I sidestepped and put my hand on his chest. My eyes filled with warning. “Danny, step back.”
“I thought you hated him?”
Avery didn’t answer.
“You fucking bitch.”
“Danny!” I growled.
Danny stuck a finger in her face, and she looked like she was about to grab it and break it in half. “You have everything! Everything you could ever want!” Tic put a hand on Danny’s shoulder, but he shrugged him off. “Why him? Why did you have to fuck my best friend of all people?”
My chest tightened at the thought of having to decide between taking his side or hers, but the choice was getting easier. I didn’t like the way he was speaking to her, and I was a heartbeat away from doing something about it.
“You’re right.” Avery shook her head. “I’ve had the world handed to me. I’m selfish and spoiled. I get it. But you’ll never understand what it cost me.”
“Oh Jesus.” Danny rolled his eyes. “Seriously? You’re going to whine because Mom and Dad loved you too much? What? Being spoiled and privileged is too hard?”
Avery’s cheeks flamed as she folded her arms. “Do you have any idea how much I wish I could be like you? To make decisions that actually make me happy and not care what anyone has to say about it? You are living your fucking dream, Danny! You’re a musician and a successful one. Someone Dad wanted to be. And you did that all on your own. I have done nothing—NOTHING—that I’m proud of. Nothing on my own. I’m Mom’s puppet, and I hate it. It’s suffocating and lonely.”
Danny’s dark brows furrowed as he listened.
“I don’t want to be a doctor. I don’t want to follow in her steps. I was just too scared of losing another parent if I said no.” The heaviness of hearing her own words made her stop and take a breath. “Being with Liam was the first thing I wanted that I allowed myself to have despite knowing I shouldn’t. And it wasn’t out of rebellion or revenge.” She peered up at me. “I wanted Liam for myself. Plain and simple.”
I suddenly felt deprived of air.
There was a moment where nobody said anything as Avery and I stared at each other and Danny and Tic stared at us. I had the urge to reach for her hand, but Danny spoke before I acted on it.
“Wait, so you two aren’t just fuc—” He stopped himself before finishing, too disgusted with the idea. “You guys are…together?”
“No!”
“Absolutely not!”
I wasn’t sure which one of us had denied it first, but I’d never been so quick to repudiate something.
Danny arched a brow. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone here believed that.”
Avery and I exchanged glances, and I sensed a new challenge. It was awho’s going to admit it firstkind of look, and I was known to be quite competitive.
“Look, whatever. I’m not happy about it, but if you guys can keep it in stealth mode, like you’ve been doing…I don’t fucking care.” He barked out a harsh laugh. “I mean, I do, but I know no one cares for Hannah and me to be together, and you’re not assholes about it. Well, most of the time. Whatever you’re doing doesn’t come between us and the band. We come first. Always.”
“No. Of course,” I agreed, letting my shoulders relax.
“You won’t have to worry about it for long,” Avery said, dropping her eyes to the ground. “I’ll be gone in a couple of weeks.”
Her words were like another punch to the face.Two weeks? That’s all I have left with her?An ugly feeling snaked through me. I thought we both knew that once she left, whatever we had was leaving with her.
Danny nodded and then shook his head once. “Three weeks, man?” he muttered under his breath.
Guilt made my stomach turn.
“I’ll get Matt to get you some ice for that.” He pointed up at my face.
That was the last thing I’d expected him to offer. It didn’t hurt much, but it was probably going to leave a mark.
Tic and Danny headed inside, leaving Avery and me alone.
She tilted her head up at me and ran her finger along the healed grooves of my scarred brow. “It didn’t split back open, so that’s good.”
