Chapter 12
TWELVE
I’d forgotten what it meant to sleep through the night, and it appeared tonight would be no different when the crying started again at one thirty in the morning.
I stared at the ceiling of my room, listening to Rory’s wails filter through the thin walls of the hockey house. The sound cut through everything—both my attempts to sleep and the mental barriers I’d been trying to rebuild since leaving Ava’s apartment a few nights ago.
Drew’s footsteps creaked across the floor, likely pacing in his room, followed by his low, soothing voice trying to calm his daughter.
I’d already been up twice tonight helping him with bottles and diaper changes, both of us stumbling through the motions like zombies.
The kid had been crying for weeks, and it was wearing on everyone in the house.
A door opened and then I heard Gordy’s voice as he checked in. We might all be worn down, but we weren’t going to let Drew carry this burden alone. If I wasn’t helping, someone else was. But that’s what you did for family.
My phone lit up on the nightstand. I glanced at it, half hoping it would be a text from Ava.
Dad
Headed to Denver next week. Got a buddy with a condo he’s not using. Miami got old. You know how it is. You should catch a plane and come hang out.
There was no mention of the girl he’d sent me a picture of last time, but my guess was he got bored. He always did. No matter where he went or who he “fell in love with” that week, no one could keep Nick Farrell’s attention for long.
I turned the phone face down, not even bothering to respond.
He knew I had school and couldn’t just hop on a plane.
And despite him having plenty of money, he’d never extended those finances to me or my mom.
I always wondered if that was another reason he never married her—he’d proposed and made promises, but they’d all been empty.
That money was his ticket to having no responsibilities.
Sharing it meant sacrificing his own whims and desires, and dear ol’ dad didn’t sacrifice for anyone.
I rolled onto my side, pressing my face into the pillow, attempting for the umpteenth time to go to sleep.
But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ava—the way she’d looked at me during our Truth or Dare game, the soft give of her body when I’d kissed her forehead, the confusion in her eyes when I’d pulled away.
Fuck, I was turning into my father without even trying.
The thought sliced through me like a blade.
How many times had my mom waited up for him, wondering where he was, who he was with?
And here I was—sneaking around with Ava, lying to Drew, unable to commit but unable to stay away.
The only difference was I kept pulling back before I could do real damage.
At least that’s what I told myself.
The crying intensified and Drew’s voice grew more desperate through our thin walls, as Gordy’s deeper voice joined in trying to soothe her.
I ran my hands through my hair. Sleep wasn’t going to happen. Not with Rory screaming, not with my mind racing, and definitely not with the memory of Ava’s skin under my fingers playing on repeat. The taste of her mouth. The way she’d trusted me enough to be vulnerable.
My phone sat on the nightstand, taunting me. I’d seen Ava in class since our night of Truth or Dare, but I hadn’t pushed to cross off another item from her list.
Maybe it was time to change that.
I picked up my phone before I could stop myself.
Me
What are you wearing?
I bit back a smile thinking about her reaction when she got that. Considering how late—or early depending on how you looked at it—it was, I didn’t expect a response, but one came in almost immediately.
Ava
It’s 1:30 am, Farrell. Some of us have class tomorrow.
Even through text, I could hear the sass. My smile grew despite myself.
Me
Well, clearly I didn’t wake you up, since you answered right away. Now answer my question.
Ava
Why?
I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see it. She could be so difficult sometimes.
Me
You had sexting on your list. Since it appears neither of us can sleep, I thought we could cross that off your list. I figured you’d rather start simple like what you’re wearing instead of just jumping into me telling you exactly what I’d do to you if I was there right now.
Ava
Why can’t you sleep?
Me
Your lovely niece has decided to see how loud she can scream and how many people in one household she can keep awake.
Ava
You really want to do this right now? While Rory is screaming?
Me
I can multitask. Unless you’re too chicken.
That would get her. Ava never backed down from a challenge—it was one of the things I’d always admired about her. I could picture her in bed, cheeks flushing pink the way they did when she was turned on. That rosy color that spread down her neck and across her chest.
Ava
Fine. I’m wearing men’s boxers and an oversized CFU T-shirt.
I sat up in bed.
Me
Whose boxers?
Ava
Mine. What? A woman isn’t allowed to buy men’s boxers? They’re roomier and more comfortable to sleep in than women’s sleep shorts which are always super short or meant to be tight.
