In My Arms (11 page)

“Damn it!”  The stupid phone wouldn’t stop ringing.  I scrolled through the missed calls.  All Trevor.  Over twenty text messages.  I couldn’t bring myself to open them.  I wanted to get out of there before he decided to try to talk to me in person.

I grabbed my makeup and hair things and tossed them into my bag. I was going to turn the phone off, it was driving me crazy. Shit.  I knew I needed to call Talia.  She would freak if I just up and left town without telling her.

I dialed quickly as I was headed out the door.

“Hello?”

“Talia?”  I started crying.

“”What’s wrong Ava?  Are you okay?”  She was worried.

“I’m fine.  Not really, but I need to get out of here for a couple of days.”  I was sobbing now.

“What happened Ava?”

“I caught Trevor with another woman.”  I could barely get it out.  The image of him with the pretty woman in his arms, the way he looked at her with just happiness.  The way he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her on the head.

“What the fuck?” Talia snapped.

“I know.  I can’t believe it happened again.” I leaned against the wall by the elevator, trying to find a Kleenex.

“Are you sure that’s what you saw?”  Talia asked.

“Talia, he was holding her, swinging her around, holding her face and looking lovingly in her eyes before he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her on the forehead.  When he saw me he stepped back from her like he’d been caught.  What do you think?”  I bawled.  I was angry, but more so at myself that anyone else.  I had allowed this to happen again.

“I just can’t believe it Ava, I mean the guy was head over heels for you.”  Talia claimed. 

“Well, I know what I saw Talia, and of all people I thought you would believe me!”  I exclaimed.

“Take a step back from the ledge Ava!  Of course I believe you.  I’m just shocked.”  She sighed. “Do you need me to come over?”

“No, I’m going away.  I’m going to see my mom for a few days.  I just didn’t want you to worry.  Please don’t tell Trevor where I am, okay?”  I insisted. 

“Okay honey, text me and let me know when you get there.  I’m sorry Ava.” 

“Me too Talia, me too.”  I hung up and groaned when I heard another text come through.

***

 “Thanks mom.”  I said as I took a drink from the coffee that she sat in front of me.

“Ava, do you want to talk about it?” My mom had been great the last couple of days.  She didn’t push me and she didn’t hover.

I had sent an email to Mr. Jameson and told him I had a personal emergency that I needed to go out of town for.  There were several things I could work on from my laptop, and he seemed to be very understanding.  I’m not sure that would be the case if he knew what those personal issues were.  I was going to have to figure out what to do about work when I got back, but I couldn’t imagine working with Trevor right now.  I was too hurt.

“Oh mom, it turns out my knight in shining armor was just some liar in tinfoil.”  I groaned.

“Honey, please don’t let this harden your heart from moving on.  You have so much love to give.  I hate the thought of you shutting everyone out.”  She put her hand on my arm.

“Mom, I may not have anyone lying
next
to me, but at least I won’t have anyone lying
to
me either.”  I stood up.  “I think I’m going to take a walk on the beach.  I need to clear my thoughts.”  I kissed my mom on the cheek before I walked out the back door.

There was a soft breeze blowing.  It felt great as I moved through the sand.  I slipped off my sandals and dragged my toes through the warm sand.  The waves were rolling in almost methodically.  It was peaceful.  I sank down into the sand and pulled my knees to my chest, draping my sundress over them and hugging them.  I let my head drop and rested it on my knees, listening to the water as I cried another bout of tears that I thought would never stop coming.

Chapter 15

Trevor

“Okay Trevor, Tom told me you insisted on seeing me, so this better be good.”  The pint-sized blonde walked through my door with her hands firmly planted on her sides.

“Talia, I need to explain...” I started.

“Trevor, where is the laundry soap?”  I turned around at Rachel’s voice. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had company.”

“So it’s true?”  Talia shook her head in disbelief.

“What’s true?”  I asked.

“There is another woman. I almost didn’t believe Ava when she told me, but here she is right in front of me.”  Talia looked at Rachel.

“Talia, I want to introduce you to someone who is very special to me.”  I motioned for Rachel to come closer.

“Don’t Trevor.  I have no desire to meet your…”

“Sister.”  Rachel and I said at the same time.

