Avery hadn't lied. She was competitive. Andy did drink too much, and Amy told enough embarrassing stories about the rest of the group that Spencer left the bar feeling he might as well have attended university with them. It was some time past midnight, but before last call, that the fun ended.
"No more trivia." Andy slurred to Spencer as Avery and her friends bundled the drunken man into a cab. "And no more pool! You'll make Avery an even bigger pain in the ass – she's impossible to live with as it is."
"Okay, you big idiot." Avery straightened and stepped aside as Raj and Amy loaded into the cab with him. "Make sure he gets home safe."
Raj waved to them as he closed the door and the cab pulled away from the curb.
"Well..." She turned to Spencer. The streets had quieted now, though the younger crowd still wandered the streets, filled with liquor-fueled stamina. "Thanks for coming out. I'm really glad you did."
"Yeah," Spencer began, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.
"Oh, God," A thought struck Avery and she looked mortified. "You must be exhausted."
Spencer shrugged. "It's alright." He may not have been used to spending his evenings in bars, but he was certainly no stranger to sleepless nights. "Can I see you home?"
"Are you sure?" She asked warily, reading the sleepiness in his face.
"Yeah, I – I insist." The doctor nodded.
A smile flit across Avery's lips.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing." Avery shook her head. "It's nothing."
She hooked her arm around his as they set off. His thin frame was warm, his voice pleasant as they chatted casually.
Spencer followed as Avery unlocked the front door to her apartment building, leading him into the narrow foyer. The building was silent, outdated, but welcoming. The wallpaper shimmered in the glow of the lit sconces as the décor attempted to recreate the glamour of a much earlier decade. They crossed the foyer. Avery reached her hand out, delicately pressing the button for the elevator.
"Thanks for walking me in." She said, turning to Spencer, fiddling with her keys.
"You're welcome." The corner of the young doctor's mouth turned up slightly, his eyes turning to the floor.
"Hey," She caught his gaze again as she stepped closer, lacing her arm around his waist as she reached her head up. He met her halfway. Her lips were soft as they grazed his. He deepened the kiss, his hand tracing along the nape of her neck. She sighed, her body instinctively pulling closer to him. The gentle pressure of his kiss sent her heart racing. She pulled away, catching her breath but staying close to him, her eyes closed. "Do you... want to come up?" She asked quietly in a dry voice, her fingertips tugging lightly at the lapels of his jacket.
Spencer exhaled, taken aback by the question. "I, uh.." His mind reeled, his thoughts speeding like a train. "Who's Nick?" He heard himself blurt before he was even aware of his voice.
Avery's eyes snapped to his and she stiffened. "What?"
"I mean -" He began.
"Who told you about that?" She asked, an edge of anxious panic creeping into her voice.
"Andy mentioned -" Spencer tried to explain.
"That idiot. I'll kill him." She muttered, pulling away from him awkwardly, and again shifting her keys in her hand. She swallowed hard, avoiding eye contact. "You know, it's really late. You – you've got to be exhausted." She stammered.
"Avery," Spencer began gently, reaching for her arm. She evaded his grasp as the elevator doors dinged open and she ducked between them quickly.
"Goodnight, Spencer." She said briskly, pushing the doors-closed button.
"Avery," Spencer sidestepped helplessly, watching her disappear behind the doors. In the split second before he lost sight of her, he thought he saw the woman brush a hurried hand across her eyes.
The silence descended again as the doctor was left standing in the empty foyer.
Spencer walked cautiously through the doors of the cafe, unsure of what to expect. Avery's call had been short and apologetic, asking him to meet her. He saw her sitting toward the back of the cafe on a window seat, fingers tapping against a nearly-full ceramic mug. Her face was drawn and anxious, her eyes scanning the traffic out the window.
"Hi." He said as he approached. Avery jumped.
"Hi." She answered shakily, nodding toward the other end of the bench. "Sit?"
Spencer lay his messenger bag on the floor near the bench and took a seat next to the woman, who took a deep breath.
"I wanted to apologize." Avery studied his face as she spoke. "For the other night. I... When you asked about Nick, I... I wasn't expecting -"
"Avery," The lanky doctor interjected mildly. "Andy shouldn't have said anything. You don't have to -"
"I want to tell you." Avery insisted. She took a deep breath. "I was involved with this guy – Nick – for a while... a long while, actually... It ended... not quite a year ago." Avery swallowed. "He... It wasn't... a good relationship."
Spencer listened as she struggled with the words, her fingertips rapidly scraping against the coffee mug. Avery chewed her lower lip and continued.
"Have you ever..." She looked out the window, desperately hoping to find her thoughts in the passing traffic. "Is there any part of your life that... that you look back at, and... you just... you hate everything about who you were?"
The question took him off guard and he studied Avery's expression. It wasn't the explanation she wanted to give, but she seemed unable to elaborate.
"I... I had problem... with narcotics." He found himself saying. "Years ago. I... it's a long story, but..." He trailed off.
Avery sat in silence.
"I'm sorry." She said at length. Spencer looked at her, rolling through all of the possible meanings of the phrase, and seeing all of them in Avery's green eyes. He leaned forward, pressing his lips gently against her forehead. She sighed, her hands calming and her body relaxing in relief.
"I really quite like you." She said simply as he pulled away, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "Coffee?"
"I'd love some." Spencer smiled.
