Page 111 of Love so Cold

"Come on, Avery," I whisper to the empty hall. "Where are you?"

I pace back and forth, replaying that moment in my mind. The way her eyes widened slightly, how the corner of her mouth twitched upward. It was brief, but it was there.

My phone buzzes and I snatch it up eagerly, but it's just a news alert about the development. I toss it back in my pocket with a frustrated groan.

"I did this for you," I say to the air. "For Olivia. For all of us."

But maybe it's too little, too late. Maybe the damage I've done is irreparable. The thought makes my chest ache.

I lean against the podium, closing my eyes. "Please, Avery. Give me a chance to make this right."

I pull out my phone again, this time to call Marcus. "Hey, can you bring the car around?"

"Of course, Mr. Stone. I'll be there in a moment."

I push through the heavy doors of the town hall, the cold night air hitting me like a slap. But I barely feel it. What I feel is something far worse - a familiar numbnesscreeping in, wrapping around me like an old, unwelcome friend.

"Back again, huh?" I mutter to myself, shoving my hands in my pockets.

The street is empty, quiet. Just like all those nights I spent alone in foster homes, waiting for a family that never came. I close my eyes, willing away the memories, but they flood in anyway.

"You promised yourself, Victor," I whisper. "Never again."

But I had. I'd let Avery in. And Olivia. The thought of them, of the family we could've been, twists something deep inside me. It hurts more than I ever imagined possible.

I laugh bitterly. "Some Stone you turned out to be."

The sound of an approaching car breaks the silence. As I wait for Marcus, I can feel myself slipping, falling into that dark, depressive state I know all too well.

I picked Stone for a reason. Impenetrable. Unbreakable.

But as I stand there, alone in the cold, I know it's a lie. Because Avery Bennett found her way in, and now I'm bleeding.

The sleek black sedan glides to a stop in front of me. I pull open the door, sliding into the leather interior.

"Where to, Mr. Stone?" Marcus asks, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror.

"Home," I mutter, leaning back and closing my eyes.

"And where is that?" a soft, familiar voice asks from beside me.

My eyes snap open. I whip my head to the left, heart pounding. "Avery?"

She's there, emerging from the shadows of the backseat, a small smile playing on her lips. My mind reels, trying to make sense of her presence.

"How... What are you doing here?" I stammer, unable to believe my eyes.

Avery shifts, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, considering I'm in charge of the development now, I figured I could use the company car."

I hear Marcus chuckle from the front seat as he smoothly raises the privacy divider.

The car starts moving, the gentle hum of the engine filling the silence between us. I study Avery's face, noting the mix of uncertainty and hope in her expression.

Avery takes a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. "Victor, I... I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for what you've done. The development, the way you've listened to the community..." She pauses, her eyes meeting mine. "And I'm so sorry for not responding to you these past few weeks. I was scared and-"

I can't take it anymore. The words, the explanations - they don't matter. Not now. Not when she's here, so close. I lean in, cupping her face with my hand, andpress my lips to hers. The kiss is soft at first, tentative, but quickly deepens as Avery responds.

My heart races, blood rushing in my ears. This is what I've been missing, what I've been longing for. The warmth of her lips, the feel of her skin under my fingertips. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to pull back, my breathing ragged.

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