Page 80 of Heart to Heart
“Handbook?” I asked, a smile returning to my face.
“She was supposed to read the handbook and burn it after she got off the plane,” Kiki explained as though it made it any less confusing. “Had she done that, she would have known that the families of the contestants at this stage always sit down and talk with the season’s love interest.” Kiki whirled around to walk back to the table, throwing her arms in the air. “I don’t even know why I bother sometimes.”
“She’s right,” I confirmed, “though I wish I’d had a hand in this.” Rachel cleared her throat behind me. She’d been eager to meet Avery since I picked her up from the airport. I moved aside, gesturing to her. “This impatient woman behind me is dying to make your acquaintance. Avery, this is my sister, Rachel. Rachel, this is Avery.”
“It’s so good to finally meet you,” Rachel greeted Avery with open arms. “Gosh, you’re just as pretty in person as you are on television.”
Avery blushed. “Look at yourself. You and Tristan are the winners of the genetic lottery. Your parents must high-five each other every day.”
“Oh, I like her.” Rachel looked back at me. “She’s my favorite.”
Laughing, I shook my head as Rachel let Avery go, making room for me. But instead of a hug, she followed the others to the table. I caught her shoulder with my hand, stopping her in her tracks as I leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I know this is all fake for you, but you probably should at least try to look like you’re happy to see me.”
Without turning around to acknowledge me, she simply whispered, “I am.”
“I must know,”I said, pushing my plate off to the side as I addressed Kiki, “does Avery still have that Cookie Monster onesie?”
“Oh, she totally does,” Kiki answered. “She even still wears it when it’s cold in our apartment.”
“Kiki!” Avery hissed.
“What? Clearly, it did something for someone as it landed you on the show.”
Clearly.
“Don’t let Tristan razz you,” Rachel piped in, taking a sip of her Riesling. “He wore Winnie-the-Pooh briefs for so long our parents were starting to worry.”
“It wasn’tthatlong,” I jumped in.
“You’re right. It’s perfectly normal to take driver’s training with Winnie sticking his hand in a honey pot scrawled across your bum.”
Kiki gasped. “Best. Graphic. Placement. Ever.”
“I’m pretty sure I wasn’t still wearing them in driver’s training.”
“You’re pretty sure?” Avery asked, laughing. It was nice to hear her laugh again. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t.
“Leave the poor guy alone,” Claire fired back. “If he wants to wear a cartoon bear across his butt cheeks, let him wear a cartoon bear across his butt cheeks.”
“Damn straight, Claire.” I reached my hand up to fist-bump her.
“Who’s watching the bakery while you’re here?” Avery asked cautiously, as though she’d finally built up the nerve to ask. “I hope you and Dad aren’t losing income because of me.”
Claire looked up, meeting my eyes. I nodded subtly, letting her know it was okay to tell Avery what had been happening back home.
“We are doing just fine. We’ve hired a couple of people. Your dad and I are even going to take in a Toronto Maple Leafs game in the fall.”
“You’re a fan of Canadian teams?” I asked Phil, Avery’s father.
“They’re the only teams worth watching,” he answered matter-of-factly. “I grew up in the Toronto area.”
“You’re Canadian? My grandpa on my dad’s side was from Saskatchewan.”
Phil lit up, “That seals it for me, Avery. He has Canadian in him. I approve of this relationship.”
“How are you affording to hire people?” Avery blurted out. “I’m sorry. It’s just, when I was there last, hiring more people didn’t seem to be in the cards.”
“We, uh, we had a sudden boost. Our marketing has really taken off.”
