Baby Stetson (Love and Music in Texas #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stared at it. Such a pretty, innocent face. If only she didn’t have to be dragged through a ton of shit. And he was the one that had to make sure it didn’t get out of control. Wrong person to leave that kind of thing to. Lucas always found himself in the midst of trouble.
    Sometimes, it seemed like it was the only thing he was good at. Trouble.

Chapter Four
    “So dear, how was your day?” Avery’s mother asked her when she returned to the inn at three. After a few hours with Laura, Avery had felt a little bit better. The nerves slivered down her spine when her mother seemed to be waiting for some kind of sign to talk about the letter. It was written all over her face. Avery knew that look well. Every time Mom wanted to know something, she’d start off with small talk, and her lips would form into a thin line. Occasionally her tongue would dart out and wet her lips. A habit Avery picked up herself. The nervous way she skittered around Avery. She wanted to know, but didn’t want to pursue the issue. Avery grimaced.
    “Not bad, I guess.” Breaking up with a lifelong friend, debating what to do with information. Sure, that made for a great day, didn’t it?
    “Did you have a good lunch date?” Mom peered at Avery through her bifocals. Her denim blue eyes had a worried look to them.
    Might as well start talking about it, instead of keeping it a secret. It wouldn’t be long until half the town found out anyway. “Not really.” Avery sighed, and flopped into a chair beside her mother. “Mom, Jameson and I broke up.”
    Her mother’s eyes widened and she gasped. “What? Why? Honey, I had no idea you were having problems. Are you all right? Is he all right?” She reached for Avery’s hand.
    Avery blew out a breath. This was going to be a long story. “It started a few months ago. I just tried to stay and make things work, even though my feelings changed. I’m afraid we might have ruined a long time friendship, and I don’t know what he’s going to do about the band. I’ve made a mess of things by not speaking up sooner.” She leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder, needing her more than ever.
    “Oh, Avery. I’m sorry. I bet you and Jameson will work it out, even if you don’t stay together as a couple. You’ve had such a tightly bound friendship for so long.”
    If only Avery had the same outlook that her mother did.
    “What was it you couldn’t handle?”
    “He cheated, Mama. Just once. He wasn’t thinking right. It was the night that his father passed away. He went back to help clear his parents’ house, set his affairs in order, and in what he calls a moment of weakness, let himself go with an old flame. Someone he connected with one summer. I chalked it up to him not thinking, but my feelings changed after that. I know he’s angry at himself, and the night he told me, he cried. I went weak and told him we’d be all right. But that wasn’t true. We weren’t and I’d been putting it off forever. I know it’s not fair to judge him, because he grieved so much, but I also can’t make excuses any longer. What I didn’t feel only grew stronger.” Avery’s tears fell, sliding down her cheeks.
    “Oh Avery. No wonder you’ve been in turmoil about this.” Mom ran her hand through Avery’s hair, something she used to do when Avery was younger to soothe the pain, the nightmares, or when she was sick.
    “Am I wrong?” Avery asked, reaching for a tissue on a nearby table and dabbing her eyes.
    “You can’t make your feelings about right or wrong. Sometimes, they are what they are. All you can do is sort through them and move on. It is what it is.”
    “I wish that helped, but I still feel so torn. Jameson is a good guy, he really is. He made a mistake, and I can’t seem to get past it.” Avery dried her eyes, balling up the tissue and holding it on her lap. If a guest walked in right now, Avery didn’t want to be a complete mess.
    “I know that. You know that. So maybe you need to