AVERY MOTIONED towards the door. With an understanding nod, Aaron gave her some privacy.
With Aaron gone, Avery walked into the bathroom and answered the call.
” Ah… Ah… Thank goodness someone answered.” Logan breathed sharply.
Avery looked out the bathroom window in case someone was coming.
When she saw no one, she clutched the phone tighter and asked, ” You’ve been trying to reach Gavin’s house telephone for some days now; what’s wrong, Logan?”
Logan screamed and breathed loudly for some seconds before wheezing out, ” Who… Who is this?”
” Avery… Avery White, Sydney’s best friend. I was her kids’ principal.” Avery said, quickly. Impatiently. ” What’s wrong, why are you breathing so loudly?”
” I’ve been shot, they are after me… I managed to find a safe place to hide. ”
Avery glanced out the window again, her heart racing. ” Who… Who is after you? Is it Gabriel? ”
” You know him? ”
” Yes, long story. Tell me, why have you been calling? ”
Another voice came through. ” Find that b**tard; he’s been shot in the leg, so he wouldn’t be able to run far. Capture him before Gabriel finds out he’d escaped again. ”
The mere sound of Gabriel’s name sent ants crawling down Avery’s spine. She didn’t realize when she started shaking.
” Lo… Logan, are you still there?”
Logan growled through his teeth. ” I don’t have enough time, I know even the cops won’t be able to save me from him. Ah… Jesus Christ! ”
Few seconds of growling…
” I’ve seen Mrs. Reed a couple of times with him; she seems to be in love with him. Gabriel is a maniac, he’s a psychopath. He’d hurt her and kill her like he did to his wife. ” Logan paused for a brief second. ” They are almost here. I’ll send you all the things you need to know about Gabriel. Please, deliver the message to Mrs. Reed before she gets hurt…”
” Hello… Hello… Logan. Log-”
Avery’s notification bell dinged countless times. She quickly put on her WhatsApp and saw a twenty-plus message from Logan.
_____________
” Are you going on a date Sydney?”
Theresa asked through a video call with Sydney.
Sydney looked away from the mirror and at Theresa who was gaping at her.
Sydney frowned her brows and looked back at the mirror. She touched her hair and slipped off the band holding it.
” Maybe I shouldn’t overdress when I’m just going to a cemetery.”
She mentally slapped herself as she stared at the clothes she was wearing.
It was the dress Gabriel put up a fuss to get for her. She reckoned she was going to a cemetery and should have dressed in a simple bleak-looking dress.
” Don’t tell me you are flying to Arizona to spend Christmas by your mother’s grave?”
” My mother’s body is not in the cemetery and no, I’m not flying to Arizona to spend Christmas with her.”
” Did anyone else kick the bucket recently that I don’t know of?”
Sydney turned to Theresa and adjusted the laptop screen to face the bed. She walked to the bed and fell on it.
She sighed.
” It’s Gabriel’s mother. He wants me to see her grave.” Sydney crossed a leg around her lap. Elbow on lap. Jaw on palm.
” Aw, isn’t that romantic?” Theresa cooed.
Sydney sneered. ” I’m visiting his mother’s grave, how is that romantic?”
” Not that. The fact he wants to show you it. He must like you a lot.”
Theresa was in the dark about Gabriel professing his love to Sydney. Sydney hadn’t told anyone about it yet, and she wasn’t planning to.
Theresa, who’d been amongst many gossip ladies who’d swoon over any handsome man that passed their way, had become an expert in reading facial expressions. Her brows raised as she scanned Sydney’s raised jaw, pink cheeks, and lip biting.
Theresa’s lips slowly curved upwards. ” Wait, has he confessed his affection to you? ”
Sydney’s head snapped up to her. ” How did you know? ”
” I didn’t- Wait, oh my God! He did? What did he say? Tell me in detail. ”
” I’m not telling you about anything. It’s not something we should discuss about. ”
Theresa was overly drowned in excitement to listen. ” What was your reply? Did you say yes to him? Tell me you did. ”
Sydney nibbled on her lips and rubbed her knee.
Theresa frowned, ” You didn’t say yes? ”
” That’s because he didn’t ask any questions… I think.” Sydney got up and exhaled. ” I just got divorced a month or two ago, how do you expect me to get into another relationship? ”
” But-”
” I was married for eleven years, Theresa; I’ve been in love with Gavin since I was a sophomore in high school. Do you think it’s that easy to move on?” She exhaled again.
” Even if Gavin swept those years under the carpet without a second thought, I can’t. I’ve tried but I can’t. I tried to like Gabriel; I tried to love him for more than a friend, but I can’t.”
Sydney felt a tad relief she was speaking out what she’d been holding in for a long time.
” Then why the butt do you keep blushing every time I mention his name? Why are you dressing like you are going on a date? You keep acting like you are interested in him.”
” I’m not.” Sydney denied swiftly.
Theresa raised her chin. ” Maybe you aren’t in love with him but tell me you don’t feel a bit of sparkle in your heart for him?”
” Not like the way I felt for Gavin.”
Theresa laughed. ” Well, that’s a start. Are you planning on going back to Gavin?”
The thought of being his wife again was so good yet so impossible.
” No, never. Nothing is right again, nothing can change what has happened.”
” Then why don’t you give Gabriel a chance huh? Maybe you can finally move on if you do.”
Sydney felt like ending the call.
There was no way she’d use Gabriel as a tool to move on. She knew Theresa would keep on pestering her about it, so she agreed.
” Send me pictures of your dates. I’ll send my blessings to you. ”
The doorbell rang.
Sydney walked to the laptop. ” He must be here already, I’ll talk to you later.”
” See you. Gabriel would be so flustered when he sees you-”
Sydney ended the call and exhaled once again. It was a good thing Theresa was in Toronto, Sydney sighed.
She wondered who must be at the door. Gabriel wouldn’t have rang the doorbell since it was his house.
Her heart raced. Was it Gavin?
She slowly opened the door and caught a glance at the brunette standing on the front porch.
Avery?