I bark a laugh, and she laughs too, the mood lightening once again.
“It can be a screwdriver, a chisel, a mini-crowbar to pry something open. It’s not just for butter anymore. It’s saved my butt too many times to count when I’ve manhandled something.” Her arms drop, and she takes a measuring breath as she unhooks the little claw and brings the necklace back up to her neck. She tries once, twice, and a third time to clip on the piece of costume jewelry before turning to me. “My fingers are on fire! You might have better luck.”
I nod, swallowing hard before inching closer across the bench seat that separates us. Her head lolls to the side, and I watch as her red-painted fingertips collect her curls, pinning them to the nape of her neck. I try to steady my grip as I grab both ends of the necklace and pull it around her. The tiny clasp is a hassle. My thick fingers struggle to open it, grazing her warm skin every time I attempt to latch it.
Avery’s lithe shoulders rise and fall with each breath as she patiently waits for me to coax the necklace into compliance. Finally, the clasp opens, I hook the eye, and it settles into place.
“Ugh. What a pain. Thank you.” She releases her curls, turning to me over her shoulder.
I’m hypnotized as I watch the way they fall back into place around her face.
Her gentle eyes appraise me before squeezing shut. “You’re gonna think this is so weird, and it’s okay if you say no… But I have vampire teeth.”
The snort that escapes me is less than attractive. “What?”
“I bought fake vampire teeth. They’ve never been worn, but you do have to glue them in.” She leans back, unable to bend from anywhere but the hip due to the structure of her top. Her chest rises and falls as she digs through some hidden pocket in her full skirt, and I can’t look away. “Found them!”
She gestures for me to hold out my hands, and I obey. A small black case drops into my palms. I pop it open, and inside are two pearly-white teeth—I presume made of resin—and a tiny tube of adhesive.
“I thought it might be fun to go all out,” she says quietly. “After reading that vampire book you suggested, I couldn’t resist.”
I suck breath in through my teeth, wanting to tell her no. If it were anyone else, I would. No questions asked. But it’s Avery. She’s excited, and I can’t bring myself to turn her down.
“Do it,” I finally say.
She squeals with excitement, inching closer across the seat. She grabs a little tissue from the box that comes with the tooth kit and instructs me to smile. “I know it’s hard for you, but show me your teeth.”
I smile again, the feeling no longer foreign since being in her presence so frequently. Something that once was such a rare thing now feels so natural with her near. Clearing my throat, I tilt my head back, flashing the teethmy mom forked over thousands to straighten once upon a time. “This good?”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say her breath catches, but maybe that’s my fiction-reading mind diving in too deep.
“That’s perfect,” she breathes, leaning in.
Swabbing my canines with a little cloth, she dries them completely before applying the tooth-glue. Her touch is slow and attentive, a slight crease forming between her brows as she concentrates. She’s so close to me.I study her face, admiring everything from her thick lashes to the curve of her lips. An impulsive heat curls through me, my fingers itching to reach up and run a thumb over her soft mouth. I squeeze my eyes shut, locking my hands to my sides before I can do anything stupid.
“Thanks for insisting we go,” she finally says.
My eyes squeeze tighter as I mull over my words. “Of course. I know how important it is to you.”
“You have no idea. But, Ty, I need you to hold still just a second longer. No talking.”
“Sorry.”
She giggles and applies another dab of glue to each tooth before her gentle fingers wiggle the prosthetics into place.
My pulse skyrockets at the way she touches my lips, and I wish desperately—silently—that it wasn’t just her fingers gliding over my mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
AVERY
Ty is beyond handsome.Every tiny movement, every unassuming breath he takes is mesmerizing. He’s beautiful. Impressive. A god among men.
Okay, Avery. Chill out, woman. You and Ty are friends. No successful friendship starts with one friend drooling over the other one.
And then he rubs his chin, his rough fingers scraping against the stubble he let grow out this week. My eyes trail over his perfectly symmetrical jawline, down his throat, and hone in on his muscular chest. The top few buttons of his shirt are loose, showing off the dip between his pecs. I have to bite my bottom lip to contain the screech that wants to escape. Ty is so incredibly attractive, and my hands are in his mouth. Which should be totally unsexy, but it isn’t because if Ty is involved in any capacity, it automatically makes everythingsexier.Especially since now I knowexactlywhat that mouth can do.
The memory of what will henceforth be called “movienight” dances through my head. After he left, I tried to memorize every tiny touch, every flourish of his tongue. Because that was the first—and last—time that will happen. So then why does touching him this way now feel like torture? I’mso closeto him, I could just...
