Beyond the Point(71)

Noah rolled his eyes. “Game night? What are we, five?”

“Come on,” Avery said, cajoling him. “It’ll be fun.”

While he nibbled on the edge of her ear, Avery looked over his shoulder through the window at Dani, Hannah, and Amanda, who were busy cleaning the kitchen.

“I should go help them,” Avery said.

“Okay,” he said. “I gotta make one more call. I’ll be right in.”

Avery paused and looked at him quizzically. Who else would he need to call on Thanksgiving?

“It’s a work thing,” he said. “It’ll be quick.”

AVERY LEFT THE balcony and walked around a corner toward the kitchen. But when she heard her friends talking in hushed voices, she paused, standing behind a column.

“He’s been on his phone the whole night,” Hannah said.

“Avery seems happy,” added Dani. Avery felt a sudden surge of gratitude. At least someone was taking up for her. “But I keep wondering how old he is. He seems older, right?”

“Here’s what I don’t understand,” Amanda said. Locke’s girlfriend wore a black crewneck sweater with a white Peter Pan collar. Avery could see her from around the corner, with her little ballet flats and little ballet voice. Who did she think she was to weigh in on Avery’s relationship? She didn’t even belong here! “He doesn’t eat meat, but he does smoke cigarettes? In what world does that make sense?”

Clearing her throat, Avery stepped into the kitchen. They all froze.

“You know, you guys can say these things to my face,” Avery said.

The silence persisted until Dani cleared her throat. “We’re just curious, Ave,” she said. “That’s all.”

“About what?” Avery was suddenly overcome with a readiness to defend herself. Like she’d stepped into battle. “Speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

“Okay,” said Hannah. “So, nicotine aside . . . you like him? He’s treating you okay?”

Avery groaned and poured herself another glass of red wine. “He came all the way up here.” She paused, taking in the sight of Hannah’s concerned eyes and Dani, who was staring straight at her, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. “Yes, he treats me okay. He treats me great. What is the problem?”

Hannah looked at Dani pleadingly, which sent heat rushing to Avery’s face. “Stop,” she said, no longer trying to keep her voice down. “Stop silently communicating with each other right in front of my face. Just say it. You don’t like him.”

“I didn’t say that,” Hannah said.

Amanda stepped gingerly off the step stool she’d been using to put away dishes in cabinets she couldn’t reach. “I’m going to . . . let you ladies talk.” She tiptoed out of the room.

“He’s been looking at his phone all night,” said Dani. “It just seems odd, that’s all. We just want to make sure we’re seeing it clearly. Maybe there’s something we don’t know.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know,” said Avery. “He’s been on his phone because his parents have been stuck in an airport all day, trying to get to see his brother in Kansas City. He’s been trying to rebook their flights. I promise you guys, once you get to know him, he’s great.”

At this they seemed to soften, and Avery felt a mix of relief and shame—relief that she’d won them over, and shame that she’d had to try so hard. She didn’t know for certain that he’d been trying to rebook their flights. But that helped his case, so the white lie felt justified.

“So how serious is it?” Dani asked.

Avery shrugged. “I don’t know. Noah . . . he’s different. He seems committed to things. To us.”

“Good,” Hannah said. Stepping forward, she placed her hands on Avery’s shoulders. “He’s extremely lucky. Do you know that? You deserve for someone to completely cherish you. That’s what we want.”

For some reason, Avery cringed at Hannah’s shower of compliments, her touch. Was it because she’d questioned Noah behind her back? Or because Avery didn’t believe the things Hannah had said were actually true? Ever since Noah had shown up in that tool shed, it was Avery who had felt like the lucky one.

“And you,” said Avery, stepping out of Hannah’s embrace, toward Dani at the sink. She picked up a dry dish towel and snapped it against Dani’s leg. “You did so much to make this happen today. I don’t think I’ve had a chance to say thank you.”

To Avery’s surprise, thick tears formed in Dani’s eyes. She turned off the water and turned to look at Avery and Hannah.

“What’s wrong?” said Hannah.

“I have to tell you guys something,” Dani said. “Don’t worry. It’s good news.”

“Then why are you crying?” Avery asked, then whispered, “Did you poison Amanda’s drink?”

Dani coughed a laugh. “No. I got a promotion. At work.”

“That’s great!” Hannah sang.

“Yeah.” Dani scrunched her nose. “There’s just one catch.”

THE REST OF Dani’s guests hurried into the kitchen when they heard Hannah scream.

“Dani’s moving to London!” Hannah announced.