“Wait, your what?”  Talia paused.

“Sister.  This is my little sister Rachel.”  I smiled at Talia’s shocked face.

“Holy shit!”  She shouted.

“Yeah, exactly.  Now please help me find Ava.”  I pleaded.

I watched as Talia ran her hands through her hair. She pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed.  It went straight to voice mail.  Ava’s phone had been turned off for the last two days, but that hadn’t stopped me from trying.

“Ava.  Call me now.  We need to talk.”  Talia hung up the phone and stuck her hand out to Rachel.  “It’s nice to meet you Rachel.  I’m sorry for the bitch treatment.” She smiled. 

“It’s okay.  I would’ve done the same thing for my best friend.  This has been a rough couple of days.  Trevor has been a complete mess! If I’d have known the issues my visiting would cause, I would have never come.”  She smiled sadly.  I knew she felt horrible, but it wasn’t her fault.  It was just a huge misunderstanding.

“It’s not your fault Rachel.  Ava has been through some shit and when she saw you two together, she just assumed the worst.”  She turned to me. “I’ve never seen her this bad—ever.  She loves you Trevor, you know that don’t you?  You better go get her.” 

“Just tell me where she is and I will.”  I assured her.

***

The weather was beautiful in Clearwater.  Talia had given me Ava’s mom’s address and I wasted no time.  I got on the next flight out, right after I told Mr. Jameson I needed to take a couple personal days.  He must’ve had some Idea that something was going on.  He just smiled and told me to get it figured out by Monday and bring Ava back with me.  I assured him that I would.

I drove over the bridge to Clearwater Beach and followed the GPS to a cute yellow cottage right on the beach.  I took a deep breath before stepping out of the rental car, and then I practically ran to the door and knocked.  My heart was beating so fast when I heard footsteps.  The door opened to a lovely middle-aged woman.  Her soft brown eyes looked questioningly at me.  They were the same lovely eyes Ava had, and I had no doubt this was her mom.

“Mrs. Murphy, my name is Trevor.  I’m in love with your daughter and I need to talk to her.” 
Wow.  That sounded desperate.

She smiled softly at me and stepped to the side to let me in. “Trevor, she’s out on the beach.  Be gentle with her, I’ve never seen her so hurt.”

“I’m sorry.  I promise to fix this.”  I went through the back door without another word.  I looked around, trying to see her.  I walked out onto the sand further, trying to decide which way to go when my eyes landed on her.

She was sitting hunched over on the sand with her head down on her knees and my heart broke for her.  I knew how I’d been feeling, but I imagined she felt ten times worse, thinking that I’d betrayed her.  I walked toward her, stopping just behind her when I heard her soft sobs.

“Ava?” She whipped her head around and stared at me wide-eyed.

It took her only a moment to school her features and stand up.  “What are you doing here?”  She asked, crossing her arms over her chest and pulling her shoulders back.  I recognized the stance.  It was the one she used when she was all business at work.  Under different circumstances, I may have chuckled, but not now.   Her eyes were swollen and red from crying and her hair was wind-blown, but she was still the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“We need to talk.  You wouldn’t return my calls.”  I stepped toward her.

“Stop Trevor, there isn’t anything to say.  I know what I saw.  I just didn’t expect that from you.”  She shook her head.

“You’re wrong Ava.  It wasn’t like you think that woman is...”  She put her hand up.

“Don’t Trevor.  I don’t want to know.  
Please
, I can’t.”  She turned and started to walk away from me.  I walked up behind her, spun her around, grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her hard.  When I pulled back she was just staring at me, shocked.

“Damn it woman!  You need to hear me out!”  I yelled.  I was frustrated and desperate to be heard.  She stood there silent, so I continued. “I know what you
think
you saw, but it wasn’t like that.  That woman is my sister.”  I saw the look on her face and I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Your sister?”  She gasped.

“Yes you silly woman, my sister Rachel.  She surprised me by coming for a visit.  I haven’t seen her in almost six months.  You must have walked around the corner and saw us right when I had seen her.”  I explained.

“Oh no.”  She shook her head.  “I thought….I thought.” She covered her face.

