Finding a friendship with Avery has been nice. Everything about her contrasts with me, and the past two months have been incredibly refreshing. But the termfriend dateis still something that needles under my skin, reminding me that that’s all we are. And all we ever will be. Neither of usis in a place where we should be dating, least of all one another.
“Wait. Aren’t the guys doing something to celebrate the win?”
I turn back to face her, lining up the tickets in my hands like they’re a pack of cigarettes. “I think some of them are doing karaoke, but I’m not much of a singer myself.”
“Because you’re a dancer!”
A laugh bursts out before I can stop it. “Sometimes.”
“Are you sure you want to go?” Her smile falters. “What if we see someone we know? What if someone recognizes you?”
“What if someone recognizesyou?”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. You play for the Kings. No one would even notice I was there, even if my head was on fire.”
“Weird thing to say, but I guess it isn’t out of the question if the chicken piccata incident is any indication.”
“Ty, you’re so funny,” she says as flatly as she can muster.
“All jokes aside, it’s a masquerade, right?”
She nods.
“So we wear masks, just like everyone else. We’ll blend right in. And I can call for a driver so we don’t have to take either of our vehicles.”
She tilts her head, her adorable nose scrunching as she smiles. “I did pick out the most gorgeous mask for Ryan.”
Right. I’m standing in for Ryan tonight.
He may be out of the picture, but this is just a reminder that it was never supposed to be me taking herout. I steel my face as I wait for the wave of jealousy to subside, and it does when she adds, “You’ll looksomuch better in it though.”
My breath snags at the sentiment as Avery moves on like her words meant nothing. Maybe they did to her.
She glances at the stovetop clock and bolts to her feet. “If we don’t start getting ready, we’ll be late.” She scrambles around the kitchen gathering the most random things—a toothpick from the cabinet above the stove, some super glue from the junk drawer, and a bottle of water from the fridge. A warmth unleashes in my chest. She’s just so at home here. It hasn’t been long, but we’ve built a little life here together. Something domestic, intimate, but mostly unexpected. It's the type of thing that makes me want to risk everything just to be able to hold onto it for a little bit longer. To keep Avery a little bit longer.
“What are those for?” I ask.
“These?” She shoves her open palm in my direction. “I broke the necklace I was planning on wearing. Long story.”
I watch as her lips press into a tight line and her eyes squeeze shut. Whether I ask or not, she’s going to tell me the story. At least the Cliffnotes. “I got overstimulated and threw it against the wall.”
I cock my head. “Overstimulated?”
“It’s the ADHD.” Her eyes crack open as she forces a limp grin. “My mom called earlier, complaining about my sister, and she was yelling over whatever hammering my dad was doing in the background. I think he was hanging pictures. I should have just shut my music off, but I was trying to check my client emails and also listen to my mom. And she kept talking over me, and—” She shrugs, liftingher hands so I can see what’s in her palms. “I have glue and a toothpick to spread the glue out. ”
“Smart.”
“Thank you. Please don’t think I’m crazy.”
“I don’t. Overwhelm happens.”
“Thank you.” She pushes past me. “I gotta get ready. I have to do my hair, find my shoes?—”
“Leave your necklace in the stairwell with the glue, and I’ll fix it while you get ready.”
Avery stills, and when she turns to face me, her eyes are big and round. And I think a little watery?
“Thank you. I was trying to figure out how I’d have time to do everything, and?—”
