12. Avery
Chapter Twelve
AVERY
I found myself in a sprawling position on my bed, my phone pressed hard against my ear so I wouldn’t miss a second of his sweet and sexy voice. He wasn’t talking dirty to me. Not just now. Instead, he was trying to persuade me.
“I swear, Avery, I’ll send a carriage,” he said, chuckling.
“Again with the carriage,” I snorted.
Gray laughed. “It’s my finest idea and you keep saying no.” He was silent for a bit. “You said you loved Nolan’s trilogy.”
It was true. Bale was my Batman. Still, it was awkward to just show up for a movie marathon with him and Spencer and maybe Cole. It wasn’t exactly the gang I wanted to annoy more than I already had.
“Besides, we’re facing off in three days. Who knows if you’ll ever forgive me after I lead my boys to victory.” He laughed at that, but I didn’t bite the bait. We’d have time for banter later.
The door of my room opened and my ex-roommate pushed his head through. He lifted his chin in question and I nodded. Sawyer walked inside and shut the door, then sat on the edge of the bed that used to be his. He mouthed, I’ll wait.
“I dunno, Gray. You can have a night with the boys,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the gym.”
“I refuse to accept a no, Avery,” he announced, humor still touching his voice.
The tone he used stretched my lips into a silly smile.
It pulled my gaze from Sawyer to the window and the rose he had given me.
Old and collecting dust, I still couldn’t bring myself to throw it away.
I saw no reason that it shouldn’t remain dry and intact for the rest of my life.
As far as flowers went, that one was the first I had ever received.
But Gray kept talking. “I know you’d never guess it, but I’m a very stubborn guy when I want something. ”
A chuckle burst out of me. “It’s seriously not a big deal?”
“I promise,” Gray said. “Where I go, you go. That’s the deal.”
I held my breath. And held it. And held it until I couldn’t hold it any longer. Exhaling, I caved in. “Fine. I’ll bring a six-pack.”
“If you want to,” Gray said. “But I got us stocked already. My room. Four sharp. With bathroom breaks, it should take us until…Friday, I guess.” He laughed.
He wasn’t too far off. Three movies in a night was something I hadn’t done since high school, but winter days were short and cold, so a cozy night in his dorm room, probably wrapped in his arms in his bed, sounded like a great way to spend time.
Even if it involved someone who made it no secret I was intruding.
But maybe I was overreacting. Maybe it was a good way to smooth it all out. Gray would get the best of both worlds, keeping me close as he wanted and spending time with his friend.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said. “I’ll see you then.”
Sawyer was smirking although he was looking at the window rather than at me. When I hung up, his ears perked.
“How’s married life?” I asked him before he could tease me.
“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied. I walked right into that one. “But it’s good. Noah sends his love.”
“He could have sent those cookies he made last week,” I muttered.
Sawyer rubbed his stomach lovingly. “I was just down with the boys,” he said. “But you were missing.”
“Eh…” I shrugged. “Gray wants me to come over. Couldn’t say no.”
“Oh, but you’ll miss Sebastian and Tyler’s one-thousandth table soccer match,” Sawyer said dramatically.
“It’s their jubilee.” A chuckle escaped me and Sawyer grinned.
“It’s nice to see you laugh, A.” He shook his head.
“That right there, it’s the equivalent of bending down and gasping for air, if I know you at all. ”
I didn’t know what to say to that. The smile remained on my lips and I knew as well as Sawyer that it wasn’t a common look. Our gazes met and held and Sawyer nodded.
“You’re so madly in love, you can’t even hide it,” he said, laughing. “And you shouldn’t.”
Was I? The words he said sparked the image of Gray in front of my eyes.
And the thought of him made my chest flood with warmth.
Thinking of him was very much like pulling a thick, fuzzy blanket all the way up to my chin and sinking into a soft mattress with a fluffy pillow under my head. I sucked my teeth. “We have fun.”
“Good,” he said and got up. “It suits you, this look.”
“What look?” I asked, cocking my head.
“Happy. You seem happy, A.” He didn’t hold his smile back as he crossed the room and slapped my shoulder. “I was on my way out. Just wanted to check in.”
“You’re missing the jubilee, too?” I asked, and he laughed.
“It’s not like they won’t hit the millionth before they graduate,” Sawyer said.
