She waits to speak until he disappears. “I should probably go.”
She takes a step back, and I push myself off the wall, not ready for this exchange to be over yet. Something about it feels dangerous. And despite my better judgment, I like it more than I should.
“I’ll get the popcorn,” I say.
“Don’t forget the Milk Duds,” she adds, then turns and walks away.
She might have come here with someone else, but the way her skirt swishes as she fades back into the crowd is hard to ignore. I can’t help it when my eyes dip lower down her frame, slipping over her long, lean legs.
And then it hits me full force. Avery just planned our date. Is this a date? I feel like, of all people, I should know whether or not it is. I’m the one who asked initially, but she’s the one who stuck to the plan. If it were up to me, I probably would have talked myself out of it. Convinced myself it’s a bad idea. Which it probably is. And yet, I’m already on my feet, sneaking out the back door without another word to the guys.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
AVERY
I jumpout of my skin when the microwave screeches behind me. Leaping off the couch, I race over, letting the bag cool before prying it apart and dumping the popcorn into a bowl. Dolly sits below me expectantly, and I drop a few pieces onto the floor for him. He’s a popcorn fiend.
“Ready?”
I startle again as Ty sneaks up from the hall. Maybe “sneak” isn’t the right word. I mean, I did invite him to watch a movie tonight. Although the only reason I had the gonads to do it is because he asked me first, and there was something about being alone with him—even in public—that I couldn’t resist. I clear my throat, my nerves on edge. The details of our trivia night play over and over in my mind. Am I really that much of a pushover that I couldn’t speak up and leave? An insignificant night out with a guy is not important enough to compromise my career, so why did I stay? Why did I jeopardize everything I’ve sacrificed so muchto accomplish?
I turn and stare up into Ty’s big blue eyes, his warm, spicy scent filling my senses. Beyond how awkward it would have been to ditch Ryan publicly, this is why I stayed. Because despite living in the same house as him, it isn’t enough.Friendswill never scratch that itch. I need more than seeing him in passing within the walls of his baby-mansion. Seeing Ty out tonight—finding myself alone with him in that darkened hall—was like some cruel sort of torture. A brutal reminder that our little bubble isn’t real. That we both have completely separate lives out in the real world.
Ty arches a brow, brandishing a yellow box from behind his back. He smiles as he pries it open and dumps it into the bowl. I melt faster than the Milk Duds at the sight.
“You remembered,” I say breathlessly.
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s just candy,” he says, turning to the fridge to retrieve two glass bottles of sparkling water. The special flavored kind my mom always refused to buy when I was growing up. The kind that I’m not even sure if I like the taste of or not, but knowing the price, it makes me feel fancy. And sometimes a girl needs a fancy little snack. I watch as he cracks them open, his forearms flexing as he twists and breaks the metal cap’s seal.Stop being so hot, Ty.He could swat a mosquito, and I’d practically faint.
I know I should have left, but tonight served its purpose. Larissa was right, I needed to make a definitive choice about Ryan. After being ignored for half the night by him and running into Ty, it was clear. Ryan is not for me. Is it Ty’s fault that this is my decision? Maybe. Despite my completely unacceptable crush on my roommate,having the comparison of Ryan and Ty alongside each other was all I needed. When Ty talks to me, he listens. I know we haven’t often had the chance to ignore each other for others since we aren’t really supposed to be seen together, but Ty is too attentive to ever be like Ryan. So when Ryan walked me to my car tonight and asked if I wanted to meet up again soon, I told him no. I didn’t glue on some confusing, apologetic smile. Instead, I said exactly how I felt—that we’re incompatible—and the world didn’t implode.
And that was the end ofRy-Dawgand Avery.
“So are we going to pretend we didn’t both just publicly break our contracts?” Ty asks, grabbing two wine glasses from a cabinet. He smirks as he pours the bubbly water into each of them.
“I wasn’t going to say anything if you weren’t.”
“What were you going to do? Pretend like it didn’t happen?” He peeks at me over his shoulder. “Why didn’t you leave?”
“Why didn’tyou?”
He cocks his head back, leaning against the counter, amused. “Why do you think?”
“Because I’d get fired and you’d get slapped with a minimal fine?”
Slowly, he appraises me, and just before I lose my composure, he turns back toward our drinks. “That’s part of it.”
Partof it? My heart does a tap solo in my chest as I wonder what else influenced his decision, but before I dare to ask, he’s forging on.
“I do have cash to spare whenit comes to fines. I’d even pay yours if that’s all it came down to, but being fired…” He shakes his head. “You and I both know you’ve worked too hard to just let this go. It’s risky enough that you’re sleeping under my roof.”
“Ugh. You sound like a dad or something. As much as I appreciate your concern, let me worry about me.”
“I’m not worried about you, Avery. I’m worried about what you’d have to give up for…”
“For what?”
He chews his cheek. “For something I pressured you into.”
