Avery would merely be a part of my fantasies, and I imagined her naked in here with me as I jerked myself off, coming hard against the white tile of my shower.
I dropped back, taking several deep breaths as the water pulsed against my chest.
This was going to be tough, and I finished my shower, drying off slowly.
I dressed in jeans and another sweatshirt that boasted the name of my place. Slipping my feet into warm boots, I walked back to Ciderworks and walked into the back to work on the formula.
I turned on some hard rock and made notes as I mixed flavors, tasting the cider several times without being completely satisfied.
“Hey, buddy. Did you get it right yet?” I looked up to see Jefferson standing in the doorway, taking in the surrounding mess.
“I’m getting there,” I replied, standing up to stretch. “I ran into Avery at the gas station today. Why the hell didn’t you tell me she planned to come back?”
“Shit. I forgot, didn’t I?” He ran a hand through his tousled hair. “I’ve been so busy with the lodge and trying to make sure you’re doing good; it must’ve slipped my mind. How did she seem?”
I already sensed his protective nature with his sister. “I wouldn’t say it overjoyed her to be here, but she didn’t look too bummed out, either. What happened in New York?”
“Her asshole of an ex hired her to work at his cafe and lost the business. Of course, this was after Avery helped him out with some money to save it and she just couldn’t pay the rent in that apartment she had. She rented it to friends and come here for a while until she regained her footing,” Jefferson told me as I frowned. “Mom thought it might be a good idea to help her clear her head.”
“What a dick,” I remarked, shaking my head. “Doesn’t she still have school loans to pay?”
“Some, yes. I’m going to pay her to help around this place and let her stay in one of the cabins once one comes up free. Mom invited her to stay at the house, but Avery is used to living on her own now. Mom means well, but she can smother sometimes. Poor Polly can’t even take it sometimes.”
Jefferson’s eyes warmed when he mentioned his pregnant wife. She was only four months along, but he watched over her like a hawk, just like he used to do with Avery.
“How is she feeling?” I asked, and Jefferson smiled.
“Her morning sickness is better, so she’s been at work this week. Polly is a worker and she’ll be there until the last moment, but at least she gets a break soon.”
He pushed off the frame and glanced at his watch. “I’m going to head home for dinner and see her. Avery is eating with Mom tonight and settling in.” Jefferson grinned at me.
“How late do you plan to stay up working on this? You know you have some great ciders already, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just want to get the peach notes in this one tonight.” I grinned at him. “Tell Polly hi for me.”
“I will. Get home and get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow should be a big day here at Peaks.” Jefferson smiled as he walked over to clap me on the back.
“I will. You, too.” When he left, I turned back to my worktable and grinned. I felt relieved that Avery wasn’t staying in a cabin mere feet from mine yet. I didn’t know if I could take the temptation of her being so close right now.
CHAPTERTHREE
AVERY
I thought about Charlie over dinner at the cafe with Mom. She caught me up on the going on of the lodge and how it was already busy with the new snowfall coming down.
It was nothing I was unfamiliar with growing up here, but I’d been far removed from it over the last several years. Mom seemed excited to have me back and her family together for the foreseeable future, as well as for the holidays.
I tried to come when I could and Beth came along with me sometimes, but I always felt like I was in a rush to get back home to Brooklyn.
Now, I didn’t have that home in Brooklyn, and I followed my mom back to my childhood home a few miles away from the lodge. As we drove through the streets that were covered in snow, I thought back to my childhood.
I played endlessly with my big brother out here in these woods, often accompanied by Charlie. I was always the pesky little sister to them, but my brother often welcomed me to be with them.
Looking back, I knew he wanted to monitor me. His protectiveness showed more over the years as I grew up, but I still knew that it came from a place of love.
I pulled into the driveway of the modest two story pale blue home, parking in the driveway as Mom took the garage. I didn’t mind since driving in the snow was second nature to me and I took a moment to breathe in the clean air as I looked around the quiet residential street.
I grabbed my bags from the car and walked through the garage into the kitchen, admiring the renovations that had been made in the last few years. Mom turned the kitchen into a chef’s dream space with butcher block countertops and new appliances, including an expansive gas stove and double ovens for her baking.