Fuck. I probably sound like a cold bastard, but when you're around this type of thing every day, you learn to deal with it. It doesn't mean you forget about it, but you learn to live with it.
A genuine smile lights up her face. "Aren't you just the resident and I'm the Doc? I'm the one that supposed to be helping you deal with these things." Her voice is light and seems unaffected, but I can tell it bothers her that I saw her lose her shit like that.
"It doesn't matter, you needed to grieve and I was here. Maybe I'll let you buy me lunch for acting as your human tissue!" She slaps my chest playfully and moves to walk out. "Is that a yes?" I yell down the hall after her. She lifts her hand above her head, waving me off and I laugh quietly.
"NO, NO! I GOT it!" she says, pushing me aside to hand the cashier her employee card.
I attempt to block her, but she's a tough little thing. "Avery, I was joking. I don't expect you to pay for my lunch."
"Oh no! I'm not going to fall for that one. You'll hold that shit against me someday!" she says, pointing a celery stick at my face.
We opt to take our lunch back to the break room because Avery is still feeling a little raw over what happened t
his morning.
"So...do you want to talk about it?" I ask, popping a fry into my mouth.
She shakes her head firmly. "Nope. In fact, I'd very much like to talk about anything that doesn't have to do with healthcare. Hey," she says, smiling brightly and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively, "how are things going with that girl you care about?"
Well, shit! She doesn't want to talk about healthcare, and I don't want to talk about Harley. But I will because, fuck me, I've got to tell someone, and I sure as shit can't tell Levi...he's just too close to her. It kills me to think about just how close they really were.
"We had drinks last night," I say, shoving my cheeseburger in my mouth.
"That's great." She smiles around her soda and I know she's being sincere. I can tell by the open admiration on her face that she genuinely wants me to be happy.
"She tried to kiss me." Her eyes widen and she grins.
"She seems bold, I like that!" she says excitedly.
"Yeah, well, I screwed it up," I reply.
Avery's eyebrows rise and she looks at me amusingly. "How on earth can you screw that up? It's really easy, Ty. The girl you care about tries to kiss you...you kiss her back. What did you do?" she asks with a laugh.
My eyes lock onto hers and I stare at her condescendingly. I don't need this. I don't need some chick telling me what I did wrong. I'm not an idiot, I know what I did was wrong. Sitting quietly, I take a few more bites, determined not to have this conversation. Fuck this...this is chick shit, and there's no way in hell I'm going to sit around and gossip about my feelings.
Avery continues to stare at me. I'm able to stay strong for a few seconds, but her questioning gaze is unwavering and it pisses me the hell off.
"Fine," I blurt. "If you must know, I pulled away from her!"
Avery sets her sandwich down and tilts her head to the side. I hate it when women do that shit; it drives me crazy.
"Why?"
"Because she has a boyfriend," I reply sharply, instantly regretting my harsh tone. Sitting back in her chair, she crosses her arms over her chest. I keep shoving food in my mouth, hoping like hell it will keep me from talking.
"Did she tell you she has a boyfriend? Have you actually met him?" she asks, scrunching her brows.
Shit.
"Well, no—" I answer slowly, contemplating the possibility that I've completely misread every fucking thing that has happened. No way.
"Then how do you know she has a boyfriend?"
I've had enough. Tossing my burger onto my tray, I glare at Avery. "This conversation is over. I don't want to talk about Harley, and I don't need you telling me how to—“
"Whoa!" she says, cutting me off. I snap my mouth shut, pissed that she interrupted. "Listen, I'm sorry I upset you. That wasn't my intention." Her voice softens, and she rests her joined hands on the table. "But I'm a woman, and I think you've got this all wrong."
I don't have this all wrong, but right now I'm so damn tired of thinking about Max that I just need her to finish what she wants to say so I can get the hell out of here. "Fine. I'm listening. Then we’re done talking about this."