voice low.
“I mean us,” I say. “I…I don’t think we’re right for each other. And it’s not fair to you for me to keep pretending otherwise.”
He’s quiet, his jaw tightening as he processes my words. “But I thought we had something, Avery. I’m in lo—”
“No,” I cut him off, holding up my hand. “Don’t go there, Justin. Please, do not go there.”
“But I do, Avery!” he exclaims, shoving off the bed to stand to his full six-foot-three height. “I lov—”
“You think you do,” I cut him off again. “But you don’t really know me. And honestly, I don’t really know you.” Let’s face it, I fucking forgot about you while I was on that island. “We were only dating for a very short time before everything happened, and I’m grateful that you’re here and I’m sorry for all of the stress I’ve put you through, but we’re not right together.”