“Isn’t he working for Rob?” Emma frowned with concentration while she peeled and chopped the onion she’d retrieved.
“No. Rob’s wife blackballed him since the accident.” Avery sighed, setting her hands on either side of the stepstool. A stab of guilt needled her for spilling her brother’s secrets. “He’s having trouble finding work because of the likelihood of him going to jail this summer.”
Emma paled. “That’s awful. How’s Andy taking it?”
“Probably not as well as he’s pretending.” Avery walked over to stand beside Emma, who looked almost as unhappy as Avery felt. “I wouldn’t put you in an awkward position if I didn’t think he’d do a good job. And I know the opportunity would help him both financially and emotionally.”
“Of course I’ll help Andy.” She touched Avery’s hand. “He’s like a brother to me.”
“Great, Emma.” Avery hugged her friend, relieved. “One last request. Could you pretend this was your idea? You know how proud men can be.”
“Sure.” Emma smiled then approached the sink and rinsed two tomatoes. “I’ll call him tomorrow.”
“Thanks!” Avery picked her purse off the counter, preparing to leave Emma to her cooking. Then Emma piped up again.
“Before you bolt, tell me what’s going on with you and Grey?”
“Nothing.” Avery waved her hand in an ineffective attempt to erase her memories of their recent argument. “We had a big argument last time we were together. I’m not looking forward to our next therapy session.”
Emma winced and twisted her lips. Her expression looked uncomfortable.
“What?” Avery narrowed her gaze, noting the pink flush in Emma’s freckled cheeks.
“I guess you haven’t spoken with Kelsey today.”
“She left me a voice mail, but I haven’t played it yet.” With everything going on, she’d forgotten Kelsey had planned to help Grey today. She fought the streak of envy tearing through her chest at the suspicion perhaps Grey had changed his mind about Kelsey. He had, after all, kissed her when they’d met, which meant he found her attractive. And Kelsey wasn’t shy about using every tool in her considerable arsenal to her advantage.
Emma set down the tomatoes and wiped her hands before sharing what she knew.
“Apparently while she was at Grey’s this morning, she overheard him making an appointment with Richard Donner.”
Avery’s heart dropped to the floor, just like her purse. “What?”
“He claimed to want a second opinion.” Emma scrunched her nose. “I kinda suspected something else happened between you guys that sent him running. Guess I was right.”
“I can’t believe it.” Avery slumped back onto the stepstool. Grey was planning to fire her? “I knew he was mad, but to quit working with me? And to contact Donner without telling me first?”
Although the circumstances were wildly different, Grey’s betrayal humiliated her much the way Matt’s had last year. And it hurt, too. She’d begun to trust Grey, to believe him to be different, only to be proven wrong again.
Worse, this time she’d failed personally and professionally.
“I was surprised, especially considering what I witnessed between you two at the high school.” Emma leaned over the counter. “Could Grey have heard about Matt coming back into your life?”
“That wouldn’t matter.” Avery waved her hand. “And Matt is not back in my life. Not now or ever again.”
“Because you don’t care about him anymore?” Emma crossed her arms. “Or is your pride keeping you from forgiving him?”
Good question. Truthfully, she guessed it was a little bit of both.
“I won’t lie. Some part of me will always feel something for Matt because, despite everything, I can’t pretend we never shared any good times. But nothing’s going to happen.”
“At least not as long as Grey Lowell is an itch you haven’t scratched.”
Avery stomped her foot then lifted her purse onto her lap. “Grey has nothing to do with Matt.”
“Well, something drove him to call Donner.” The diced onions sizzled when Emma tossed them into the hot skillet. “It’s for the best, really, considering your family situation, Kelsey, and your own feelings for him.”
As angry as Avery was that he’d embarrassed her by contacting Richard Donner, she still wanted Grey to have the best treatment and a full recovery. In her mind, that required retaining her as his PT.
“It’s not for the best, Emma. I can’t believe Grey would jeopardize his recovery like this.” Avery hopped off the stool. “He’s being an idiot.”
“Maybe, but it’s his choice.” Emma began slicing the tomatoes. “Nothing you can do about it.”
We’ll see about that.
Chapter Eleven
Avery drove along Grey’s street while speaking with Kelsey on the hands-free phone. “He didn’t say anything else? Not to Richard or you?”
After leaving Emma’s, it had occurred to her that Grey might’ve switched because his lawyer planned to file the lawsuit against Andy this week. She prayed she was wrong, because that meant she’d run out of time to find another solution.
“No. He told Mr. Donner he wanted a second opinion, and then told me things weren’t working out with you because of complications surrounding the accident.” After a brief pause, Kelsey added, “I told him he was an idiot.”
“I bet that went over well.” Despite the lump in her throat, Avery grinned at her friend’s loyalty. Then remorse for her own disloyalty to Kelsey’s feelings for Grey grabbed hold.
“Yesterday I would never have said it. Once he told me I’ve got no shot, I just didn’t care if he got offended.”
“Really?” Avery parked her car in the lot next to Grey’s building, carefully choosing her next words. “He told you you’ve got no shot?”
“Mm-hm. Apparently he’s involved with someone else.” Kelsey snorted, then her breath caught. “Hey, have you seen him with anyone in town, or seen any woman hanging around before or after his therapy?”
“No.” Jealousy gripped her with shocking force, whisking away her guilty conscience. All these weeks she’d thought he’d been interested in her, but apparently, she’d misjudged that, too. Had he really been seeing someone else? “Guess he didn’t offer a name?”
“Nope. Actually, he didn’t say involved exactly. He said he’s interested in someone else. Said it was complicated. Apparently he hasn’t told her yet.” Kelsey blew out a breath. “He likes that word . . . complicated.”
“Well, I’m sorry if you’re disappointed.” The clarification shot a bewildering but welcome wave of relief though Avery. Maybe she hadn’t misread him. But, given the disloyalty and “complications,” did it matter? She stared out the window, noticing the streetlights flicker as dusk fell. “At least he was honest with you. Now you can move on.”
“Yeah, I guess. Still sucks, though.” Avery could almost hear Kelsey shrugging. “Oh, well. Listen, I’m going to scoot over to a yoga class. Wanna meet me?”
“Not this evening, thanks. I’ve got some things to take care of. Talk to you later.”
Avery turned off the ignition and sat in her car, hoping for wisdom to strike. Or, at the very least, a little clue as to why she’d driven over to Backtrax. She’d be a big, fat liar if she pretended she came merely because she’d never lost a client before, although it was part of her motivation.