“Sounds good.”

We head over to the diner and order some lunch. The conversation seems to flow quite well and I can see Lena is making an effort. I can’t pick on her for that. I’ve asked her to try and she is, which means I am. It’s a two-way street.

“When’s your next race?” she asks, spooning salad into her mouth.

“Tomorrow, then two on the weekend.”

“Are you going out of town?”

I shake my head. “No, they’re all here. I go out of town in about a fortnight for a few races.”

She nods. “I’ve applied for a few jobs.”

I raise my eyes and smile at her. “That’s good Lena, great actually.”

“I’m going to try harder, Nate. I swear.”

I keep my smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”

And I was.

Regardless of everything, Lena is my wife, and she isn’t a bad woman. I have to support her.

~*~*~*~

NATE

Avery: Hey, how r u?

Nate: Good. U?

Avery: I haven’t seen you for a few days?

Nate: Sorry, been busy.

Avery: Okay. Well, I just wanted to see how you were. I’m sorry about the other day with the pool. Kelly can be a little . . . controlling.

Nate: It’s no worries.

She doesn’t answer back and I flip my phone over, turning it onto silent. I shouldn’t feel bad abut texting Avery, but I do. I do because I can’t get her out of my head. It doesn’t matter how hard I try; she keeps popping up. It’s not fair on Lena or Macy for me to feel this kind of confusion over another woman. The best thing I can do is not talk to her, and maybe distance the friendship.

She’s dangerous for me.

I feel it with everything I am.

CHAPTER 11

AVERY

I sit on the bench and curl my legs up beneath me, and I just stare. The ocean is beautiful, and it was Momma’s favorite place. It only seems logical that I would come here every year on the anniversary of her disappearance and think about her. A tear slides down my cheek, and then another. I close my eyes and smile at the precious few memories I have of her, my favorite one being the time she brought our dog, Benny, home.

“Avie, baby,” my momma calls. “I have a surprise for you.”

I skip out of my room, my long pigtails flying around beside me as I go. My momma is in the kitchen, a box in her hand. She’s smiling big and bright, her face flushed with happiness.

“What is it?” I ask, leaning up on my tiptoes to try and catch a look.

“Guess!” She laughs.

“Is it a cake?”

She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “You and cake. No, it’s not food.”

“Is it a toy?”

She shakes her head again, hardly containing her excitement.

“Is it a plant?”

Suddenly the box rattles and I scream, leaping back. Then I hear the soft yapping of a puppy.

“Momma!” I scream. “It can’t be.”

“It can,” she says, kneeling and putting the box on the floor. She opens the lid and a tiny puppy comes barreling out.

“Oh my God!” I cry, scooping the tiny animal into my arms. It smothers my face in little licks.

“Happy Birthday, baby girl. I know it’s early but I couldn’t resist.”

“Is it a boy or a girl?” I gush.

“He’s a boy.”

“We have to name him.”

She smiles and wraps an arm around me, patting the puppy.

“I kind of already thought of one.”

I look up at her. “What is it?”

“Benny.”

I grin, big and wide. “Like our favorite song?”

“Exactly.”

We look at each other and both sing, “B-B-B-Benny and the Jets.”

We fall back in laughter, Benny on my belly, still licking my face.

“Thank you, Momma. He’s perfect.”

“Just like you, angel.”

“Hey.”

I snap out of my thoughts and see Nate standing at the chair beside me. He’s wearing running clothes and he’s got sweat trickling down his face. He’s panting and in one hand he’s clutching a water bottle. I get to my feet quickly, horrified that he’s seen me crying. Especially since he’s been avoiding me for two weeks now. I turn and rush off, mumbling, “It’s fine, I’m fine.”

“Jesus, Avery, stop.”

He comes after me.

“Let me help you. You’re clearly upset.”

I spin around. “Oh, now you want to help me? After you’ve refused to speak to me for weeks? What did I do to you, Nate? Nothing. Don’t bother. Just leave me alone.”

I turn and begin rushing off again.

“Shit,” I hear him mutter. “Avery wait.”

I don’t stop. I jump over the railings beside the road and rush across it, heading to my apartment. I hear Nate behind me but I don’t stop to give him a chance to speak. He hurt me. I thought we were friends and then, without explanation, he decided we weren’t. I get to my apartment and shove the door open, slamming it. My dog, Caffy, comes running over to me, her tail wagging. She’s a small Chow cross something, I don’t know what, and has an attitude worse than a fifteen-year-old girl.

“Avery!” Nate yells, pounding on my door. “Come on, I’m sorry.”

I storm over, swing the door open, and bark, “Eleven years ago my mother went missing. I don’t need or want your shit today, Nate. If you’ve decided we’re not friends then so be it, but I don’t want you here so please leave.”