Day sixteen of Avery ignoring me, and I figured I’d been patient enough.
I hadn’t yelled at her, hadn’t made a scene. Hell, I even bought her those jewelry pieces she used to obsess over. So why wasn’t she reaching out?
I stared at my phone screen constantly. Even one text from her would’ve made my day.
But nothing. Radio silence.
So I tried the old playbook–got closer to Bella.
Sent Avery pictures of us together, took Bella to every spot on those wish lists she used to make.
Went through that entire damn list with Bella, but our chat was still just me talking to myself.
Honestly? It was killing me.
Guys are probably all masochists. When Avery used to blow up my phone 24/7, I wanted to chuck the thing into the ocean.
But now that it was quiet, no more messages from her? Felt like something was missing from my chest.
Until Bella got wasted at some friend’s housewarming party.
She dropped the sweet act completely, grabbed my shirt, and wouldn’t let me leave to find Avery.
“When are you gonna wake up? Avery’s dead! She’s been dead almost a month! They cremated her and buried the ashes already! Do you really love her that much that you’re losing your mind like this?”
Her voice carried across the whole room, but everyone suddenly found the floor real interesting. Not one person would look at me.
“Bella, you’re drunk.”
I smiled and gently pushed her away.
But she got even more hysterical: “I am drunk, but I’m still more awake than you! Why do you think I came back from overseas?”
“If it wasn’t to get you back, why would I bother flying halfway around the world and scheming to keep you by my side! You were always supposed to be mine! Even if I didn’t want you, no one else gets to have you! How could you fall for someone else!”
The room got uncomfortable. I forced another laugh: “Since when was I ever yours?”
“How are you not?” She grabbed me desperately: “You promised you’d protect me forever!”
Things were getting weird. Someone tried to smooth it over.
“That was years ago. Hunter’s always treated you like a sister, right?”
“Sister?! What kind of brother ditches his girlfriend over and over for his ‘sister‘? What brother acts like nothing happened after his fiancée dies and drags his ‘sister‘ around the world? We’re not even related–why would he see me as a sister?”
“He won’t admit it, but are you all blind? Ever since I came back, when has he not put me first? Did his so–called fiancée ever matter to him at
all?”
“When she was alive, Hunter barely loved her. Now that she’s dead, suddenly he’s all torn up about it. But why is he using me as her
Chapter 6
replacement while pretending to care about me! Do you know how much it hurts watching you call her name in your sleep every night?!”
“Enough!”
Bella’s eyes were bloodshot, grabbing me and throwing that word ‘dead‘ in my face over and over.
My head felt like it was about to explode.
But how could Avery be dead?
“You don’t get it. She’s just mad at me, that’s all. She’s not ready to forgive me yet. When she cools off, she’ll come back.”
“She promised she’d marry me. We haven’t even gotten married yet!”
Everyone was staring at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Hunter, are you okay?”
“I’m fine!”
When my friend tried to help me, I shoved him away.
“You all think Avery’s dead? I’ll find her and prove you wrong!”
I stumbled out, calling and texting her nonstop.
But she seemed really pissed off this time.
No matter how much I apologized or begged, all I got back was dead silence.
“This is wrong! This isn’t how it should be! Avery wouldn’t ignore me. We’re supposed to get married.”
I ran home like a maniac.
The house I hadn’t been back to in forever was freezing cold.
No warm lights. No hot dinner waiting. That familiar figure who used to greet me at the door every single day was gone.
I stumbled inside. The place Avery always kept spotless was covered in dust.
I fumbled for the light switch.
When my vision cleared, I saw it–Avery’s black and white funeral photo staring back at me.
Something flashed through my head, so painful I couldn’t breathe.
For a split second, I saw Avery lying on a cold metal table.
No color in her face. Just that terrifying streak of dried blood at the corner of her mouth.
The cop in uniform had told me she was dead too.
Said she died in our wedding chapel. Said she’d coughed up so much blood that her white dress was soaked red…
“That’s fake, right? Avery, stop playing games. I’m sorry, okay? Come out. Let’s get married.”
Chapter 6
My ears were ringing. Something in my head was about to snap.
Then I heard a sound from the front door.
I unclenched my fists, relief flooding through me: “I knew it. Avery, that joke went way too far.”
♡ (0)
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
