31
SHANE
Ihold out for three days. No texts. No calls. No unannounced visits to my dad’s house. I want to make contact with Avery the way I want water after a hard workout. But I don’t let myself have it.
Props to her too for restraint. It’s been radio silence.
Let’s see how long she holds out when we’re in the same house.
Declan confirms my family’s flight, and that his stepmother is picking them up from the airport. I book the next flight out of Boston. This way there will be no scene at the airport. Dec will pick me up on the down-low, and then Avery and I will be in a house together for days.
Just because I haven’t talked to her doesn’t mean I’m not caught up. I had someone get me the class standings from her e-commerce class. She took the top spot, which is unheard of for a freshman. I’m proud of her.
The flight to Colorado is smooth, and Declan’s waiting for me in baggage claim. We shake hands and exchange the usual greetings. On the walk to the car, the conversation’s casual, but when we reach his jeep, he shifts gears.
“Let’s stop and get a drink. I’ve got a problem I need to run by you.”
“Happy to help, but let’s just talk on the way,” I say. “I want to get to the house.”
He pauses, looking at me over the roof. “Did you come early to seeher?”
I could lie, but there’s no point. When I opted out of the triple-X celebration of my new membership in the Dark Knights, I told Declan the reason. There’s only one woman I’m interested in, and of course, Avery is not now, nor will she ever be, on a Dark Knights’ menu.
“Yeah, I want to see Avery sooner rather than later.”
Declan taps the roof. “Did you tell her that?”
I cock my eyebrow. “No.”
“Hate to tell you this, brother, but Avery didn’t come with Ethan and Sheri.”
“What? Why not?”
“I don’t know. They said she’s coming later.” Dec starts to get in the car.
I do not. “When’s she coming? Tomorrow?”
He stands again, looking across at me. “I don’t know.”
I take out my phone and call my dad. It takes a few rings for him to pick up.
“Where’s Avery, Dad?”
“Hey, Shane. Ave decided to hang out and do her own thing for a few days. She’s got an interview for the internship and wants to prepare.”
I go still. “Is she on campus? She’s not, right?”
“No, no.”
In the background I hear Sheri’s voice. “Don’t tell him anything. Remember what she said.”
Gritting my teeth, I scowl. Our parents’ interference is more than unwelcome, it’s a fucking blood pressure raiser. I try to focus on the more important issue.
“Dad, I don’t want Avery on campus alone. Not even during the day. She’s not planning to be in her dorm by herself, is she?”
“Easy,” Ethan says. “No, she’s not staying on campus. When she needs to go to Granthorpe, she’ll take my car. Before the interview, she has plans with friends.”
What fucking friends?“Who? Specifically.”
