Love Resolution

“She’s twenty minutes late already” Marcus grumbled.

“The way she was at it last night,” Dwight observed. “I’ll be surprised if she shows at all. She’d be better off getting some rest, anyway…” He trailed off, looking over Marcus’ shoulder.

Marcus turned to see Avery storming across the stage straight toward him, looking pissed. Real pissed. She came to a stop directly in front of him.

“I want to have a word with you,” she hissed.

“We’re in the middle of a sound check right now.” He glanced at his watch. “One that I told you to be here for twenty minutes ago. Maybe when we’re through…”

“No,” she cut him off. “We’re doing this now.” She held her hands fisted in front of her. “And just for the record, I don’t take orders from you. I’m not your servant, Marcus.”

“Alright. You got my full attention,” he conceded. “JR’s and Dwight’s too, I might add.”

“That’s ok.” She turned her head and nodded an acknowledgment to each of them before her gaze returned to him. “They’ve probably already figured out what a lying a*shole you are. It just took me a little while longer to catch on.”

Shit.

“It was all a set-up, wasn’t it? Not coming to the hospital. The breakup after the car accident. It was all a disturbed little scheme designed to push me away.” She shoved him in the chest. “You never slept with her, did you?”

“No,” he admitted, voice and eyes soft with sincerity. As if anyone else would interest him. “There’s been no one but you.”

She let out a long breath.

He reached for her, but she stepped back away from him. “I’m sorry, Avery,” he apologized, his tone pleading for her to understand. “At the time I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Well, you thought wrong.” Her beautiful green eyes burned with anger, all of it directed at him. She stared at him for a long time, and even though he braced for it, her next words leveled him.

“But congratulations.” She laughed bitterly. “You’ve got what you wanted.”

She turned her back on him and even though she was only a couple inches away, he realized she’d never been further out of his reach.

Without looking at him, she continued. “In my life I’ve been let down by a lot of people that I loved. But you trump them all, just so you know. It’s past time that I grew up, stopped believing in fairy tales and started looking out for myself.” Her voice broke. “I suppose I should thank you really,” she said sarcastically.

He could see her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. “Avery,” he groaned, taking a step toward her.

“Stay away from me.” She faced him. Her lips pressed together and waved him away. “I don’t want you anymore, and I certainly don’t need you.”

He closed his eyes tightly. He could hear her walking away, walking out of his life. When he finally opened them again, she was gone.

“Holy shit, Marcus.” His brother shook his head incredulously.

“Leave me alone, Dwight.”

“Whoa, dude!” JR exclaimed, jumping down from the drum riser, voice jarring in the shocking aftermath. “That’s jacked up, even for you.”

“JR,” Dwight cautioned, glaring at him.

“It is. Tell him the truth, man.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Dwight bit out over his shoulder.

“Safe to say rehearsal’s over, huh?” As JR walked away, he muttered, “Maybe l should make a preemptive call to Alex, see if he’s still in the market for another drummer.”

Dwight fixed Marcus with a measured look. “JR’s right, you know.” His brother’s brow was creased. “What’s going on with you?” He studied Marcus for a moment. “You using again?”

“Hell no, Dwight.”

“Thank God for that. How are things going with the shrink?”

“I don’t have time for this.” Marcus tried to walk around him.

“You gotta give me more than that, little brother.” Dwight’s hand shot out, fingers gripping and digging into his shoulder. “You’ve got me real worried here.”

“We’re working through some things.” He gave a self-deprecating smile. “Apparently she likes a challenge.”

“What are you going to do about Avery?” he asked.

“What can I do?” Marcus replied. “She’s moved on. You heard her.”

“I don’t know, Marcus,” Dwight said skeptically. “I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. There’s been enough of that already.” His expression became thoughtful.

While Marcus pondered that, Dwight continued, “She sure was keyed up for someone who’s moved on.” He rubbed his jaw. “Little brother, if I were you I’d decide right away what I wanted. Don’t underestimate the competition. If you want her back, you’re going to have to lay it all on the line.”