Hmm. I lay back down, but my mind was stuck on her wearing generic men’s boxers. Before I could come up with a response, she texted again.
Ava
So what would you do with me if you were here?
This was good. This was where I excelled.
Me
I’d start by kissing that spot behind your ear. Then I’d work my way down your neck, slow, until you’re saying my name like it’s a prayer. I’d push your shirt up slowly until you were bare before me and I could kiss down your chest, over your perky breasts, and down your taut stomach.
Three dots appeared showing she was typing a response before they disappeared. A moment later they appeared again.
Ava
You’re really good at this.
Me
Turned on already?
Ava
Maybe.
Me
Don’t play coy with me now, Sunshine. I can’t wait to hear you moan my name, your voice getting all husky and breathy. You’ve got me so hard just thinking about it.
Ava
Liam.
It was only my name. But I could picture exactly how she’d say it—half warning, half plea. My body responded immediately, heat pooling low in my gut and my cock getting so hard it almost hurt.
Me
Tell me you’re not thinking about it right now. About how I’d slowly peel those boxers down your toned legs, dropping kisses every few inches before I worked my way up and feasted on your pretty little clit.
A longer pause this time. I waited, my whole body tense with anticipation.
Ava
I want your mouth on me. I want to feel your stubble against my thighs while you make me fall apart.
Fuck. The image hit me like a freight train—Ava spread out beneath me and her fingers in my hair. My hand drifted toward my boxer briefs, and I reached under the waistband to stroke myself.
Me
When I get my hands on you again, I’m going to take my time. Make you beg for it. You’re going to be so wound up you can’t think straight.
Ava
Bold of you to assume I’m not already there.
A sharp cry pierced through the wall, eviscerating the sexy image that had been developing at the thought of all the dirty things I wanted to do with Ava.
My arousal, which had been building to an almost painful level, deflated as the reality of where I was crashed back down—the hockey house with Drew’s adorable, but cockblock of a baby.
I stared at Ava’s last message, frustration coursing through me.
Me
Fuck. Rory’s losing it again. Turns out maybe I can’t focus with her screaming through the walls.
Ava
Poor thing. She’s been really colicky. Drew must be exhausted.
Even after our heated exchange, she was worried about her brother and niece.
Ava
You could come over here if you wanted a night of peace.
My pulse kicked up again despite the exhaustion weighing down my limbs.
Me
Ava…
Ava
I’m not asking twice, Farrell. There’s something else on my list I want to try. Something that requires you to actually be here instead of hiding behind your phone.
There it was. The challenge. The dare. The thing I couldn’t resist.
Me
Which something?
Ava
Come over and find out. Unless you’re scared.
I was pulling on my sweats and a hoodie before I’d even fully made the decision. Rory’s cries were getting louder, Drew’s voice more strained, and all I wanted was to be somewhere quiet.
Plus, the temptation of Ava was too much to resist.
Me
On my way.
I was about to walk past Drew’s door when he opened it. He looked like hell—dark circles under his eyes, hair sticking up in every direction, spit-up on his shirt. There was no sign of Gordy, and my guess was that Drew had sent him back to bed while I was distracted with Ava.
“Fuck, man, did she wake you up?”
I knew he was beating himself up about how she was impacting all of us. “Thin walls, but it’s okay. I’m heading out anyway.”
“Where you off to?” he asked. There was no accusation in his voice. It was more curiosity and it wasn’t weird for him to ask. We might not have gone into detail about our hookups, but we were usually pretty honest about who we hooked up with.
“Just out.”
A knowing look crossed his face despite how wrecked he appeared. “At two in the morning? I gotcha.”
I didn’t acknowledge what he suspected. I was already lying by omission. I didn’t like the idea of lying outright.
“Try to get some sleep,” I said, hating myself for every word I wasn’t saying. “I can take her tomorrow after my classes and give you a break so you can get a nap in before practice.”
Drew shifted Rory to his other shoulder, bouncing slightly. “You’re a good friend, you know that? I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
The guilt was a knife twisting in my chest. Good friend. Right. A good friend wouldn’t be sneaking out to hook up with his best friend’s sister.
“I should go,” I said, gesturing toward the stairs.
He gave me a head nod and a smile. “Have fun,” he said before he disappeared back into his room.
And despite the guilt eating at my soul, I still walked down the stairs and toward my truck to go see Ava.