“They play with those soccer handles more than they play with their…never mind.” He laughed out loud.
“Gotta go, man.” He kissed the top of my head and I stiffened, pulling away from his ridiculous outpouring of affection.
So, there I had it. Gray was the only one I didn’t mind so close in my space.
Even if Sawyer was someone I would trust with my life.
Sawyer laughed and swaggered away, saying goodbye.
I stayed on the edge of my bed, thinking what to do next.
It was almost dark outside. Normally, Gray and I would be meeting for some light exercise in no man’s land, as we called the gym we picked, and doing whatever Gray came up with afterward.
The other evening, he’d insisted on building a snowman as he hadn’t done that in years.
Thick, wet snow covered the city even now.
I gazed out the window and waited while the palpitations of my heart passed. In love…
I’d never thought about it. Not really. I hadn’t considered the meaning of the words.
I hadn’t defined what I was feeling. But now wasn’t the time to dig through all that.
I was drawn to him. I wanted to see him as soon as possible.
So, I set aside my thoughts and got down to work.
I showered, ate, and grabbed a six-pack I had promised from the fridge, making a mental note to replenish it tomorrow.
I walked out into the waning light of the winter afternoon, steam rising as I exhaled, and I found that I was so excited to spend the evening with Gray that I was almost skipping. Almost. I could still control some of my limbs.
It was a long walk, but I liked it. Cold air kept me awake and alert.
It cleared my mind. And as the mist in my brain lifted, I found Gray at the center of my thoughts.
Every time I saw him, I wanted to keep him close.
It was a sensation like no other. Throughout my life, I’d never bonded with someone this strongly.
I had never cared about a person this much.
It was almost like I depended on him. And underneath all the fluff of his romantic gestures, there was a boy I was deeply fond of.
A little insecure, a little obsessive, and incredibly kind.
He deserved so much but had been denied most of it when other kids had had it.
And I was hell-bent on giving him the attention he needed.
Even if it meant spending the next eight hours with Spencer in the same room.
I reached the dormitories ten minutes before four.
I looked up and spotted movement in one well-lit window.
Hands spread curtains and a handsome face grinned at me.
Gray waved, then disappeared from the window.
As I approached the main entrance to his building, I heard his speedy footsteps and my heart leaped with desire.
He opened the door and warmth washed over me.
Gray wore a dark green sweater and light gray sweatpants.
The sweater was fitted so well that not one bit of it appeared baggy or loose, yet it didn’t seem too tight.
It emphasized Gray’s physique to my liking.
But his sweatpants were the reason my pulse increased.
I suddenly longed to have him all for myself.
My handsome boyfriend wrapped his arms around me and pulled me inside, his lips pressing on mine. He was warm against my freezing cold cheeks and I kissed him for warmth almost as much as for the deeply rooted desire to be one with him.
Gray found my hand after a moment, closed his around it, and pulled me upstairs after him.
I followed gladly as we headed down a hallway and slipped into his room.
The radiators kept it very warm. Gray’s room was way cozier than mine now that Sawyer had emptied it of his clutter.
It had nice dark beige wallpapers with a small brown pattern, lamps on desks and in the windows, as well as on the nightstands, a thick carpet across a dark brown hardwood floor, two beds, bean bags, comfortable office chairs, and flatscreen TV mounted on the wall in plain view from both beds.
The desks were cluttered with big bowls of snacks, cans of beer, and several kinds of soft drinks.
“You don’t joke with these things,” I said, scanning the space.
Gray wrapped his arms around me from behind.
I loved feeling his front press so tightly against my back.
I also loved his crotch meeting my butt like this.
But it wasn’t the right time to get turned on by him, so I wiggled free of him and turned around to look into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re here,” Gray said.
I opened my mouth to say I was, too, but that was when the door opened, and two guys stepped in, pausing abruptly when they saw me.
“Oh. Hello.” That was Cole.
My mouth dried as I tried to greet him. Muscles tensed all over my body and I was sure Gray could sense it. Cole had at least greeted me. That wasn’t the problem. Spencer simply frowned, his expression that of confusion. “Grayson?” he asked.
“Yeah?” Gray replied, but there was annoyance in his tone. It was unmistakable.
“You didn’t mention we’d have company,” Spencer accused.
I couldn’t think of a clearer way to be told I wasn’t wanted somewhere.