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I scratch hs "You’ll knohat I mean soon and, please, just don’t think any less of me… I need the money"

"You have me worried You’re not in any trouble, are you?" I can’t help thinking of Conner, wondering if this has so to do with hi et it later, and I hope it won’t change your opinion aboutthe conversation anddissipates

I think that’s when I knohen I realize Nova is right I do have deeper feelings for Avery than si I feel, the way I act, is greatly affected by her I’ve changed over the last couple of weeks in both good and terrifying ways because of her, which prettyfor a girl on’t reciprocate ain, I know I’ht back to that place where I’ll be broken again

Chapter 25

Welcome humiliation

Avery

Everything was going great until I stupidly asked Tristan to the beach, acting about as nervous as a sixteen-year-old girl who’s never been on a date before And it’s Friday night, so h the roof because Friday night is dance night

God, I hate dance night

"He’s quite the charmer, isn’t he?" Charissa ambles up to me from behind the bar and stuffs a sister "I think you like his char at hiht, popfro hot and heavy The air is ot a line of i a little slower than normal thanks to etting too overwhelmed I promised I’d keep an eye on hi to do

"I alasses onto the countertop, pretending what she’s saying is a lie Because I have been really aware of hiirl cohirandtastic idea at the tierously closer And I feel like I’ain

Down

Down

Down

The

Rabbit

Hole

Stupidly returning to dreaood

And don’t break ive them my heart

And they won’t shatter it

"Yeah, you are And I notice how much you smile around his dangling over the edge She’s dressed to draw attention--her blonde hair in a high ponytail, her smoky eyes seductive, and her lips a fiery red Her strapless dress leaves little to the ih "I’m pretty sure I’ve never even seen you sht when he showed up here"

"I real sue "Tristan just jokes around a lot with s, the guy who ordered the shots zeroes in on them "That’s such bullshit You two so want to rip each other’s clothes off I can tell"

I grab a top shelf tequila, twist the lid off, and tip the bottle to fill each shot glass to the briirls can be just friends"

"Yeah, but friends don’t kiss out in the alley"

I place the bottle on the counter and glare at her "Hey, I told you that under the assumption it would remain confidential"

"I didn’t tell anyone," she pro out that you did kiss, and you said it was a hot but forbidden kiss"

"Forbidden being the key word As in, it never should have happened"

"Forbidden doesn’t , Avery It justannoyed by this conversation"

"Fine" She swings her feet onto the counter "But answer uy in two years, never shown any interest in anyone until he"--she points in Tristan’s direction--"shows up You have to ask yourself why? Why hiht I al Tristan has started to settle that overpowering coreater in this life "He’s just a friend"

"So lame And a lie" She stands up on the counter, the top of her head grazing the shelf above "Now get your ass up here and jointhe shots hands me some cash

Charissa puts her hands on her waist as she juts out her hip "Avery, you promised Benny you’d do it one tiht, and in return, he gave you a raise"

She does it three tiht with the other taitresses for entertainment purposes, but really, it drives the h the roof Me, I freaking hate it and refused to do it for a year until Benny offered me the raise Then I shae then grudgingly clie et this show on the road" Charissa does this lasso gesture with her hand and the"Who’s ready to party?"

I can’t even look in Tristan’s direction I plaster a smile on my face and momentarily transfor their body for hter

It’s not like I’m a bad dancer I’ood as anyone else I’m dressed way less skanky than the rest of the waitresses, and I refuse to hike up the bottom of my shirt no matter how nity, but becauseto turn anyone on I do pull the elastic out ofouta red beanie hollers atcreepy assle

Then Irumbles and thumps My boots mark up the countertop with each step No one seeh, all eyes locked on us, enthralled The majority of the male population salivates and some of the females do too Other women hate us Some have envy in their eyes I wish I could trade places with those woht not want to be rohen souy yells at me, "Yeah, take it off!"

Welco it, but with so me, I become painfully aware of just how ashamed I am

Maybe it’s time to find a new job If only it were that easy