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It’s been a week sincebirthday present happened Tristan and I haven’t taken things further, only sharing a few kisses and spending a lot of tietting more lost in him In us And, while it’s in no way like what I had with Conner, I fear I’ll lose ht the battle

Of falling too deeply

But with each breath

Kiss

Touch

I tumble farther

Into the unknown

Desperate to hold on

Yet desperate to let go

It’s Sunday evening In just an hour, I’ll be heading to the beach for rownup birthday party" as Charissa put it I’m nervous Excited A cluster fk of e Mason for the night, but for et Mason a spot in daycare three tihteen-year-old It’s going to kill , I’ve decided to ask Benny to start paying ested, at least until I get a new job I have a couple of interviews lined up over the couple of weeks, but I’m nervous, because they’re better than the other jobs I’ve had in the past One is for a er position at a restaurant and the other is for a secretary at a local dealership I’h to be considered for the positions and double-crossing ers that I’ll be able to handle a nine to five job I figure it won’t be any worse than my schedule now; the extra work hours can just replace the time I spend at the Habitat home, which will be finished up in a month

"So when should I pick you up?" Tristan asks as he strolls over to the bar counter Sundays are usually a happy medium beteekdays and weekends Today there’s a handful of the rowdier crew playing pool and a sh custoh we don’t have time to chat with each other too otten to converse, so I’ve yet to ask him what the hell was up with the randoht

"If you want, we can just leave from here," I say as I sweep the floor behind the counter "I broughtI just have to chat with Benny before we leave"

He props his elbows on the countertop and leans over to not-so-discreetly check outwork froainst the wall and start stacking the clean cups up on top of each other

"Good," he says straightforwardly "You shouldn’t be doing that shit for free"

"I know," I wholeheartedly agree "I just hope he sees it that way"

"Well, if he doesn’t, then you shouldn’t do it anymore In fact, I think you should tell hi work, but that you’re not going to dance on the counter any from a drawer below the beer tap "I need the money… But I did apply for a couple of jobs recently that don’t require shaking my ass I have a few interviews over the next couple of weeks" When he grins, excited for et hired for one of the to happen"

"Avery, you’re a s that shit In fact, you should have already been working somewhere else, somewhere better, and I’m sure there’s a ton of people that ant to hire you--a ton of people that ant you"

I’ about the job anymore

My hair veils my face as I wipe the countertop down "I’ve done so here doesn’t even co at the bar, then I will It’s probably where I belong anyway"

He sighs "Well,all of this behind you" He glances at the clock on the wall behind ht o"

"Wait, what car are we driving?"

"I borrowed Nova’s" He grins as he reaches over and tucks a strand ofto let you drive on our first official date, did you?"

"We’ve been on dates," I protest "A few of thethose lips are, how ht now "Hanging out at the motel and your house doesn’t count We’re never alone And astime with Nova and Quinton or Mason and Jax, we technically haven’t done the alone thing yet"

"It counts in my book," I say flatly as I put out a fels of peanuts onto the countertop "And I don’t have ently s you have to spend a bunch of tiive us tiht? Because that’s been driving me crazy"

The concern in his expression makes my stomach churn What could he possibly want to talk to me about that has him worried like that?

"I know and I’m sorry" His neck muscles work as he forces a luo through with it… So, please, will you leto back and talk to Benny real quick, and then we can hit the road Charissa’s been textinge’re headed out there She’ll probably only stop when I say we’re on our way"

"Okay, see you in a few," he offerson his heels But he spins back around and shovels a handful of peanuts fro to a smile then he stuffs the peanuts in histo need it"

Once he’s out of the bar, I tell Ta ready to leave Then I collect e upstairs, and rap on Benny’s office door I’ to have to use h, Benny calls reet hih I’m a bundle of nerves

He peers up from the stack of folders and ruffled stack of papers in front of hiht you were leaving for your birthday thing"

"I arip the handle ofcabinet and to the desk "But I need to talk to you about so first"

"Of course" He scoots the folders aside and signals for me to have a seat, so I plop my ass down on the leather chair in front of his desk "You can talk to h to clear ht to the point I think I should start being paid for doing the extra accounting stuff and payroll I’ve been doing for the last couple of months"