Page 85 of Never Say Never
Maybe he was at a soccer field? The only time he wears contacts is during sports activities.
But he doesn’t seem eager to answer. “I’ll tell you later. Avery gone?”
I nod and promise to figure out dinner later if he wants to feed himself a mid-afternoon snack.
“Great, I’m going to get cleaned up first.”
Four hours later, all three of us Battle brothers are eating steaks I grilled up, along with penne and veggies.
We update Connor on all the news from Johnson, and he’s happy, in his own way.
“Gracie will love it, all of it,” he observes. “And it’s everything she deserves.”
With Landon around, I don’t get a chance to tell Connor what happened with Avery.
And, for some reason, I don’t feel a burning need to. I want to keep it to myself,formyself, at least right now.
Not surprisingly, between Johnson’s news and winning my bet with Avery, my brain is maxed out once we finish eating. The weird sleep situation last night is also starting to catch up with me. I excuse myself pretty quickly after they turn on a movie and go to my room.
Avery’s texted me a bunch of updates anyway, so I don’t want to keep her waiting for responses.
It’s only as my eyes start to close later that I remember…
Connor never told me where he went today.
22
AVERY
RIGHT AFTER SHE LEFT RAWLEY’S HOUSE EARLIER THAT DAY
“Why didn’t you call us last night?”
Mom is concerned, and I don’t blame her. I just dropped the bomb of my paparazzi experience from yesterday on her. Taylor and Aiden had honored my request to be the one to share with my family.
“It’s okay. Rawley got us out of there, and I stayed with the Battles. And now I have this nice man Mitchell protecting me, thanks to Aiden.” The aforementioned Mitchell smiles at me from the driver’s seat.
“I’m going to need to tell your father. There are enough secrets right now.”
“I get it, Mom. We’re just driving to get my stuff, and if Dad wants to talk to me, he can.”
Not more than three minutes later, he gives me a buzz.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Avery Marie Parker, the next time anything like that happens, you phone us right away.”
His dictatorial tone is back, and I knee-jerk against it. “Dad, I’m an adult. Everything is handled.”
“I want to talk to the security person with you.”
“He can’t, he’s literally driving.” Mitchell’s eyes flash to me.
Dad sighs, and I swear I can hear him cracking his knuckles. Mom’s voice comes through the phone, muffled. I’m pretty sure she’s talking to him, not me.
When he speaks again, his voice is calmer. “I’m sorry for my tone. We’re just worried.”
“It’s all right.” I try to settle my own nerves, ramped up now in the defensive position I’m accustomed to for these conversations.
