Since I couldn’t come up with a good idea for a blog post, I thought I’d share a deleted scene from IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES. This was fairly early in the book, between Avery and her best friend, Taylor.
***
Avery had spent the last day and a half in a fog, barely aware of what was going on. It seemed every time she opened her eyes someone new was sitting in her room keeping an eye on her. Blake. Alec. Their mother Linda at one point. She even vaguely remembered a phone call with her own parents from on board their cruise ship, she’d passed the phone back to Blake before passing out again, or at least it felt like passing out. There was also a notion of thinking Josh had been beside her at one point, but she knew that had been nothing more than wishful thinking on her part.
When she rolled over and opened her eyes, she found her best friend Taylor asleep in the arm chair, a blanket wrapped around her as she dozed curled up in a ball, her dark hair piled in a messy bun on the top of her head. “Tay?” she whispered. Sunlight pushed its way through the curtains. The clock was still unplugged so she had no idea what time it was or even what day. “Taylor?”
Her best friend yawned, her eyes fluttering open. “You’re awake.” She smiled at her sleepily.
“How long have you been here?”
Taylor stretched and pulled her cell phone off the nightstand, checking the time. “I came in around seven. Blake went to bed. It’s two-thirty now.” She moved over to the edge of the bed and sat down. “You okay?”
Avery shook her head. “No.”
“Dumb question huh?”
“No.” Avery tried a weak smile. “Where is everyone?”
“Guessing Blake and Alec are around somewhere. They haven’t left. Linda’s been in and out. I’ve been here off and on.” She looked down at the cell phone in her hands. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up, I’m sorry, Aves…so sorry…” she glanced at her. “I wish I’d been able to be here…”
“It’s okay. You’re here now.”
“I am and if you need me, anytime, I’ll be there okay?” Taylor wiped her eyes. “Are you hungry? I promised your mom I’d make sure you were eating.”
Avery sat up, contemplating the mere thought of food. It didn’t make her feel sick. That was a positive sign. “Maybe in awhile. I’m good right now.”
Taylor stood up. “Oh, we put your cell phone on mute.” she walked to the dresser and picked it up. “Linda left you a couple messages, she thought you probably wouldn’t remember what you talked about…so…”
Avery took the phone. “My mind is pretty blank right now.”
“That’s what we all thought…so one order of toast coming up and I’ll be back.” She gave her a hug. “Love you, Aves.”
“Love you too, Tay.” She squeezed her best friend tight for a minute. She watched her leave and slunk deeper in bed. She propped herself up against the pillows and scrolled through her messages. She clicked on Linda’s. She had vague memories of her being there being there the day before and spending some time with her, but what was said was nothing more than a hazed blue. The messages were a reminder she was coming by that afternoon to pick some things up for Josh.
Immediately the lump in Avery’s throat grew as she reread the message again. She barely noticed Taylor sit down on the edge of the bed, setting the tray with the toast down beside her.