Now, he was trying to win me over? Why? Was he scared?
Good.
“Do you want me to clean up?” Nina asked Avery.
“I’ve got it,” I said, keeping my focus. “Why don’t you two go enjoy the party?”
“I’ll meet you guys in the kitchen.” Avery settled between me and her friends, placing her palm against my chest. “I’ll be right there.”
Zayn stared at Avery’s hand until Nina looped her arm through his and pulled him out into the hall.
Avery spun and faced me, reluctantly dropping her hand. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say, you were a little protective just now.”
“Do you?”
She sighed. “Do I what?”
“Know better?”
“I thought I did. But between that guy Wesley, who you beat up out by the pool, and the way you were looking at Zayn…well, can you give me a better explanation?”
I gulped. She was calling me out for something I didn’t understand myself. The only thing I could think to do was avoid it.
“Did that guy really kick you out of his place?”
“I never said he kicked me out. And you didn’t answer my question.”
Dammit.“I mean, he still seems pretty hung up on you.”
“Liam, answer me,” she insisted, stepping closer.
Panic danced across my shoulders as she kept her eyes locked on me. “Who the fuck dresses like that to come to a party anyway?” My voice faltered, making her lips twitch.
“He only wears slacks when he’s been with his dad, Senator Westbrooke. He probably came from one of his events or something.” She arched her brow, still waiting for me to answer her.
But I was stubborn and enjoying this way too much.
“Let me get this straight. Mr. Polite and Handsome as Fuck over there not only has a senator for a father, but he’s also going to be a doctor,andhe’s a fan of my music?”
“He also beat leukemia as a child, volunteers at five—no,six—nonprofits in his spare time, has hours of community service under his belt, and has a perfectly straight and gorgeous co—”
“I get it! I get it!” I grimaced. “Damn.”
Avery giggled. “He’s single, if you’re interested.”
I shook my head, hiding a smile.
He must’ve really done her wrong because it didn’t seem to hurt her to say that. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen her cry or mope around the house since she’d gotten here. No woman got over a man that quickly unless he’d shredded every bit of respect she had for him.
Maybe he’d cheated?He seemed rather pretentious, and his father was a senator.
Maybe he thought she wasn’t good enough?
Ha.
That was a theory I couldn’t believe.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re acting like a protective brother or not?”
