I shake my head. “The other week contradicts that, the whole one-night stand thing.”
“Because you fell into my arms, and then I got a look at those fucking eyes, and I was done for. Sucked in. And then you invited me back to your place.”
“Yeah, and then you left. That doesn’t sound like someone who is interested in more than just sex.”
He sighs a little. “I work out with your brother every morning. Besides, I didn’t want you to be upset that I was stillthere when you woke up. I didn’t want you to have to feel awkward.”
“Thoughtful of you,” I murmur sarcastically.
He smirks. “I’m a thoughtful guy, something you’d know if you gave me your number.”
“Not happening,” I breathe out because he’s looking at my lips. His own lips part, drawing my attention, and his breath fans my face on a slow exhale.
“You want to kiss me, don’t you, Avery?”
I bite my bottom lip and look away again. Crooking a finger under my chin, he tips my face back to his. Gently, carefully, he presses his lips to mine, and god, if it isn’t everything I could ever wish for and more. Definitely more. It’s searing straight into my soul and makes my toes curl.
He opens his mouth a little and brushes his tongue along my bottom lip, and I open for him, letting his tongue sweep against mine. A few more swipes and he’s pulling away, leaving me breathless.
Leaning his forehead against mine, he says, “I’m not the only one who is interested. I’m not the only one who feels the pull to the other. Don’t pretend otherwise, Avery. You know we’d be good together if you could just wrap your head around giving another guy a chance.”
And with that, he leaves, turning down the hall and heading back to the table.
CHAPTER 12
REID RATHE
Today’s classeswere long and grueling, and now that it’s over, there’s an extra drag in my step. Dustin, Jacob, and I are headed to Dustin’s apartment, and the thought of being so close to her is killing me.
The other night, when I returned to the table, Dustin was completely unaware. Ivy, on the other hand, knew exactly what I was doing. She knew I was going after Avery, but besides giving me a long, hard stare, she said nothing. I really am going to have to owe her for keeping my secret from her boyfriend.
Not going to lie, the lie itself is near torture, especially when I hang out with Dustin all the time. He knows I’m going after a girl, but he has no idea that it’s his sister. I can’t tell him either. Lord knows what he’d do if he ever found out that I had her pinned against the wall only a couple of days ago while he sat unaware at a nearby table. That’s one friendship I don’t plan on losing, and it would surely be in jeopardy if he ever found out.
I have no idea what this means in the long term. Especially if Avery ever decides to give in and date me, because he will find out eventually. Hopefully, by then, I’ll have a plan to drop the news carefully. Who knows, maybe Dustin will change his mind by then.
We pass by the courtyard, and Jacob tugs us in the direction of the taco hut. “You’re hungryagain?” Dustin says, exasperated. “Dude, seriously, we just ate two hours ago.”
He lets go of our elbows, and I say, “He’s always hungry. Just be thankful it’s not your fridge he’s raiding.”
Dustin chuckles as Jacob slides up to the counter and orders two tacos. He turns to us, his wallet out. “Want any?”
Dustin and I cross our arms and shake our heads. “Some of us don’t have bottomless stomachs.”
“It’s not bottomless.” Jacob scowls as he’s handed his tacos. “It just empties quickly. It’s called a high metabolism.”
I point at him. “I don’t want to hear it when you can’t squeeze your ass into your jeans anymore.”
Jacob swivels to look at his backside. “It’s a nice ass though, isn’t it?”
Dustin shoves him, nearly knocking the tacos right out of Jacob’s grip. “It’ll have its own orbit soon.”
Jacob, unoffended, unwraps a taco and takes a bite, grinning around a mouthful of food. “The chicks dig it. Just last night?—”
Dustin and I groan, cutting him off. Tightening the straps of my backpack while spinning and walking backward, I say, “We don’t need to hear about your fling. You talk about her enough as it is. Your sex life with her isn’t an image I want in my head, especially if it involves your ass.”
I turn around and bump into someone. They teeter to the side, and I snatch out my hands and grip their shoulders to keep them from falling over. “Sorry,” I immediately say. The girl looks up and pushes the hair from her face. “Dorothy? Oh man, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
Releasing her shoulders, I step back, directly in the center of Dustin and Jacob.
