The O'Conners: A Made for Love Novella (9 page)

“What? Lame!
”
Paul scoffs.

“Tell the ball and chain that it
’
s Friday night, you
’
re awesome friends are going out, and you
’
ll just meet him at home
after
his work thing,
”
says Tiffany with a grin.

I huff out a sigh as I zip my cello case closed and stand. I know they
’
re just teasing. I know they mean well. We spend time together outside of rehearsals and gigs quite often. Sometimes Brenna will bring her boyfriend, Clifton will bring his girlfriend, and I
’
ll bring Sonny to join in on the fun. It
’
s safe to say that there
’
s never a dull moment with our bunch. However, tonight, I really do have to get home. I
’
m also not in the mood to argue about it.

“He
’
s not a ball and chain, Tiffany. He
’
s my
husband,
”
I snap.

“Whoa. I was just kidding,
”
she mutters, lifting her hands up to signal her surrender.
“
Who pissed in your cheerios?
”

I inhale deeply and exhale slowly, closing my eyes as I force myself to relax. It
’
s been a long week and I feel like I
’
m completely on edge. I
’
m disappointed that the peace I felt just a moment ago, when my hands were busy creating music, has suddenly vanished. Nevertheless, that doesn
’
t mean that I should take it out on my friends.

“I
’
m sorry,
”
I apologize, my gaze meeting hers.
“
I just can
’
t tonight, okay? I
’
ll see you guys on Sunday.
”
I grab my cello and my purse and I
’
m heading out the door when Brenna stops me.

“Hey, wait.
”
I pause when I feel her light touch on my shoulder.
“
Is everything okay? It
’
s not like you to lash out.
”

“I know,
”
I reply with a shrug.
“
I just have a lot on my mind right now. I
’
m sorry. I promise I won
’
t be a total grouch on Sunday.
”

“Alright,
”
she says with a kind smile.
“
Well, if you need anything, just let me know.
”

“Thanks, Bren. I
’
ll see you.
”

It takes me almost an hour to get home. When I hurry inside, I note that I
’
ve got approximately forty minutes to freshen up before Sonny arrives to pick me up. Tonight we
’
re having dinner with his boss
and a couple of the other interns that are working in his department.  This won
’
t be the first time that I
’
ve attended a work event with him and my experience has prepared me for what I
’
m in for. They talk shop very little, which all of us guests appreciate, and it
’
s actually a very social affair. I say a prayer as I hop in the shower, hoping I can calm down enough to be charming.

My shower is a quick one, as I skip shampooing my hair, and I waste no time picking out a dress for the evening. I decide on a strapless blush number that hugs me snuggly until just above my knees. I zip it up as far as I can and then leave the last inch for Sonny as I head back to the bathroom. I have time to apply a bit of makeup and add a little bump of curl to my long, black hair. It
’
s a quarter after six when I
’
m sliding into my heels.

I take a few things out of my purse and shove them into my clutch as I make my way out of the bedroom. I peek out the front window, which overlooks the street, and I
’
m surprised to spot that Sonny has yet to arrive. I check my phone, just to make sure I haven
’
t missed a call or a text, and find no notifications. Feeling too anxious to sit while I wait, I pace back and forth across our small living room.

My thoughts are all over the place. With every minute that passes, the knot in my stomach grows. I suddenly hate that I
’
m alone. Alone and waiting. I grow frustrated with every lap I make, my heels clicking against our worn hardwood floor. I try not to get consumed with the worries of this week and the secret I
’
m carrying, but it
’
s inescapable. Once again, I find myself beseeching God. I need to relax. I need to calm down. I need the peace that I know He can provide
—
and I need it
now
.

“Hey, Shorty,
”
greets Grayson cheerfully as he emerges through the door. I
’
m startled out of my thoughts at the sight of him, which does
nothing
for my nerves.

“You
’
re late,
”
I mutter in reply. I turn my back to him and sweep my hair to one shoulder.

“I know. I
’
m sorry,
”
he says as he makes his way towards me. He pulls my zipper up the rest of the way before lowering his lips to my shoulder.
“
You look beautiful. Are you ready?
”
he murmurs.

