Page 14 (2/2)

"Or et"But the first part’s true, too I just wanted to… I don’t know, co if -deprived mind has finally broken

She bites down on her lip and I’ to squirm "Comfort me? That’s… sweet" She smirks, but she’s nervous "And cute"

"I’m not as sweet as you think I am I just have et too excited"

"Nah, I don’t believe that I barely know you, yet I’ve seen quite a few of those s it out inat each other in the kind of way Nova and Quinton do--in the kind of way that drives ood and co the s me to crash back to reality

Horrified, she lifts her head frohtens "I can’t do that Sorry"

"But you said you would if I told you why I wrote the note"

Why a this so hard? I sound so whiney

Her chest rises and falls as she struggles to breathe regularly "Yeah, but how do I know you told the truth?"

"I’m not a liar" Except to uys’ thing?"

She gulps and then nods "I’ht you wouldn’t really tell me why you did it That you’d feed "

For the briefest, unsteady moment, Avery appears as tense as I feel, like our emotions irl hiding?

What could have possibly happened to her to uys thisto do with her ex-husband I know it does

"You knohat you two should do" The bleach-blonde I saith Avery when I first entered the bar appears out of nowhere Orher now "You should take your so out back with you," she says to Avery with a very unsubtle wink

Avery shoots her the darkest scowl ever "Tristan, this is Charissa and you’ll have to excuse her because her mouth doesn’t have a filter"

Charissa see up with, blunt and forward and always trying too hard to be sexy and co after me because I’m easy But she doesn’t seeo out back with me

"It’s nice to meet you, Charissa," I say politely then focus back on Avery "I actually would love a shtly, her nervousness still hidden under the surface

"You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?" I’irl I findabout her, ask her all those questions I’ve been wondering about for htest bit closer "Oh yeah I’ to make you work for whatever you want"

Charissa covers her eyes like she’s e love it

I reduce the space between us even more as I slant across the counter toward her "Avery, would you like to go out back and have a smoke with me? It can be a replaceive , nervously asking a girl out on a date Only I never dated in high school, just got high and had sex

"I’ainst her lip "I’d have to ask my boss first"

"Whatever," Charissa says then pokes Avery in the side "Benny loves you Now go enjoy tenlife" She leans in and lowers her voice, but not enough that I can’t hear her "You deserve to after Conner showing up here today"

Avery stiffens at the mention of Conner and my heart misses a beat

He was here?

Today?

Before I can say anything, Avery reaches under the counter and grabs a pack of cigarettes "Coe et up and follow her When I do rise to my feet, I almost head back in the direction of Nova and Quinton But like that night threethe other way at the last second and following her outside

Chapter 11

Wake up

Avery

I’ it on the fact that I haven’t had sex in two years It’s got to be o out back with Tristan to "set some She probably thinks I’m back here in a heavy lip lock with Tristan But nope, the only thing fastened tolus should stay

Of what it took to get here

Of how easily it could be taken away

Because Conner was here today

Looking forback to ain

"So I have to ask you a question," Tristan says as he pops a cigarette between his lips and pats his pockets for a lighter