Chapter Eighteen #2
A hand at her back, Avery led her to the check-in table just inside the lobby, where they picked up a map of the museum and the fake money for fake gambling on their last fake date.
Fate is definitely having a good time.
She looped her arm through his. “So how does this work?”
“If it’s the same as last year, some of the exhibits are open for us to tour, and of course, there’s dancing and gambling.”
“With fake money.”
“It’s supposed to make it more fun and skates past the ‘no gambling’ laws in Texas.
At the end of the night, people are encouraged to donate the equivalent of their winnings and, hopefully, add to it.
” He pointed to his friends holding up the far wall like suspects in a GQ lineup. “We’ll say hi, then join my family.”
Jo looked at the stack of golden one-thousand-dollar bills. There were at least a hundred. That would put her back to square one if the money were real.
Avery stopped, cupped her elbows, and drew her close. Just like that, the world around them disappeared.
She loved these moments, these little bubbles he pulled her into, where he made her feel like she was the only one in the room with him. Where her hard edges softened, because, in his arms, she was safe and wanted.
The bubble was fake, just like the rest of their relationship. When it popped, and it would because she planned to do the popping, she’d have to toughen up again.
Tomorrow.
“Jo, I know where your head is at”—no, he didn’t have a clue—“but I want you to promise me, if you gamble, you’ll give it your all. I want you to have a good time and not be worried.” He patted his coat pocket. “My donation is already set.”
She nodded. “Blackjack and poker, I can do, but the rest, not so much, and I don’t really know how to place bets.”
“I’ll teach you.” He pulled her in tighter and lightly kissed her lips.
The brief taste of him left her starving for more. “I’d love that.”
He’d taught her so much in the last few weeks.
Besides the difference in the cut of his tuxes, he’d shown her some of the pitfalls in her budget.
And, of course, every second in his bed was an education.
The things he’d done to her, the way he’d made her come alive, the way he seemed to savor and cherish every inch of her body.
But more importantly, she’d learned that, to trust someone, she had to be open herself, trust her judgement, and not be so hard on herself. Learning to laugh and enjoy life was something she’d forgotten how to do since her grandma died.
After losing Avery, she’d be stronger.
“Dang, girl, I was hopin’ to see you tonight.” The familiar Southeast Texas lilt burst their bubble but fell over Jo like a warm blanket on a cold night and couldn’t have been more welcome.
Jo spun in Avery’s arms. “Viv!”
A tray in each hand, Viv tilted her chin at Jo’s dress. “You clean up pretty good.” She gave Avery a wink. “And you're wearing Just Avery like a rock star.”
Avery returned her wink with a mock bow. “Good evening, Viv.”
As happy as Jo was to see her, Viv’s presence spoke of another issue Jo wasn’t prepared to face tonight. This gig hadn’t been on Giselle’s calendar when Jo was fired. Giselle had bid too high and lost it. “What are you doing here? Did you land a new job with Laramie?”
The black pencil skirt with a white shirt and string tie, trademark attire for Giselle’s Catering, made the question unnecessary, but black curls bounced as Viv shook her head.
“If I had, I’d be out of a job. Laramie got shut down for health violations at the last minute, so Gruella got the job. But listen—”
“Vivianne.” Speak of the platinum blonde devil. Giselle slithered to a stop next to Viv. “I believe there are other guests to be served, and I’m sure Mr. Preston would like to join the festivities.”
“Not at all,” he said, smiling at Viv even as he tucked a protective arm around Jo. “It’s always a pleasure to see friends.”
“Thank you, sir.” She turned a bright smile on Jo. “Maybe I’ll catch you on my break, and we can talk about that trifecta.”
As soon as Viv was out of sight, Giselle zeroed in on Jo. “I wanted to apologize for any misunderstanding, and I hope there are no hard feelings.” A hand at her throat, she peered up at Avery from beneath overly thick fake lashes. “You’ve obviously landed on your feet.”
