Chapter 14 #2
I pull onto Soleil Drive and putt my way down Ty’s block.
As I close in on his house, the sight of a woman loading things into a massive SUV out front stops me in my tracks.
Literally. I slam on my brakes before I realize what I’m doing, then quickly accelerate with a screech.
Nice. Discrete, Avery. Rounding the block again, I remind myself I’m not supposed to be here.
I’m definitely not supposed to be drawing attention to myself with obnoxious car screeches.
I turn the stereo down to a low roar as I circle the block again.
My stomach sinks as I watch the vehicle pull out on my second trip around the block.
I coast around one more time, parking far enough away for it to not be conspicuous.
I think. Then I sneak around to the door off the garage and type in a code.
Moments later, I’m standing in the middle of the kitchen as Ty blankly stares at me.
“The neighbors probably thought you were casing the neighborhood,” he says, lifting a glass of water to his lips.
“What?” I drop my bag on the island.
He nods toward the direction of the street. “You were creeping around out there. People probably thought you were casing their homes.”
“Um… Someone was here. I couldn’t just barge in.”
“That was Linda. She cleans up around here twice a week.” He finishes the glass and places it in the sink. “If you thought you were being sneaky, you weren’t.”
I press my lips together and turn on my heel to head up the stairs. “I was looking for parking.”
“The whole block is open.” He sighs. “You could have texted me, you know. You have my number, right?”
Something trills behind me, and I look down to see Dollyboy chasing after me.
He follows me up the stairs. I stare at myself in the mirror atop the cream-colored dresser as I pull my hair out of its sweaty ponytail.
An ache radiates down my arms as I rake my fingers through my hair.
I make a mental note to chug some pickle juice or electrolytes or something after my shower.
The last thing I need is a cramp. When I step into the hall with my toiletries, Ty is already there.
He stares down at me, his eyes scanning from my face to the towel draped over my arm and back up again.
“Yes?” I ask.
“You ignored my question.”
“Not on purpose. I’m just sweaty. I hate the way dried sweat feels on my skin.” I try to read his face as he stares down at me. Does he think I’m crazy? “It’s overstimulating and all I can think about until I can shower it off.”
“Breaking a sweat’s good for you.”
“Maybe. But it’s gross.” I grimace as I peel a strand of hair from my neck. “What was your question?”
“I asked if you have my number.”
“You never gave it to me.” A fire flares in my cheeks. “I have your garage code and a key. I don’t need much else. I’m a simple girl.”
I shouldn’t be embarrassed that I saved his contact information after our first exchange, but it’s weird adding someone to my contact list without a direct go-ahead.
Ty took some liberties—like scooping up my business card unbeknownst to me.
How is saving his number any worse? The thought of admitting it out loud makes me feel like I’m back in grade school, confessing to someone that I have a new crush.
Pushing around him, I duck into the bathroom.
Jiminy Christmas, Avery. Do you? Is that what this feeling is? A crush?!
“I have yours.” He pulls out his phone, trailing behind me. “See.”
I do see. He saved my number. And never texted me. Maybe he hasn’t had a reason to… But I wish he would have.
He pockets his phone. “Linda was on vacation. Today was her first day back to work.”
“So?”
“So she comes on Fridays and Wednesdays.”
I stare up at him as the dots connect. “Oh. So I need to lay low those days.”
“Exactly.”
Something gnaws at me inside. Even though Ty’s accommodations are nice—generous—it feels a little wrong.
I shouldn’t have to sneak around for some guy.
I wouldn’t know from experience, but my uncle had an affair once.
My aunt caught him hiding his texts and skulking around, and it feels a little like that.
Their whole family crumbled because of it.
Even if Ty and I aren’t romantically involved, why am I allowing this to happen?
I haven’t been here long, but why have I stopped looking for apartments and ads for roommates?
As I stare up at Ty’s handsome face, I know the answer. I just don’t want to admit it.
“I’ll text next time,” I answer.
He arches a brow, hooking a hand atop the doorframe as he leans in. “So you did save my number?”
When his cool blue eyes connect with mine, I have to look away. “I did.”
“Well, use it.”
For a second, I swear I can’t breathe. Make eye contact with him again, Avery. Prove to yourself this is nothing. He’s a roommate. A friend.
But when I find his face again, my tongue thickens, and I barely spit out a reply. “I will.”
That seems to be good enough for him because he gives me a small smile.
My heart stutters, and I want to punch it into submission.
I grip the door, ready to shut him out. “Don’t worry.
I’ll stay out of your hair as much as I can.
I won’t be around much. I have plants and practice to tend to. I have other friends besides you.”
Nothing screams Hey, I have almost no friends! more than saying I have friends.
He nods. “We just need to be mindful.”
“Mindful. Yeah. Exactly.” My cheeks strain as I beam at him, and there’s no doubt in my mind that my smile is probably scary-big. As the door shuts in his face, I swear a shadow of disappointment flashes over it.
“Geez Louise, pepper cheese,” I whisper to myself as I press my back against the door.
Ty Brewster is attractive. Anyone with fully functioning eyes can see that, but that isn’t the problem.
The problem is the fact that he makes me feel…
something. Maybe it’s the rush of being around someone new.
Maybe it’s the fact that he doesn’t scream at me when I leave a cabinet door open or forget to put my plate in the sink.
It might even be because he opened his home to me.
Perhaps it’s a little bit of all of those things.
All I know for certain is that despite how scary Ty may appear, he isn’t. He’s kind and generous and… Panic streaks through me.
Why, Avery? Why do you always have to screw things up?
Having a crush on the guy who pity-invited me to stay with him is the worst possible thing that could happen to me. Well, one of the worst things.
My stomach sinks as Ty’s soft blue eyes pop back into my head. I’m completely enamored with him.
Fudge nuggets.
Obsessing over hobbies or books or even careers is one thing, but men is something different entirely.
I can’t live with him and feel this way.
This bizarre, jittery, too excited, too much way.
I wish he’d be mean like all the others.
He may look gruff with all that pensive, stoic staring, but I’ve seen him—experienced him—be sweet. And that’s the worst part.
As I turn on my shower and grab my razor and facewash, I make a mental note to text Larissa. I need a distraction from my distraction. From Ty. Whatever little double date Larissa has dreamed up, I’m game.