Page 18 of Avenging Azalea

He slowly looked up at me and nodded. It wasn’t a confirmation of what I’d just said, but it would do.

We were flying to Portland tonight. Golden Oak Prep was expecting us.

George had a single backpack of clothes, a Yankees baseball hat on his head and a glove on his hand when he walked into the kitchen again. Neil gave him a hug, but George was tough, he didn’t cry.

When we stepped outside, I pulled out my cell and sent Fawn a text.

T: George is safe, and we are on our way to the school.

F: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don’t know what else to say.

I smiled.

T: You’re welcome. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow.

Putting my phone away, I got in the SUV, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I’d done something good. Something that made a difference. I liked it.

Chapter

Six

FAWN

THREE YEARS AND THREE MONTHS LATER

“What about this one,” Steph asked.

I looked over from the rack I was sorting through and made a face.

“Steph…I want to seduce him, not try out to be a stripper at one of his clubs.”

“I think it’s cute,” she said, shaking the bra that was basically a spaghetti strap with some fringe.

“It needs to be sexy and provocative but sophisticated like him, and no to the boots,” I said before she could suggest them. The thigh-high hooker boots she was ogling were definitely out of the question.

Three years. Three long years, I’d been waiting patiently to make my move. I was an adult, out of high school and in university, studying to be a veterinarian. That meant a promising career, and I was technically no longer his ward. We’d grown really close and I knew him as well as I knew myself. We laughed at the same jokes, loved the same movies and food and animals and…shit, who was I kidding? I’d never be good enough, but I was determined to try.

If I got shot down, then I would deal with it, but moving us from our current dynamic wasn’t because of a debt or anything like that, and I could’ve sworn that he was different this last year. Flirty maybe. I’d caught him staring at me, but he’d just smiled and asked if I wanted something like I was the one watching him. I swear there were heated looks. I thought. I hoped.

God, is this even a good idea?

“Stop overthinking. I can see it written all over your face, and you’re doing this. Besides, I just found the perfect outfit.”

Expecting my best friend to be holding up another insane ensemble, I turned to find exactly what I was after. A black lace one-piece with matching garter and stockings that was sexy but also very…Titus.

I took the lingerie and ran the material through my fingers. Nervous butterflies erupted at the thought of walking into his room wearing this sweet little number. I bit my lip as my body heated.

“And you can pair it with this.” Steph handed me a silky black robe. “Oh, and those, you have to buy those.” She dashed away and came back with black high heels that would look amazing with the outfit.

“Oh my god, am I really going to do this?”

Steph grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

“Yes…yes you are. Girl, you’ve been in love with him since we became friends three years ago. You haven’t dated anyone despite the interest. You’ve been waiting for this day and have it planned out perfectly. You’re doing it. Once and for all, you’ll either move things forward or move on. You can’t keep living in a dream world and hoping that you’ll one day be together if you’re not willing to try.”

“I hear you…I do, but….”

“There are no buts. Tomorrow is your nineteenth birthday, and Titus always does something special for your birthday. It’s the perfect time. He won’t be working, and you’ll be alone,” she said, suggestively wiggling her hips.