I pulled her to me. “I know what you thought Ava.  God woman, there is no way I could ever do that to you.  I love you so much!  You are everything to me.”  I buried my face in her neck, bathing my senses in her touch and smell. 

“What did you say?”  She whispered.

I pulled back and looked her in the eyes. “I love you Ava.  I’ve never felt like this before.  When you left I felt like I couldn’t breathe.  I need you so much.  Please don’t leave me again.”  I begged. I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks, but I didn’t care.  I was so afraid of losing her.

She smiled softly and pulled my face down to hers.  She kissed me lightly at first and then more urgently.  I kissed her back, absorbing her essence into my very soul.  She pulled back first, panting as she watched me.

“Your sister must hate me.”  She put her head down.

“On the contrary.  She feels horrible.  She could see how you might have assumed the worst, especially after Talia explained your situation with Kyle.”  I explained.

“Talia?”  She questioned.

“Yes. Tom convinced her to come talk to me finally.  She burst in my home ready to beat me down.  My poor sister chose that moment to come ask for laundry soap.  I thought Talia was going to come unglued!”  I chuckled. “Finally we were able to explain it.  She told me how to find you.”  I smiled at Ava’s face.

“I’m so sorry Trevor.  I’m so stupid.  I’ve been fighting my feelings for you, so afraid of getting hurt.  I love you too.  More that you can imagine and it scares the shit out of me.”  She confessed, laughing and crying at the same time.

I pushed the lose hair out of her face. “Ava, don’t be scared. I can’t promise you that I will never hurt you, but I can promise that I will never mean to.  I love you with everything I am.  Just give me a chance to prove that to you.”

“I’m a handful Trevor.  You sure you’re up for the challenge?”  She raised her eyebrows at me, making me laugh.

“My sweet Ava, you’ve been a challenge from the moment I met you.”  I laughed.

Epilogue

Ava

“You two nailed it again.”  Mr. Jameson grinned at Trevor and me from the doorway of our office.

We had just finished our newest presentation for a hotel chain in the Philadelphia and Atlantic City, New Jersey area.  It had been an account that several advertising firms had bid on.  Trevor and I worked tirelessly on it, and it had paid off.

“You do realize that you too can never break up.  It would ruin me.”  Mr. Jameson winked at us and walked away.

I giggled at Trevor’s shocked face.  I don’t think either of us had realized that he knew we were together.  Granted, it wasn’t like we hid it very well, but we had tried to keep it completely professional at work, even though it killed us to not touch each other every chance we got.

“Well Ms. Murphy, do you want to round up the crew and go out tonight to celebrate?” Trevor leaned forward on his elbows and gave me that adorable half smile.  His biceps flexed deliciously against his shirt.

“I’m not sure I can dance with you anymore Trevor.”  I stated as I packed up my things for the day.

“Why?”  He almost looked hurt.

I leaned forward and whispered, “Because every time you press up against me on the dance floor, we end up leaving early. Talia is accusing us of being an old married couple that can’t stay out past ten.”  I giggled.

“Well, let’s get out of here.  I think we need a private dance before we go out then.”  He winked at me as we stood up to leave.

“And to think I thought I couldn’t dance.”  I pressed my hands against his chest, smiling up at him, reveling in his beautiful green eyes.

“Like I said before, you were just waiting for the right partner.” 

Coming in January 2013

A Part of Me

Tom and Talia’s story

Excerpt from A Part of Me

Chapter 1

Tom

Teaching could be exhausting to begin with, but teaching health to ninth graders, well that could make you downright suicidal. 

I longed for the earlier days of explaining the food groups and nutrition from the beginning of the year.  Even the alcohol, tobacco and drugs lessons were a cake walk compared to the reproductive system, which we would be covering until the end of the year.

Six different classes and I felt like I’d just spent the entire day talking to classes filled with my friend Nick.  I was beginning to think that he never made it past the novelty of this lesson either. Three more weeks of this.  I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.

I packed up my things for the day and headed to the field for practice.  My JV soccer team was amazing this year.  We had a lot of raw talent, and if they continued to play like they had this season, most of them would be moving up to Varsity next year.