Avery’s home.
The entire house is dark, save for the lamp in the corner of the living room. I swing my legs onto the floor, and that yellow flower-stitched blanket falls to the ground. Something warms me on the inside at the thought of Avery sneaking in to throw a blanket on me. I spot a dribble of water on the hardwood floor. Somehow she managed to water the plants and toss a blanket over me without me noticing. It’s sweet. And very Avery. But part of me wishes she had chosen that time to be her typical wrecking ball self. Waking up to see her standing over me is exactly how I want to be woken up. I can’t help but wonder where Avery was tonight. I also can’t help but feel a little stupid for expecting her to be home waiting for me.
Yawning, I shuffle my socked feet over the splatter of water to soak it up and trudge upstairs. Sleep circles back to me, and I collapse on my bed, immediately passing back out. Thank God tomorrow is a rest day.
When I finally pry my eyes open, I’m lying in a pool of my own saliva. Dang. That kickoff game really took it out of me. Sun slinks through the cracks of space around my curtains. I check the time on my phone and realize I forgot to charge it. I put it on the charger and make my way toward the bathroom to brush my teeth after forgoing it last night. It’s not a habit or anything, I was just too tired.
My phone pings when it has enough juice, and I spit in the sink and rinse my mouth. When I unlock my phone, I see a new message from my mom.
Mom
Great job tonight. Wish we could have been there. Johnny said that personal foul was crap
Me
Thanks, but it was a late hit
I know what Johnny is doing. It’s what he always does… tries to bond with me by hopping onto my side. I know he means well, but I’d rather him be honest rather than trying to win me over. If that ever happens, it won’t be because he makes some bogus claim like a late hit call was crap. I’m self-aware enough to acknowledge when a foul call was warranted.
I pull open my curtains, knocking into something on the floor. It teeters and topples over in the shadowy room, the sunlight illuminating it as I bathe the space in light. It’s a dead orchid. I’d forgotten it was there. Plants in the house are a new concept in general, but they usually live downstairs. This one is up here because it was in a bad way. It looked a little sad one day, and I thought maybe I could—I don’t know—impressAvery by saving it. So I poured some coffee into its soil because I vaguely remember her mentioning it being good for plants. Well, it must not be because the whole thing withered. Then I panicked and hid it in a corner of my room. The worst part is, if what she was saying the night we danced together means anything, I think she knows.
I let out a long sigh. I have to replace it. As much as I prefer not to leave the house much the day after a game, the plant store is calling my name. By the time I finally get around to leaving, it’s almostnoon. I stop at The Bean Canteen for a cup of coffee anyway. The coffee hits my empty stomach, and I immediately regret forgoing any actual sustenance. This is not what my body needs after a grueling game.
With Avery out of the house, I have to use my time wisely. I stop into McMurphy’s Home and Garden with one objective: bring home a new orchid to replace the lifeless one I’ve been stashing in my room before Avery notices. But for her to notice… she’d have to be sitting just so on my bed. A heat surges up my neck at the idea, and I quickly throw every rational, reasonable thought at it. My roommate doesn’t belong in my room. Despite the fact that I think I want her to be more than merely a roommate… That’s what she is. And she belongs inherroom. As I park the car and lock it to head into the shop, I play that on repeat to myself. Despite how attracted I am to Avery—and not just to her looks—she’s my roommate. She will stay my roommate. Because she and I getting scorched for starting some pro-ball-illegal relationship is the last thing we need. Avery doesn’t deserve that. This is her dream, and I care too much about her to let either of us ruin it.
The last time I was here feels like forever ago. It was the night before I convinced Avery that I was right, that she shouldn’t be out on the street alone. If I ever said the “I was right” thing out loud—at least to her—I can only imagine what kind of vengeance she’d exact on me. Probably something fiercely cute and not nearly as harmful as she’d intended. I smile as I think about her, and then it’s like my mind has manifested her itself... because the bells on the door tinkle, and then she’s staring right back at me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AVERY
“Hi!Welcome to McMurphy’s Home and Garden. Can I help you find something?” I sound shrill and too-cheery, and I can’t stop.
Why is Ty here?
Lunch with Larissa, finish the rest of my workday, practice dance with Ty. Sleep. That’s my agenda for the day. Why does he have to go and interrupt it? Running into the last guy I’m supposed to be seen in a room with was not in the plans.
I scan the space looking for Mary. I wonder if she’s lurking nearby, but the blood pounding in my ears won’t let me focus on anything but the fact that Ty Brewster is gawking at me. And he looksamused.Something about that ticks me off a little. And then I immediately feel bad for getting so angry about… what? He’s a free man. Ty can come and go as he pleases.
As he stares at me, hands shoved deep in his pockets, I can’t help but wonder if he’s here for me.A hopeful flutter starts in my belly, working its way up, up, up, until it settles in my cheeks. My skin heats. He cocks his head but doesn’t say a word.
“What are you doing here?” I try to keep my voice low and my tone light. Like he’s any other customer. I scan my surroundings. Only a couple of people mill through the store, and neither of them are staring in an accusatory way. Though one seems to recognize him if their awestruck expression is any indicator.
Fantastic.
Ty leans in, lowering his voice too. “I’m following you.”
I gasp.
He laughs. “No, I was, well?—”
“That’s him,” some dusty old voice speaks up.
I turn to see Mary approaching us, cane in hand, a finger pointing in our direction.
“He’s the one that forgot his money.” She sniffs hard before continuing. “Give this monstrosity his change then take your lunch break.”
Ty looks from me to her.
