“So, how are things going with that girl you were talking about? You never said much about her. Any progress?”
Avery took a deep breath and seemed to steel himself. “Some. I’m kind of crazy about her but I’m just waiting, I guess, until the right time when I know she’s ready.”
Hailey tried not to react to him saying he was crazy about someone else. She was hoping her face didn’t show her disappointment. They were still friends. She could still be a good friend.
“Well, have you guys hung out at all? Any dates?” Hailey was not excited to hear the answer but she had to remind herself where things stood.
“We’ve hung out a few times but usually in a group. But, I think I made some progress when she asked me to go to a wedding with her and I did.”
Hailey chuckled, but on the inside she was dying just a little bit. “Really? Damn, you are a popular wedding date. Um. How did it go? Did she … did it work out?”
“I’m not sure. The night isn’t over yet so I’m hoping I still have a chance.”
22
HAILEY FROZE AND TOOK a moment to replay what he just said in her head. He … no way. She was the girl he was crazy about? Was that even possible? Hailey turned away from the desk where she was gathering her pile of bobby pins, the ones she was already holding dropped to the floor, and looked Avery in the eye.
“I … what?”
He looked a bit bashful and red was climbing up his face but he took another deep breath, nerves showing.
Eventually, his face cleared and he looked at her like she was the answer to a question he’d been asking his whole life.
He stood up from the bed and closed the space between them. She was now just inches from his chest, a chest that was practically heaving with the deep breaths he was taking.
His eyes kept darting from Hailey’s lips back to her eyes.
“Avery?” She couldn’t manage to say anything else and just looked at him with a perplexed expression on her face.
He licked his lips and it was obvious he was trying to rally up some courage. “Hailey, you're one of the best friends I've ever had, but I've always wanted more, and I think you do, too.”
Now Hailey was the one breathing heavily, blood rushing away from her head and leaving her a bit lightheaded. She licked her own lips and brought her hand up to scratch her head, having no idea what to do next.
“All I can think about is kissing you and being with you. I know you’ve been through a lot the last month or so, and I don’t want to, I guess, pressure you into anything, or especially try anything without you wanting it. But, I need you to know that I’m here and I’ll wait for you if you need me to, if you want that. If you want … me.”
Hailey took in everything he said. He didn’t want her to feel like he was forcing himself on her at all. He wasn’t about to do anything without her permission. Unlikehim.
She continued taking deep breaths, looked down at her feet to get her bearings, and tried to remember this was real.
When she looked back up at Avery, all that was on her face was determination. He gave her a soft smile.
Hailey brought a hand behind his neck and pulled his mouth to hers, while her other hand slid up his chest to land on the side of his face. There was nothing soft about it. Avery’s eyes widened before he closed them and returned her kiss. His hands reached around her back and he pulled her as close to his body as he could.
His hands slid up and down her back, one made its way into her hair as he ran his fingers through her soft curls and held her mouth against his. Not that she was going anywhere.
Hailey’s hands made their way down Avery’s chest, skimming across his pecs and reaching his washboard stomach. She continued moving them until they were rubbing up and down his back, into his hair, across the waistband of his pants.
He pulled away from her for a moment, both of them panting. He pressed his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes with a need she had never seen before. She got lost in his eyes, swimming in the blue and feeling like she was floating.
His hand came to her cheek. “I’ve been wanting to do that for so long.”
Hailey blinked back some tears, feeling happier than she’d felt in forever. “Me, too.”
“Tell me what you want. I’ll give you anything, but Idon’t want to take anything from you unless you’re okay with it.”
She smiled up at him, bringing her own hands to Avery’s cheeks and stroking them with her thumbs. “I want you. I’ve always wanted you. I’m all yours, Avery.”
A bright smile settled across Avery’s lips, but he was still reserved. “Are you sure?”
