Falling in Love...Again chapter 6

 Falling in Love...Again

Chapter 6
2024

The next morning, I couldn't shake the memory of Avery, her laugh and her touch. Seeing her again after all these years had reopened a door I thought was sealed shut, and I couldn't stop myself from walking through it. A few days later, I found myself standing outside her house, coffee in hand and nerves buzzing with my heart pounding like a teenager on a first date.

When she opened the door, she was wearing a loose sweater and black leggings with a running shoe on her one foot. Her cast was just as striking as before, sleek and black, with a cosy grey wool sock pulled over the lower portion.

"You're spoiling me already," she teased, nodding at the coffee in my hand. "Come on in before the neighbours start wondering what you're doing on my porch."

Her home was warm and inviting, filled with little touches of her personality. A guitar leaned in the corner, and framed photos lined the shelves, some of her punk band days, others more recent, including some of her with a younger woman both smiling.

"I see you've still got your rebellious streak," I said, gesturing to the photos.

She laughed, a sound that instantly put me at ease. "Some things never change."

We settled into her small living room, sipping coffee and talking about everything and nothing. It felt easy, natural, like no time had passed at all. But as the conversation deepened, the weight of our shared history began to creep in.

"Do you remember that Millennium Night?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Her eyes sparkled as she leaned back, cradling her mug. "How could I forget? You were the one who kept me upright most of the night. My broken leg wasn't as easy to deal with as I made it look, you know."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You made it look effortless. Like you could take on the world, even with a broken leg."

Her smile softened, and for a moment, the air between us felt heavy with unspoken words. "I had a lot of good memories back then," she said quietly. "And you... you were a big part of them and some changed my life."

The warmth in her voice stirred something in me. "You know, I never forgot about you," I admitted.

She met my gaze, her expression unreadable. "I never forgot you, either, trust me."

The moment hung in the air, charged with possibility. Just then, her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the spell. She glanced at it and sighed.

"Work," she said before realizing that it was a very bad lie since it was Saturday, setting the mug down and reaching for her crutches. "But... How about dinner tomorrow? My treat this time."

I stood, taking a step closer to her. "I'd like that."

Driving away, I couldn't stop smiling. Avery had a way of pulling me back into her orbit, and this time, I wasn't about to let her slip away and yet I wondered who was calling her?

The next evening, I arrived at the restaurant a little early, nerves twisting in my stomach. I couldn't help but replay our conversation from the day before, the warmth in her voice when she said she hadn't forgotten me.

Avery entered the room like she owned it, balancing effortlessly on her crutches. Tonight, she wore a lovely dress. The hem stopped just below her knee, revealing the black cast with her toes fully exposed and her strong right leg. She paired it with a single stiletto heel pump on her good foot, a bold choice that somehow seemed normal for Avery.

"You look amazing," I said, standing to pull out her chair.

"Flattery will get you everywhere," she teased, flashing a grin as she kissed my lips, sat down and propped her crutches against the table.

"So, you mentioned yesterday that you're teaching now?"

Her eyes lit up. "Yeah, high school English and theatre. It's a good gig. I get to introduce kids to all the classics, Shakespeare, Austen, even some modern stuff. Sometimes I'll sneak in a little poetry to throw them off."

"I can see it," I said, smiling. "You always had a way with words. Do your students know about your punk band days?"

She laughed, a soft blush creeping into her cheeks. "A few of them found some old videos online. They think it's hilarious that their teacher used to scream into a microphone and jump off amps. I tell them it was all part of my research."

"You mean you're not still doing it?" I joked.

"Not exactly, teaching takes a lot out of me, but it's rewarding. And, well..." She gestured toward her cast. "Life has its curve balls. This isn't my first rodeo with crutches and cast."

I wanted to press her, to ask what she meant by that, but the look in her eyes stopped me. There was a vulnerability there, something she wasn't ready to share yet.

"You make it look easy,"

"Thanks, but it's not. You just learn to adapt. That's life, isn't it?"

There it was again, that hint of something deeper beneath her words. But before I could gather the courage to ask, the waiter returned with our check, breaking the moment.

As we stood to leave, she leaned on her crutches and gave me a playful look. "You're quiet tonight, Miles. Got something on your mind?"

"Just trying to keep up with you."

She laughed, her cast inches off the floor as she moved toward the door. "Good luck with that."

As she glanced back over her shoulder and caught my eye, her smile told me she wasn't in a hurry either. This connection we'd found again was fragile, delicate, and I wasn't about to risk shattering it.

The night was winding down, and we found ourselves sitting on the patio of a small, cozy café. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of rain, and the soft glow of string lights overhead made the moment feel almost surreal. Avery was relaxed, leaning back in her chair, her crutches propped beside her. Her broken leg rested comfortably on an empty chair, her exposed toes painted red catching the light.

"Thanks for tonight," She smiled, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her coffee cup.

"Can I ask you something?" I ventured, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Sure," she said, tilting her head in curiosity.

"It's about your cast," I said, careful to keep my tone light. "You've mentioned that crutches and casts aren't new for you, but you've never said how it happened. I remember in 1999 but what's the story and is it only your second time on crutches?"

Avery's lips curved into a knowing smile, one that sent a flicker of intrigue through me.

"You've been wondering about that all night, haven't you?" Avery asked, her voice low and teasing, her lips curving into a sly smile that sent a shiver down my spine.

I laughed, a little sheepishly, caught off guard by her perceptiveness. "Guilty"

She raised an eyebrow, looking at her cast with her toes bare and vulnerable to the cool air. Her gaze flicked back to me, daring me to make a move.

Without overthinking, I leaned down, letting my hand hover for a moment before it gently cradled the edge of her cast. My fingers traced exposed toes. Slowly, I caressed the cast on her foot, my thumb brushing over her toes in an unhurried, deliberate motion.

Her breath accelerated slightly, her playful demeanour softening as her eyes followed my movements.

"Didn't think you'd actually..." she murmured, her voice almost moaning.

Falling in Love...Again
Chapter 7 to come
K