Rays of Hope

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: Ray’s POV

What had just hit me? Touching the back of my head, I turn around and look at the floor, only to hear my front door slam. Glancing up at the door in puzzlement, I glance back down, only to see my notebook lying on the ground. The same notebook that I had been writing all about Avery in.

“Shit!” I curse, running my hands through my hair in anxiousness.

Did Avery read this?

Picking up the notebook, I throw it onto the countertop behind me, and make a mad dash towards the door. I need to explain everything to Avery!

I dart down the stairs, skipping some as I go, and tripping on others. I finally reach the front door after five flights of stairs. Throwing it open, I swivel my head back and forth, similar to the heads’ of those watching tennis, and scan the street for any signs of Avery.

I can’t spot her anywhere.

I head back into my penthouse, and begin to pace frantically. I had just fixed things with Avery, and already I had screwed everything up.

Finally, I had made up my mind. I was going to find Avery, and she was going to listen to my explanation.

Grabbing my car keys. I head outside, ready to drive around in search of this woman who seemed to adjust every part of my universe with the blink of an eye.

****

It takes practically an hour of driving neck to neck with the curb, before I finally spot her. I pull over near her, right before she can turn the corner.

She looks to me, seeming terrified before she recognizes the car.

I roll down the window, and lean closer to the passenger side in order to talk to her easier.

“Can we talk?”

She stops walking for a second, “Why?,” she says. “We have nothing to talk about. Unless, I talk and you make money off of it?” With that line, she swiftly starts walking away again.

What was that suppose to mean?

I drive next to her again, determined to get her to talk to me.

“What are you talking about, Avery? Quit being so stubborn and talk to me!”

That seems to anger her even more. “Me? Stubborn? Are you serious?! You’re the one who won’t even apologize for anything and you act like you’re royalty!” She gets louder, “But you aren’t, you just want money by exploiting other people. Well guess what, I’m not letting you, so leave me alone and just go away!” She screams, her eyes glassy.

For once in my life I actually feel guilty. I have almost made strong, independent Avery cry. And it’s all because of my actions. I should have just ignored my publisher, Jan, and came up with an original idea on my own.

I get out of the car, tired of trying to talk to her by leaning out the window.

I stand in front of her, stopping the furious woman in her tracks.

I look down at her, before saying, “It’s not my new book, it’s just a journal I started about my feeling for you. I’m a writer. I write everything down.”

It felt wrong lying to her about this, but I didn’t want Avery to stay mad at me.

“Please trust me?” I continue.

“Why should I trust you?” Avery scoffs, anger still oozing from her words.

“This is why,” I tell her, before leaning down.

Before I can stop myself, our lips connect. It’s like an explosion of fireworks and passion all at once. It was everything I had imagined and waited for and more.

Avery let out a small gasp against my lips, the sound getting lost between us. I let out a small noise myself, bringing my hands up to cup her chin, and deepening the kiss. I angle my head and Avery does the same.

Her body is so much smaller than my own, causing me to have to lean down to reach her and for Avery to stand on the balls of her feet. Her body is now pressed against mine, the curves so soft against my muscled frame. We kiss for another moment, before we both pull away for air, gasping.

“Wow,” Avery says, licking her lips.

“Yeah, wow,” I agree, still breathless from the heated kiss. A goofy smile is etched across my face but I don’t even try hiding it away from her.

“So…”

Avery looks up at me, and slowly a grin appears on her face. Know I know she isn’t angry at me anymore.

“You’re right,” she begins. “We should go back to your place and talk.” I teasingly lift my eyebrows up and down with a sly smile.

Avery scowls and me and smacks me across the arm. “Not like that!” she cries.

I let out a laugh, a real one. I had not laughed like this in a long time.

“Let’s go,” she nods her head towards my car and begins walking.

“Wait!” I say, lightly grabbing her arm. “One more thing.”

I lean down and lightly kiss her again, before straightening up and smiling. What can I say, kissing her was amazing and I wanted to do it again and again.

“Okay I’m ready,” I chuckle. “We can go now.”

She blushes, but follows me to my car quickly.

****

The trip back home took awhile, for it was getting late and very dark. Not that many people were on the round at this time of night, causing us to stop every once and a while for a light, irresistible peck.

Once we get to my penthouse it’s like the atmosphere is different, fresher than usual. It’s like ever since I kissed her, everything seems… better. I don’t know why I feel this way, she’s just a random girl I bumped into, but now she seems like a lot more.

For once in my life, someone actually meant something to me. And you know what? I liked this feeling. It made me feel light and free, almost light I could float instead of walk. I finally understood the expression ‘on cloud 9.’

I see Avery looking around anywhere but at me. Does she regret kissing me? I know she isn’t feeling what I’m feeling, otherwise she would be sitting near me, touching my arm or hand, or even sending a smile my way.

She was currently sitting on the couch, so I head over to her with the freshly heated bowl of soup and hand it to her. She takes it and quietly begins to eat with the spoon I brought over. I sit myself down next to her, and hesitantly rest my arm over to rest on her shoulder.

After an uncomfortable moment, Avery lightly shifts her body towards mine, so her side is lightly touching me.

I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. 

Did this mean that we were okay?