My favorite.
Dollyboy mews and scratches at my bedroom door. I set my book down to let him in, and he sprints to his favorite sunny corner. It’s his third attempt at getting my attention, and I wonder if he’s lonely. Avery left again this morning before we could bump into each other. Our paths have barely crossed since the masquerade a few days back. After leaving the event, I expected there to be a palpable tension in the air, but there wasn’t. We came home, she told me good night, and that was it. I would have almost preferred that she yell at me for basically ruining our evening, but she never did. Out of everything that happened, I think my worst offense is that I didn’t kiss her before I came to my senses.
Like clockwork, my phone chimes. I head across the room to my nightstand to check the text.
Avery
Driving
Larissa coming iced huff
Me
Iced huff?
A minute or two passes by and another message comes in.
Avery
Larissa coming over. Hide
Hide? Avery is asking me tohidein my own house? As ludicrous as it sounds, I obey. Because I can’t help myself. Avery has me rethinking everything from the way I’ve decorated my living room to the way I view dating. She even has me rethinking cats. Me, a cat guy? Never. But Dolly may be the exception. He purrs and swipes his body against my shins aggressively as though he knows what I’m thinking. Without texting back, I spring from my bedside to the door, twisting the lock. Checking the clock, I note that I still have plenty of time before they expect me at the promo. So I perch by my window, shades cracked, hunched out of view, and I watch. Awaiting Avery. And Larissa.
Heart pounding as I stare through the spaces in the blinds, a new exhilaration bursts through me. I’m willing to do just about anything for her, but this hiding and keeping a secret thing… It’s a break from structure that I didn’t know I needed. Why does doing something I know I shouldn’t do feel sogood? The awareness that only Avery and I are in on it stirs up something mischievous in me. Sharing this secret with her feels naughty in a way that makes me want to pull her aside and teach her a lesson. Like I need a reminder of what her mouth tastes like, so I don’t absolutely lose my mind.
Shoulda kissed her at the masquerade, idiot. Avery would have died over being kissed at a ball.
It’s been occupying my thoughts for days, rearing its head at the most unexpected moments. And then I remember why I didn’t. Because the last time we kissed, she said it was a mistake. Whether I fully agree or not, I have to respect her wish to remain friends. No matter how muddy that label is at the moment.
Parting the blinds, I watch as the girls pull up and park in the driveway.Bold move, Avery.Ducking down, I press my back against the wall. I don’t know what Avery’s doing, but I trust her. Just like she said the other night, she has dreams to uphold. Things she’s worked hard for. Whatever fib she’s spewed to Larissa, I will go along with. At this point, there’s not much I wouldn’t agree to if Avery asked.
The girls make their way into the house, and I can hear them echoing through the foyer, their giddy sounds making their way up to the second floor. My heart pounds in my chest as they scale the stairs one step at a time. They pause on the landing, discussing their next move. Larissa coos about how beautiful the place is, and I wait to hear Avery’s response.
“Yeah, the owner keeps pretty private, but I’m excited to be housesitting. Until taking this job, I’d never actually seen Soleil Drive before.” Avery laughs nervously, her voice waning as they make their way to her room.
Larissa replies, but they’re too far down for me to decipher the words.
Squeezing my eyes shut, my head tilts back against the wall beside the window. I stay like that for a few minutes before Dollyboy struts around me happily. I scratch his head, which appeases him for a moment, but then he’s moving on. He trots to the door, and I crawlafter him, as though standing would alert Larissa to my position. When he scratches it, I scootch him aside and prop to my knees to let him out. Twisting the knob, I pull the door open to a panicked Avery. She releases Dolly into the hall before diving inside and locking the door behind her.
Avery towers over me as I freeze where I am, crouched before her.
She leans down, lowering her voice, a smirk finding her full lips. “Ty, what are you doing?”
I swallow hard, taking in all of her.
Avery’s top is cropped, her pants are cut high. I can’t see her bellybutton, but the V in the front of her leggings teases that it exists just below its barrier. They’re fitted and dark blue, the Kings’ accent color. My eyes trail from her clean white tennis shoes, up the length of her long legs, over her fitted top, before landing on her face again. A sight that would surely bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already on them. She extends a hand to help me to my feet, and I grip it. Clearing my throat, I stand, gazing down at her.
“You didn’t knock,” is all I can muster.
“I was going to. I need deodorant. Apparently, I’m doing the promo today.”
“Nice. Same.”
She quirks a brow.
I back away, trying to decide how far I’m willing to push this. My brain surges, rifling through all the words I know. I want to say something charming, but instead the only thing that comes out is, “What do I get in exchange for it?”
“In exchange for deodorant?”
