Page 47 of Close to Heaven

Fourteen

Avery hated to see the dejected look on Jax’s face when she closed the door. However, she owed Trevor an explanation, and she was going to give him one.

Trevor looked smug as he sat down on the couch like he belonged there. Instead of sitting beside him, she perched on the chair across from him.

“What’s going on, Avery?”

“I could ask you the same thing. I tried calling you a dozen times. Why didn’t you call me back?”

Trevor furrowed his brow. “I was busy, but I’m here now.”

His answer only solidified her decision. “It’s too late, Trevor.”

He stared at her in disbelief.

“This isn’t working anymore. I’m tired of coming in last.”

His smug expression morphed into anger, a response she’d come to expect from him. “You’re the one who left me,” he ground out.

“That was how you chose to interpret it, but that wasn’t my intent.”

“Where is this coming from? Is it that boss of yours?”

She cringed at the way he said boss, like Jax was some smarmy seducer and she his helpless victim. “You don’t even know him,” she snapped.

“I know his type. He thinks he’s a big shot because he owns this place—thinks he can snap his fingers and have everyone do his bidding, including you.”

Avery sprang from the chair. “That’s not true!”

“Oh, no? You two looked awfully cozy in here with the pizza, beer, and you in your pajamas.”

“These aren’t pajamas, and like I told you, Dakota asked him to stop by. It wasn’t planned.” Neither were the kisses, but he didn’t need to know about that.

“Am I supposed to believe this was all innocent?”

“I called you back in here to explain why I’m breaking up with you, but all you want to do is hurl accusations.”

“I don’t need your explanation. I saw everything I needed to know.” With that, he stood, stalked past her, and went out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Emotionally drained, Avery hunched over and tucked herself into a tight ball. How had such a wonderful evening turned into such a disaster, and what about Jax? After kissing him like her life depended on it, she’d thrown him out of her house. Never mind what Trevor thought; she was more concerned about Jax’s feelings.

Sometime later, the door opened, and she popped her head up, hoping it might be Jax returning to check on her. Instead, it was Dakota. Avery must have looked a wreck, because Dakota took one glance at her and rushed to her side.

“What happened?”

Avery thought she was done crying, but her emotions were still raw, and the tears welled up again.

“Don’t move,” Dakota demanded. Then she disappeared down the hall and returned with a box of tissues, which she placed on Avery’s lap.

Avery plucked out a few tissues and dabbed her eyes. She took a few deep breaths and began to relay the story.

“It was awful. Trevor showed up by surprise, and Jax was here.”

“Let me guess, Trevor thought something was going on between you two.”

Avery nodded. “He accused Jax…and me…of…”

“Did you set him straight, or better yet, blame it on me?”