I shrug away from his touch, wishing I wasn
’
t so irritated with him.
“
You could have called.
”

He stops me as I make my way to the door, circling his arms around my waist as he pulls me back against him.
“
Hey, why are you mad at me?
”
He kisses the side of my neck as he tightens his grip.

I sigh, leaning back against him, needing his love to help me shed my poor attitude.
“
I
’
m not mad at
you.
I didn
’
t mean to snap. I
’
m just having a day.
”

“Didn
’
t you have rehearsal today?
”

A small smile pulls at my lips and I embrace it.

I love this man. I love that he knows how much music means to me; how my playing brightens any day
—
whether it
’
s already unbearably happy or horribly sad.

I nod, tilting my head so that I can see his eyes.
“
I just have a lot on my mind.
”

“Do you need to talk about it?
”

“Not right now.
”
I reach for his lips with my own and he leans down to meet me for a quick kiss.
“
I
’
ll be fine. We should go.
”

“Okay.
”
He kisses me once more but doesn
’
t let me go. Instead, he studies me for a moment.
“
I love you.
”

“I love you too, Hottie.
”

He smiles at me and his barely-there-dimples calm me down. I know that this moment is an answered prayer
—
Grayson being the hands and feet of the Lord as he showers me with love and affection. He kisses me again before he finally frees me from his grasp. He offers me his hand and I take it as we head for the door. 

By the time we make it out of the restaurant and into the Mustang, I can hardly stand it anymore. Something is wrong with Avery and she's making me worry. She put on a good show at dinner. Like always, my boss and his wife went on and on about how much they adore my girl. It happens a lot. She's sweet, charming, intelligent, engaging, and gorgeous. She'll talk to anyone about
almost anything, and she's so endearing that people eat up everything she says. But I know her. She can't fool me.  Something is wrong.

“
So, are we going to talk about it?
”
I ask as I pull out of the parking lot.

“
Talk about what?
”

“
Ave
…”

She sighs, shifting her gaze to stare out the passenger side window.
“
I don't want to talk about it, Sonny. Not right now.
”

“
Avery
—”

“
Grayson, I'm not
—”
She starts and then she stops. From the corner of my eye I see it as she shakes her head.
“
Not now.
”

When she folds her arms across her chest I know that the conversation has been shelved. Now I'm not just worried, I'm annoyed. We don't keep things from each other. We learned that early in our relationship. When we hold back the truth, we get in trouble with one another. I hate the tension that fills the car. There's a part of me that's pleading with my mind to let it go. My irritation is a choice that I don't have to succumb to.

So is her reluctance to tell me what's going on.

The remainder of our ride seems to drag on as we sit in an uncomfortable silence. As soon as we're home, she's out of the car before I even have the chance to pull the key from the ignition. Her blatant avoidance pushes me too far and I make up my mind that the truth will come out
—
tonight. I don
’
t rush as I trail behind her, hoping my frustration won't get the best of me. When I've shut the front door, closing us in, I take a deep breath and follow her into the bedroom.

“
Avery, you need to tell me what's going on. I can't read your mind, sweetheart.
”

“
I'm not asking you to,
”
she replies, tossing her handbag onto the bed as she steps out of her shoes.

“
Well, you've got to give me something. You're not even speaking to me.
”

“
Sonny, I just sat through a two-hour dinner with you. I was polite and I spoke to everyone at that table. I don't know what more you want from me right now. I'm tired, okay? Can we just drop it?
”

“
No,
”
I state matter-of-factly. I yank my sports coat off, her first clue that the moment has shifted.
The only clue she needs.
She catches on to my intentions in an instant and her eyes grow wide in anger.

“
Seriously?
”
she asks, pressing her fists against her hips.

“
Seriously.
”
I cross the room, loosening my tie as I close the distance between us. When I've reached her, I turn her around and unzip her dress before sliding my tie from underneath my collar.

“
I don't want to do this,
”
she grumbles, letting her dress fall to the floor.

“
Then start talking.
”
I watch her closely as I begin unbuttoning my shirt. It isn't until I've shrugged the garment to the floor that she refuses me once more.
“
Fine. Lose the rest,
”
I reply as I drop my pants.

“
Why are you turning this into a fight?
”