Avery stiffened, but Giselle rushed on, her eyes rounding innocently, “I mean that in the best way, of course.” Her fingers fluttered with a roll of her wrist. “It stands to reason you should have the Reese-Preston wedding since you’re practically a member of the family.”
Jo blinked. “I’m not—”
“Jo earned that job based on her talent.” As cold as his tone was, the heat behind his belief in her and his valiant defense melted her heart just a little more.
“Of course, she did. She’s an excellent patissier.
I wouldn’t have hired her otherwise.” The sincerity in her eyes almost seemed authentic.
“Now that we’ve gotten that unpleasantness out of the way, I hope the evening won’t be awkward and that you both enjoy yourselves.
If you’ll forgive me, I have petit fours and crème puffs to oversee. ”
Giselle faded into the crowd before Jo could pull her jaw off the ground.
Avery grunted, his teeth clenching as he bit out, “What the fuck kind of apology was that?”
“It could have been worse.” Jo was just relieved her first interaction with Giselle since being fired was done and over with. “She feels threatened by you”—and the relationship she believes I have with you—“and the clientele you represent, that’s all.”
“She feels threatened because she knows how good you are.”
“Thank you, but she knows she’ll lose clients, not to mention her standing in the culinary community if she doesn’t play nice with the competition.”
“Goddamn right she will if she comes at you again.”
“Thank you for standing up for me.” It had been so long since anyone besides Brooke had done that. She laid a hand on his chest. “But let’s not waste any more time thinking about her.”
The deep V of his brows flatlined, and a sidelong grin plucked at her heartstrings, causing a delicious chaos in her belly. “You’re right. Come on.”
Lacing his fingers with hers, he led her through the maze of tables.
The crush surrounding them thickened, forcing her behind him.
She squeezed in close enough to feel the abrasion of his wool jacket against her nipples.
His nervous energy was back again, crackling through him and into her, adding to the sexual charge.
She tamped it down as Avery stopped at the edge of the crowd to let a server pass.
“Look at you rolling in late, all keyed up.” Kade pushed off the wall.
Ha! I’m not the only one who feels it.
“Nah, man.” Blaze shook his head. “As Gage would say, “Dude’s been postboned.”
Running late because he had sex? Don’t I wish.
She groaned inwardly as her pussy grew slick with arousal. Holding out until midnight wasn’t going to be easy.
“Watch your mouth,” Avery and another Sigma said at the same time. Sounded like Maverick.
And they say chivalry is dead.
But she could hold her own. She stepped from behind Avery. “He should be so lucky.”
Kade choked on his drink.
A sheepish grin on his face, Blaze held up both hands in surrender, one cradling a tumbler of amber liquid. “Sorry, Jo. Didn’t see you back there.”
Olivia rushed forward to embrace her with an air kiss hug, then swung a scowl at Blaze. “What am I? Invisible?”
He inclined his head. “My most sincere apologies.”
Olivia snubbed the not-so-sincere apology and hooked her arm through Jo’s. “Let’s go find something to do before I die of boredom.”
“I’d love to, but we should say hello to Avery’s family first.” Jo looked up at him for confirmation when what she really wanted was an excuse to stay with him, no matter the company.
Instead, Avery glanced at his friends. “Where’s Linc?”
Blaze motioned toward the crowd. “Huntin’ puss—er, with some girl, but he said if you showed up, to tell you he has something for you.”
“Go ahead. I need to talk to Linc,” he said to her and kissed her cheek in dismissal, his choice cutting deep. “I’ll find you when I’m done.”
Jo extricated her hand from his and turned to Olivia. “Where are we going?”
“Anywhere but here.” Olivia whisked her off without a backward glance at Maverick. Someone was in the doghouse.
Jo offered up an option. “I need to use the restroom?”
“That’ll work.” Olivia veered toward the hall.
“Are you okay?” Jo asked as they turned the corner.
Olivia grimaced. One of those everything hurts grimaces. “Not really.”
