Page 46 of Make You Love Me
“Smart.” She reaches for a chair, slides it closer, and sits before opening my chart. “How much longer until the cast comes off?”
“You tell me. What does it say in there?” I motion toward the folder she’s scanning. She checks the calendar, hanging on the wall beside us.
“You’re over half-way there, depending on how fast you’re healing. We’ll continue to focus on circulation and improving the strength of the muscles around your injuries. How’s the shoulder feel?”
“Okay until I try to move my arm.”
“Putting on that sweatshirt didn’t feel too good, huh?”
“Not particularly, but I didn’t think anyone would appreciate me coming in here shirtless.”
“You’d be wrong about that. Seventy-five percent of the volunteers and employees here are females with eyes.”
I laugh, enjoying our easy banter. Avery and I don’t know each other well, but through mutual acquaintances, our paths have crossed on multiple occasions over the last few years. She’s always been flirtatious and bold, and today is no different.
“Let’s get to work, shall we?”
Over the next hour, she tortures me with muscle stretches and joint exercises, but by the time she’s finished, I feel better than when I arrived. Our light and friendly conversation keeps my thoughts distracted, and I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know her better. She walks me out while we’re in the middleof an animated debate about which is better with beer: steak or burgers, when my cast nearly trips Nora on her way by.
“You two look like you’re having fun,” she says, breathless from her hurried trek across the fitness room.
Avery seems to notice my discomfort, and I wonder how much she knows about my current and past situation with Nora. I should have prodded her for information while I had her undivided attention. She comes to my rescue by responding.
“Yep,” Avery says. “I didn’t realize Jordan here was so entertaining.”
“That’s because you’re usually…occupiedwhen we’re at the same location.”
She swats me on my good shoulder. “You’re just jealous.”
Guess that answers my question. There’s no way she would flirt if she knew Nora and I were quote, unquotetogether. She thinks we are still distant exes who rarely speak to each other.
Nora stares at us, silent and dumbfounded. I can’t tell if she’s upset or just surprised by the familiarity and casualness between Avery and me. Either way, I’m not in the mood to find out. Her feelings, hurt or not, don’t enter my realm of concern yet. Not until I have all the facts.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be off this week?” Avery asks Nora. “I thought you were on vacation or something.”
“Staycation,” Nora corrects, apparently wanting to keep things between us a secret. Convenient. “I just came in to take care of a few things.”
“Avery, do you have a minute to take me to Jackson’s office?” I ask, ignoring Nora, who would be expected to transport me as my designated caregiver for the week. But since she doesn’t want anyone to know, I’m happy to oblige.
“Sure. I’d be happy to.”
To give me something other than Nora’s betrayal to think about, I text Jackson to let him know I’m on the way to his office. We arrive at the same time.
“Hi, buddy. How are you feeling?” he asks and takes over control of my chair.
“Feeling great right now, thanks to Avery,” I say as she turns to leave. She sends me an appreciative wave before Jackson pushes me inside.
“She is one of the best. Got me walking again.”
“That’s right. And you hadtwobroken legs. Not an easy feat.”
“Amen to that. So, what did you want to talk about?” Jackson set the brake and takes the seat across from me beside his large mahogany stained desk.
My hand combs through my hair when I realize I don’t know how to start without sounding insane. But if anyone can understand, it’s Jackson. He’s been through more trauma than my entire unit—former unit, I remind myself—combined. He is the best person to talk me through the visions and memories and unreconciled feelings.
“This may sound crazy…”
“Just say it. I’m used to crazy,” he says easily.
