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His expressiono back to drea to school You’re sober And you have a purpose for why you’re here, if you can ever figure it out

But what if it’s here?

As Tristan opens histo say next I never get to find out though, because he unexpectedly lets out a fake cough Seconds later, Nova and Quinton appear beside us, looking drained yet happy

"Hey Avery," Nova says while Quinton gives me a small wave that I return

Then Nova focuses on Tristan "We were going to head back to the hotel and get cleaned up to go out"

"Shit, what tilance up at the sky, which is neon pink from the sunset

"Five-thirty," Quinton says as he looks at the clock on his phone, scratching at a long, rough scar on his chest

"Shit" I unbuckle the tool belt and toss it on the ground "I’m supposed to be to work in half an hour"

"Where do you work?" Tristan asks "At that Vibe place still?"

I nod distractedly as I text Jax "Yeah… that’d be the place"

Me: Running late Will drop off the car ASAP Things going to be okay?

I feel bad that I have to ask Jax and again, I wish I didn’t rely on him so much But I don’t knohat else to do

Jax: Yeah, everything’s good here I’ll hold down the fort

When I look up froo out for the night, but his attention is fastened on ht up in the wonders of the opposite sex and the inner workings of their minds

"See you to I could stay behind with the fun But at the salad I have a life to run away to

And that’s what I hold onto thirtyup to work late Thankfully et too upset

"You doing okay, Avery?" He motions for me to come into his office

I don’t really want to talk to him, but at the same time I did show up late so I step inside "Yeah, I’m fine Why?"

"You just seem distracted lately" He sets a stack of papers aside on his cluttered desk and leans back in the swiveling chair, putting his hands behind his head "Is it about the dancing thing? Because you don’t have to do that You just won’t get a raise if you don’t"

I like Benny and everything, but lately he’s been irking"No, it’s not that I just Well, I’ve had a lot of things going on"

His hands lower to his lap "It’s not Conner, is it?"

I shake my head "No… I haven’t heard from him in three months"

"Good" He nods then rises fro, you can always come to me"

"I know" But I never will Not with the way he’s looking at ht now--like he wants to ripand in another life, I probably would consider dating hiuys rule and unlike Tristan, Benny isn’t te that rule

He rounds the desk towardto stay late to do the books?"

"Maybe," I say and when he frowns, I add, "I was actually thinking about doing it tomorrow Today has been an off day and I really need to catch up on soer down the side of ood way "Well, let me knohat day and I’ll make sure to stay late with you"

This isn’t the first time he’s touched me like that and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but I can handle it because I don’t want to have to find another job that fits with ht, I will" I leave the office then duck into the bathroom to take a quick paper towel bath to try and clean myself up so thatout of the bathroom, I look at my reflection in the led bun, my makeup nonexistent, and my shirt has a stain on it My messy appearance makes it easier to remindelse

Nothing ain

And I’o out to the counter and Charissa pulls me aside

"I’ to anyway," she says with a heavy sigh "Conner was here… and he was looking for you"

Chapter 10

This is Reality This isout with Avery, joking, flirting It’d been a long time since I had a day that uncomplicated In fact, I’ that si and just like that, the shittiness of the night starts as s

Always does

"Tristan, I need you to co at the table in the motel room with the blinds shut, the entire rooht now It’s super urgent"

"I can’t" It’s my typical response when she says this to me, always the same, stuck on auto repeat "And besides I was just out there less than a ain," she replies anxiously "Ryder needs you here e put flowers on her grave and then I wanted to do soure that you ht have an idea Like maybe you could make one of those vases you used to do in art class"

Those vases she’s referring to were actually pipes but I’e "I don’t kno to make those anymore"