Five weeks ago, Jo had felt sorry for Olivia, but that was before she understood, before she felt the sharp blade of unrequited love. “He’s still on the fence?”
“No, he got off on the other side when he chose the Sigmas.” Olivia shoved open the bathroom door in a burst of anger. They were alone. She plowed into an empty stall.
Jo took the one next to her, gathered her dress, and sat. “And how exactly did he do that?”
“It’s—” Olivia’s voice cracked just a little. “He’s fucking going to Greece.”
It took a second to connect the dots. The Sigmas had planned a trip to Greece. Not a few guys. Not several. The Sigmas. “Are all of them going?”
The other side of the stall grew quiet.
“Olivia?”
“Avery hasn’t mentioned it?”
“No, he didn’t tell me. We’re…” The words stuck in Jo’s throat, and she couldn’t swallow them, couldn’t breathe around them. But Olivia knew the truth about their arrangement, and she’d hear about their breakup sooner or later. “Tonight’s our last night.”
“Oh, Jo, I’m so sorry.”
Jo cleared her throat. “It’s okay. It’s what we agreed to.”
The outer door opened, and someone entered, stalling their conversation. They finished up in silence.
As soon as they left the restroom, Olivia urged Jo toward one of the less populated exhibits. Arm in arm, they stood in front of a display of archeological artifacts. What she was actually looking at, she couldn’t have said.
“You fell in love with him, didn’t you?”
Jo shrugged. She didn’t want to talk about it. She hadn’t even told Brooke, though she suspected her best friend already guessed. “So, this trip. What makes it such a decision maker? Why don’t you want Maverick to go?”
“Have you met these guys? They hunt in a pack on these trips and devour anything in their hedonistic wake. Whiskey. Women. Whatever they dream up, they do.”
Reality crept in like a thief in the night, quiet, invasive, devastating. Her heart seized, then raged against her ribs. “And they’re all going?”
Olivia did that grimacing thing again. “All eight of them were until Bryce dropped out.”
Avery’s going to Greece. With the Sigmas. And not for the scenery.
“Listen,” Olivia said, “just because Avery hasn’t told you about the trip, doesn’t mean he’s still going. He’s different than before you two…well, you know. And Maverick isn’t always in the loop. And what do I know?”
Five weeks should be enough. That’s what he’d said that day in the diner when she asked him how long their arrangement would last. He’d been so precise, so oddly specific. Not a month or two. Not four or six weeks, but five.
It was all coming together. The way he’d scrolled through his calendar. The moment he’d paused on that big block of blue. He’d planned their schedule right up to his trip to Greece.
“He’s going,” Jo whispered, the weight of the truth crushing the breath out of her.
“We should hang out together. Actually, I’d love for you to meet my friend Sasha. She’s the best. We could all shop, get a massage and a mani/pedi, and drown our sorrows.”
“That’s an enticing offer. I’ll be at my half sister’s wedding next weekend, but any time after that sounds great.”
Olivia drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “We should head back and pretend we’re having a great time. I do that a lot these days.”
“Me, too.” Actually, Jo hadn’t pretended lately. She’d been happy, with Avery.
They turned in unison and headed back toward the main room.
“I’m thinking about quitting and moving back to Dallas.
” The defeat in Olivia’s whispered words fell flat and hollow in the silent hallway, competing with their spiked heels tattooing against the shiny terrazzo floor.
“My dad has been bugging me to come back to the family business, and it’ll be easier to get on with my life if I don’t have to see Mav every day. ”
“I get that.” If she had to see Avery every day, she’d never survive. On the other hand… “Why don’t you just tell him you don’t want him to go? It might just be the catalyst he needs to get off the fence.”
“Because if he wants to go, it means he’s not ready for us yet.”
Jo understood that, too. But at least, Olivia and Maverick still had a chance for an us. In her scenario with Avery, there wasn’t even a fence for him to climb, much less straddle.