I want to spoil her and show her how good things could be if she were mine. Maybe then she would never want to leave.
I’ve wanted to tell her how I feel so much in the last week. I’ve lost count of the number of times I wanted to grab her and kiss her or press her up against the nearest wall and feel her curves against me.
But I can’t. I don’t want Avery to feel uncomfortable around me. I know she likes me now. We hang out every day and talk or text practically nonstop, but I’m worried she only sees me as her friend.
I’m the one person she knows well in this country, and she trusts me. I don’t want to do anything to break that trust but not making her mine is starting to break me.
“Hey,” she says, sliding into the passenger seat.
“How was your morning, love?” I ask as I shift into drive and head off-campus. There’s a small café down the street that Avery has already fallen in love with, and I head that way.
“Good. We got our first project in my last class, so I’ll have to find a partner to work on it with.”
She tells me more about the project and her earlier classes as I park outside the café. She smells like oranges, and I breathe deep. I want to commit her scent to memory before I leave for the next few days.
I don’t know how my life worked without her, and I dread being away from her for a few days.
Maybe I should tell her how I feel over lunch. If she needs time to think about it or doesn’t feel the same, I have a few days for things to go back to normal before I get back. If she does feel the same way, I know I won’t be able to catch my flight.
Is it worth the risk?
She turns to unbuckle, and I watch her freeze when she sees my luggage in the backseat.
Does she not want me to leave again either?
I want to tell her I’ll miss her. I want to ask her out on a date, a real one this time because I don’t think the pizza last week counts, but I can’t risk scaring her off.
Give her a little more time to get used to the new country and classes, to get used to you. Then, sweep her off her feet.
We head inside and snag a small table by the windows up front.
“Where are you headed this time?” she asks.
I swear it sounds like she’s trying to force herself to be happy that I’m leaving. “Germany. I should only be gone a few days. We’ve already worked for this company, so I’m auditing a new department they added last year.”
She nods, and the waitress comes over to take our orders. We both get the turkey club and a coke, and I smile when Avery turns back to me. It doesn’t feel right to be so close to her and not have her green eyes on me.
“What are you going to do this week?” I ask, wanting to talk about anything but me leaving.
Maybe if I know her plans, it will help me feel close to her while I’m away.
“Just homework. I’m hoping to get a jump start on that project, and then I have an essay due in another class.”
Our drinks are dropped off, and I take a sip as I wait for Avery to go on.
“Maybe I’ll rewatch the latest season of Bridgerton.”
I mock gasp, pretending to be hurt. “Without me?”
“You’re still on the first season,” she says with a giggle.
I smile. I love hearing that sound from her.
We started watching Bridgerton this past weekend when we were stuck inside. It’s not really my show, but I would do anything to spend time with Avery and make her happy.
Although I will admit, I don’t love how invested she is in that Simon guy…
She teases me some more about Bridgerton as we eat, and I tell her a bit about the company I’m headed to. All too soon, lunch is over, and it’s time to take Avery back to campus and catch my flight. My feet feel like lead as I guide her to the passenger side and help her slip inside.