Love Resolution

Marcus gripped the armrests on the 727’s window seat.

He watched Avery climb slowly out of the back seat of the sedan and step gingerly out onto the tarmac. Pain contorted her features. He sighed, conflicting emotions at war in his mind. He hardly noticed Sam climbing out from the opposite side of the car, hand over her eyes against the setting sun, as she ran into JR’s waiting arms.

After they separated, JR walked over to Avery and embraced her. He must have said something to her because she nodded and tilted her face up toward the plane.

Marcus eased away from the window even though he knew it was unlikely she had seen him.

He swallowed.

He didn’t want to do this. Not yet.

It was too soon. For him… Not soon enough for her sake.

He wished he could wind everything backward. To before the wreck. Before the dance. Before it had all come undone. Who was he kidding? A do over wouldn’t change the fact that he was all wrong for her.

“She’s here,” Dwight said, stopping in the doorway and giving Marcus a severe look.

“I know,” Marcus responded in a monotone voice, turning back to look out the window.

By then, she had moved to the back of the car and was speaking to Ray. No doubt trying to convince him to let her help with the luggage.

Ray shook his head and stepped around her.

Avery stood still for a moment and then gazed up at the plane again. He watched her shoulders go back before she pulled her bangs forward over a conspicuous bandage and started moving resolutely toward the plane.

“Marcus,” Sam acknowledged him curtly, bringing his attention back to the inside the cabin. She took a seat on the sectional, folded her hands in her lap, and glared at him.

Yeah, he was the bad guy. He totally got it.

JR sat down, put his arm around Sam, shaking his head. Ray entered the cabin next, carrying Avery’s guitar and suitcase.

And then she was there, pausing in the doorway. For the first time, he saw up close evidence of his carelessness imprinted on her delicate skin.

Avery stared at him, expressive emerald eyes revealing the turmoil she felt inside.

Guilt consumed him, the words he’d practiced lodged in his throat. Warily, he returned her stare. Everyone else faded into the background. It had been over eighteen hours since he’d last seen her, but it felt as if an eternity had passed. He wanted to hold her so badly that his muscles ached.

“Avery,” he managed voice low, filled with emotion. “I’m sorry.” He glanced down, trying to get a handle on his emotions. He couldn’t do what needed to be done, not yet. A shadow immediately fell across him. A pair of converse shoes with mismatched laces entered his field of vision. He looked up at her.

“Is that all you have to say?” Avery asked him, eyes flashing. Her arms straight and stiff, hands fisted at her sides. “Damn you!” she railed. “Where were you when I was in the hospital? I waited for you, Marcus. Hour after hour.”

“I couldn’t come.”

“What do you mean couldn’t?” she demanded. “If you’re still upset about that stupid dance I…”

“Avery,” he interrupted. “Not now.” He looked at the others who were all watching. “We’ll talk about this later, when you’re feeling better.” Remorse left him as scraped up on the inside as she looked on the outside.

“My head does hurt,” she admitted, closing her eyes for a second. “But we’re gonna talk about it right now,” she insisted.

He knew then that there would be no further reprieve.

“Alright.” He sighed, standing and motioning toward the rear of the plane. “Why don’t we go into the bedroom where we can speak privately?”

“Ok.” Her shoulders visibly sagged as she preceded him.

He opened the door for her, taking in a deep breath when she passed, filling his lungs with the familiar tropical fragrance of her shampoo. At the foot of the bed, she stopped and turned around to face him. “Avery,” he began, but faltered. Her rigid posture had deflated as if she’d completely lost all internal structure.

She knows what I’m about to do.

“Don’t.” She bit down on her trembling lip. “Please. Don’t do this.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “That’s the reason you didn’t come, isn’t it? You didn’t want to break things off while I was still in the hospital.” Her chin dropped to her chest.

“Yes.” His voice lowered. “I’m bad for you, Avery.”

“That’s not true!” Her head lifted, her eyes sparkling.

“It is. I could have killed you. I almost did.”

“It was an accident, Marcus.”

“No. I chose to get behind that wheel.”

“I share part of the blame. I knew you’d been drinking. I shouldn’t have gotten in the car with you.”

“Shit, Avery. Don’t you dare try to say this is somehow your fault. It was totally my f*ck up.”

“I already took some responsibility,” she whispered, tears trailing down her cheeks and getting trapped between her full lips.

“What do you mean?” he asked feeling an icy droplet of anxiety slither down his spine.

“I did a couple of phone interviews with the press. I told them we were arguing, and that I’d distracted you while you were driving.”

He pulled a fistful of hair through his hand. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Well I did,” she said, lifting her chin.

This was going to be even harder than he’d envisioned. God help him. But he had to do it, and it was best to just get it over with. He shoved his hands deep down into his jean pockets, forcing his gaze back to hers. “Remember what I said before the crash about taking things too fast? I was right, and you know it. If you had any doubts, the events of the past twenty-four hours should have removed them. It’s time we both moved on.”

She sank down on the edge of the bed as if her legs wouldn’t hold her anymore. “No,” she whispered. “No.” Her face was wet and pale. “We’re so good together. How can you just throw that away, Marcus? This, the way you’re acting, the way you’re treating me right now, this isn’t you. You’re better than this.”

“I thought so too,” he returned harshly. “But apparently we were both wrong.”