Her date reappears, sliding in next to her, and effectively wiping my smile away. Every now and then he’ll put an arm around her, drop it, talk to someone in some over-animated way, repeat. There’s a grin glued to Avery’s face, but I’ve seen enough of her smiles to pick up on the nuances of each one. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I’m fairly certain this one is tighter at the edges. She’s not relaxed with him, and it only grows more strained with each brush ofRyan’sarm.
We come in third for the trivia tournament. The guys are pretty competitive, and most of them are disappointed. Avery is still riding the high of gaining extra points through her bonus trivia answer that boosted us from fourth to third place. If anyone at the table was going to get Lena Lux lyrics right, it would be her. I’m pretty confident theguys would have gotten that one wrong had she not been here.
Someone approaches Ramiel from a nearby table, phone in hand, asking for a photo. He agrees and invites me to join. Once the picture is snapped and I turn back to face Avery, she’s no longer there. And neither is Ryan. My eyes lock on her empty seat, and as nonchalantly as possible, I twist around to survey the room. She’s nowhere in sight.
I grab my drink, pushing away from the table without a word. Dropping off my empty at the bar, my body flips to autopilot as I move through the crowded space. All I can think about is that Avery left. With Ryan.
I know she was on a date—allegedly—but the thought of them leaving together... My body tenses, and I duck into the dark hall outside the bathrooms. Why would she go with him? Avery isn’t mine—she can do what she wants—but she should at least find someone who appreciates her. Someone better than Ryan. I was only around him for five minutes, and he was intolerable. I press my back against the wall to let someone pass, inching further into the hallway, and then I’m alone again.
The DJ cues up his playlist, the upbeat tune an ironic soundtrack to the montage playing through my head. I squeeze my eyes shut as my imagination wraps me in a chokehold, casting images of possible scenarios behind my lids. Avery with Ryan holding hands as they drive to his place together. Ryan repeating to Avery the same inane jokes I overheard him telling our waitress. A sudden fire burns through me at the thought of Ryan leaning in, puckering those thin, dry lips as Avery reciprocates.
I recline my head back against the paneled wall so hard it finally stops the torturous slideshow. Pushing off the wall, I decide to end my wallowing and head back toward civilization when a loud creak and a crack of light emit from behind me, catching me off guard. I pivot to face it, and there she is. Avery stands frozen as the door swings shut, swatting her in the back. She hops forward, advancing toward me.
“Were you waiting here for me?” she whispers.
“No. I wasn’t sure where you went.”
“So you were looking for me?”
“No, I don’t make a habit of stealing women mid-date.”
She offers a smile that’s flatter than any of hers I’ve ever seen. “Well, stranger, you shouldn’t be here. Lucky for you, my date’s almost?—”
Some guy who clearly had one too many wobbles our way, yelling into a phone as he bumbles through the narrow space. I turn my attention to the floor, and Avery steps forward abruptly, her hands flying up to my abdomen to steady herself. Gripping her elbows, I pull us against the wall as he squeezes by, too out of it to even acknowledge us. My pulse spikes, a warmth covering me like I’ve burst into flames on the inside. Neither of us says a word until the door swings shut. Her eyes are lit up and locked on mine. We stay this way for a beat too long. I’m not even sure I’m breathing. She searches my face, and I let my gaze fall to her mouth. It would be so easy to close the little space that’s left… But she’s on a date. And we’re in public.
I let go of her, resting my head back against the wall as casually as I can muster, given my racing heart. “What were you saying?”
“What?”
“I told you, I don’t poach other guys’ women, and you were saying…”
Avery’s hands stay fastened to my middle, her voice dipping into a velvety whisper. “I was saying that my date’s almost over. And I was just leaving, but I’ll be home soon.”
My heart pounds in my chest. She called my househome. Of course, that is her home—for now—but still, it’s shocking how nice it is to hear her say it. I don’t know how to respond. I try to get a read on what she’s feeling, where she’s going with this, but I can’t. All I can think about is her hands. Their warmth radiates through my shirt, and I want nothing more than to bring mine to rest on top of them.
“What was that movie you told me you wanted to watch? The one based on that book you liked.”
“Project Light Years.”
“Project Light Years,” she repeats. “I’m guessing it’s not a romcom.”
My lips tilt into a grin. “No, definitely not.”
“No romantic subplot?”
I shake my head.
“Then I’ll need popcorn. Lots of it. And maybe some Milk Duds to pull me through.”
I cock my head.
She tilts hers in response. “You asked me to watch a movie with you.”
“I did,” I say on an exhale.
“Well, tonight’s the night. Movie night. Your place. When I get home.”
Drunky stumbles back out of the bathroom still yelling into his phone. To my dismay, Avery drops her hands.
