Page 5 of Defend Her Heart

“I left it with my purse over there near the fireplace.” Avery points to a small table where a large cup is sitting beside a black, leather purse.

Swinging my legs over the bench of the picnic table, I stand to retrieve her things. But before I do, I lean down and whisper in her ear. “Don’t move, Aves.”

I don’t stick around to see what the use of the old nickname I used for her in high school does to her because, quite frankly, I’m a coward. The name rolled off my tongue so easily, it was already out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying. I probably shouldn’t have called her that, but there’s no taking it back now.

As quickly as I can, I rush to grab her things. Upon closer inspection, I see that her black tumbler has constellations etched all over it. A slow smile stretches across my face for the first time since I laid eyes on her today.

“Connor!” Sadie’s panicked voice breaks through my thoughts before I can go down memory lane. I jog over to the picnic table, worry consuming me.

Avery sits with her elbows resting on the table, her head in her hands, appearing to be doing some diaphragmatic breathing. I watch as she inhales a deep breath, holds it for a few seconds, and then releases a long exhale. Not wanting to interrupt her when she’s clearly trying to regulate herself, I slowly and quietly climb back onto the picnic table beside her.

Looking up at Sadie, concern is still written on every inchof her face, but she doesn’t say a word. She mouths,You okay?and I nod in response. Sadie removes herself from the situation, and I patiently wait until Avery is done with her breathing exercise.

A million thoughts are running through my head but I keep coming back to the same one.

Something is wrong with my Avery.

But she’s not mine anymore. And she would kill me if she knew I called her that, even if only in my mind.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Avery lifts her head from her hands and looks over at me. She flashes me a quick, apologetic smile, then glances away to avoid making eye contact with me. It’s rare to see Avery looking embarrassed and I know it’s probably killing her to look that way, especially in front of me. I slide her cup over to her and clear my throat, hoping to gain her attention.

“Here’s your drink. Can I get you anything else?”

Her head turns back toward me, and I watch as her eyes land on her tumbler. She reaches for it, gripping the handle with her left hand, and my heart nearly stops dead in my chest.

She’s not wearing a wedding ring.

I watch as Connor’s gaze lands on my bare ring finger then shoots up to meet mine. His hazel eyes are wide, full of questions, but he doesn’t deserve the answers to them. He doesn’t deserve to know anything about me anymore.

Our eyes stay locked together for a beat too long, my attention transfixed on the gold rings around his pupils that I spent endless nights memorizing as a teen. It’s been two years since I’ve seen him, and yet I could still tell you everything there is to know about Connor Smith.

Do not go there, Avery.

Shaking myself out of the painful memories, I grab my drink and take a long, slow sip. I’m pretending to rehydrate but really I’m trying to buy myself some time to recover after that near fainting spell so I can quickly make my escape and get away from this man.

I keep my straw in my mouth long after I’m done drinking and turn my attention to the party around us. Dozens of people fill the backyard, all of them laughing or talking with joyous looks on their faces.

The Green Bay Bobcats made headlines this past season after a scandal led to them firing their coaching staff and quitea few people in management. Ellie Montgomery was hired as the second-ever female assistant coach in the NHL, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely ecstatic to be working for the same team as her. She probably doesn’t remember me but I played against her my freshmen year of college. I shouldn’t admit this, but watching her dangle around my teammates was mesmerizing.

My eyes land on Ellie and a small group of women. I did my best to study up on the Bobcats staff when I was hired last week as the new play-by-play commentator for the team, but I’m having trouble putting names to faces. Connor must be watching me because I hear his smooth voice start to name the group of ladies I’m looking at.

“That’s Ellie, our assistant coach, Sadie, our health and wellness coach who you just met, Sloane, our head athletic trainer, and Katie, the new team psychologist.”

Not daring to look his way, I keep my eyes trained on the women when I respond. “It’s amazing how many women are on the staff here. I was the only woman on the Archers’ staff, and I was basically at the bottom of the food chain.” It’s impossible to hide the disgust in my voice at the last part of my statement.

Connor hums next to me.

Before he can comment on my pitiful confession about my last job, I ask him a question. “Are they treated well?”

When he doesn’t respond, I turn my head the slightest bit to catch a glimpse of him and notice his head is tilted, creases between his eyebrows as he tries to understand what I just asked.

Nodding to the group of women, I rephrase my question. “The women. Do the players and other staff members treat them with respect? I saw the article about that asshole assistant coach who got fired. I guess I’m wondering if there are other misogynistic men like him within the organization?”

Connor huffs a laugh under his breath. “Grayson? God,no. He’s the worst of the worst. And the team loves every single one of those women like they’re family. Because that’s what we are here in Green Bay. Family.”

There’s a hidden meaning behind his words that I refuse to decipher, but I can’t fight the feeling of loneliness that stabs me in the chest.

Back in St. Louis, I thought that’s exactly what I was starting: a family. Little did I know that was all a figment of my imagination. My eyes sting as tears threaten to form and I slam my eyes shut, forcing the unwelcome emotion down.