“Me, too.” Kade sobered a bit, but the fucker couldn’t resist one more jab. “Will we get another show tonight? ’Cause she’s like…your girlfriend now.”
Avery shuddered. “Fuck, I hope not.”
The server arrived with another round of beer. Avery hadn’t finished his first yet. The conversation had soured his stomach.
“Avery flies solo to these things.” Blaze sounded almost proud. “You know that.”
Gage grinned. “And still plays eenie meenie miny moe at the end of the night.”
They all nodded, and Avery ground his teeth. Not that they weren’t right. It was their mutual agreement of his predictability that grated on his nerves. Before he could stop himself, pride had him opening his mouth.
“Actually, you’re right, but you’re also wrong.”Thump, thump, thump, thump.“I won’t be solo tonight, but I don’t have a date. I have an arrangement.”
Maverick angled his head to look at him, jaw retracted, brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“Whatever it means,” Linc said, shaking his head, “it’s not going to work.”
Christ, could they mind their own business for five minutes?
“It means”—Avery scowled at Linc—“I’m compensating her for her time.”
Beer spewed from Bryce’s lips. He coughed and wiped his mouth across the sleeve of his golf shirt. “You taking a whore to meet your mom?”
“No.” Fuck, why did he have to open his big mouth? “It’s a business transaction. She’ll attend social events with me. That’s it. No strings. No expectations. No more Althea Rutherfords to disappoint. No more Mom breathing down my neck.”
Blaze frowned. “No more pussy.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Confidence in his plan sent a boost of adrenaline firing through him. “We’ll show up together and leave together, but in between, I’m free to scope out the smorgasbord—
“You mean charcuterie board,” Gage interjected.
“—of delights for an after-party party, with no one the wiser,” Avery continued, ignoring Gage. “Hell, I can even sneak off to sample those delights during the event if I don’t want to wait.”
“Like you did with Hilary Brant at Marcus’ engagement party.” It wasn’t a question. Bryce had thatI’m-making-a-pointface, though Avery had no idea what point he was making. And how did he know about that?
As if sniffing out fresh meat, Blaze shifted in his chair toward Bryce. “Who’s Hilary Brant?”
“Tits,” Linc answered for Bryce, who continued to stare at Avery, brow spiking higher.
Kade laughed. “And now she’s your stalker.”
Bryce gave him a smug nod, as if to say,“Point made.”
“Like I said,” Linc scoffed, “not gonna work.”
Blaze swiveled around again, eyes glinting. “I think it’s an excellent idea.”
“Is it just for one night?” Maverick asked, making Avery wary. Where was he heading with this?
Avery cleared his throat. “We agreed to five weeks.”
“Uh-oh.” Kade shook his head.
“Dude, you’re toast.” Gage shoved his mug, untouched, to the middle of the table. “Even if she doesn’t fall for you tonight, which she probably will, in five weeks, she’ll get to know that charming, loveable you, and just like all the rest, she’ll be a goner.”
“You don’t know this girl. I’ve already hit on her, several times, and she shot me down every time. She hates me, thinks I’m disgusting. We’re not even friends.” Sounded convincing. Still, a knot tightened in his gut. The last thing he needed was Jo catching feelings.
“Men and women can’t be friends,” Kade tossed out, echoing Nick’s sentiments from the night of Marcus’ engagement party.
