Reality crept in like a thief in the night, quiet, invasive, devastating. Her heart seized, then raged against her ribs. “And they’re all going?”
Olivia did that grimacing thing again. “All eight of them were until Bryce dropped out.”
Avery’s going to Greece. With the Sigmas. And not for the scenery.
“Listen,” Olivia said, “just because Avery hasn’t told you about the trip, doesn’t mean he’s still going. He’s different thanbefore you two…well, you know. And Maverick isn’t always in the loop. And what do I know?”
Five weeks should be enough.That’s what he’d said that day in the diner when she asked him how long their arrangement would last. He’d been so precise, so oddly specific. Not a month or two. Not four or six weeks, but five.
It was all coming together. The way he’d scrolled through his calendar. The moment he’d paused on that big block of blue. He’d planned their schedule right up to his trip to Greece.
“He’s going,” Jo whispered, the weight of the truth crushing the breath out of her.
“We should hang out together. Actually, I’d love for you to meet my friend Sasha. She’s the best. We could all shop, get a massage and a mani/pedi, and drown our sorrows.”
“That’s an enticing offer. I’ll be at my half sister’s wedding next weekend, but any time after that sounds great.”
Olivia drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “We should head back and pretend we’re having a great time. I do that a lot these days.”
“Me, too.” Actually, Jo hadn’t pretended lately. She’d been happy, with Avery.
They turned in unison and headed back toward the main room.
“I’m thinking about quitting and moving back to Dallas.” The defeat in Olivia’s whispered words fell flat and hollow in the silent hallway, competing with their spiked heels tattooing against the shiny terrazzo floor. “My dad has been bugging me to come back to the family business, and it’ll be easier to get on with my life if I don’t have to see Mav every day.”
“I get that.” If she had to see Avery every day, she’d never survive. On the other hand… “Why don’t you just tell him you don’t want him to go? It might just be the catalyst he needs to get off the fence.”
“Because if he wants to go, it means he’s not ready for us yet.”
Jo understood that, too. But at least, Olivia and Maverick still had a chance for anus. In her scenario with Avery, there wasn’t even a fence for him to climb, much less straddle.
Chapter Nineteen
Avery’s phone was blowing up again. More texts from his family, asking where he was. For all their complaints about his lack of patience, his family had less than he did, and right now, his was wearing thin as his concern mounted. Linc had yet to show up, and Jo was nowhere in sight.
He scanned the gambling tables again. He should never have let her go off on her own.
“Jesus, Preston, Gage was right.” Kade chuckled. “You’re fucking toast.”
Avery dragged his attention back to his friends. “What?”
“She’s been gone five minutes, and you’re like a lost puppy.”
I’m a fucking pit bull, and she’s got a stalker, so fuck you.
“WhereisGage?” Maverick asked, whether by accident or by design.
Avery didn’t care because he didn’t want to have that conversation right now.
“I haven’t seen him tonight.” Kade fed right into the change of subject. “He wasn’t on the course this morning either.”
“Anybody keeping tabs on him?” Avery hoped so because he’d been slacking in the friend department with all the shit going down with Jo. “He’s been wound a little tight lately.”
“I checked on him this last night.” Blaze winked at the congressman’s wife, rumored to be on the thirsty side. “He’s headed for Port A.”
“Are we talking about Vaca Rental Girl?” Avery could imagine Jo rolling her eyes at him, but honestly, none of the Sigmas knew her name. Not even Gage.
Blaze nodded as he stopped a passing server to trade an empty glass for a full one.
