Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
TY
I’m a charity guy now. At least Ramiel seems to think I am.
He’s the one who pushed me to agree last minute to join the team promo today.
Typically, these types of events are mandated for certain players, like captains and team veterans.
We partner with the cheerleaders as a way for the Kings franchise to give back, to get locals excited about helping out around the city.
Sometimes fans are even invited to join in, but today any type of promoting will be done through social media and local news outlets.
Regardless of how relentless he is, I appreciate Rami refusing to let me fade into the background.
I have a suspicion he might have stuck his neck out for me with Coach—again—so I could tag along.
He even invited me to join him at a local school library event tomorrow, but I took a rain check on that one.
Today the team is cleaning up more than anything.
In an hour we’ll be at Kings’ Kingdom Trail, gloves on, pokers in hand, stabbing up any debris sullying our fine city.
The trail is a sprawling park in the center of the community dedicated to its favorite football team—the Kings.
Ramiel swears the more team events I attend, the better social standing I’ll have.
And I trust him. So here I am, getting ready to pick up trash, soaking in my last few free moments on what should be my break after our practice this morning.
My favorite.
Dollyboy mews and scratches at my bedroom door.
I set my book down to let him in, and he sprints to his favorite sunny corner.
It’s his third attempt at getting my attention, and I wonder if he’s lonely.
Avery left again this morning before we could bump into each other.
Our paths have barely crossed since the masquerade a few days back.
After leaving the event, I expected there to be a palpable tension in the air, but there wasn’t.
We came home, she told me good night, and that was it.
I would have almost preferred that she yell at me for basically ruining our evening, but she never did.
Out of everything that happened, I think my worst offense is that I didn’t kiss her before I came to my senses.
Like clockwork, my phone chimes. I head across the room to my nightstand to check the text.
Avery
Driving
Larissa coming iced huff
Me
Iced huff?
A minute or two passes by and another message comes in.
Avery
Larissa coming over. Hide
Hide? Avery is asking me to hide in my own house?
As ludicrous as it sounds, I obey. Because I can’t help myself.
Avery has me rethinking everything from the way I’ve decorated my living room to the way I view dating.
She even has me rethinking cats. Me, a cat guy?
Never. But Dolly may be the exception. He purrs and swipes his body against my shins aggressively as though he knows what I’m thinking.
Without texting back, I spring from my bedside to the door, twisting the lock.
Checking the clock, I note that I still have plenty of time before they expect me at the promo.
So I perch by my window, shades cracked, hunched out of view, and I watch. Awaiting Avery. And Larissa.
Heart pounding as I stare through the spaces in the blinds, a new exhilaration bursts through me.
I’m willing to do just about anything for her, but this hiding and keeping a secret thing…
It’s a break from structure that I didn’t know I needed.
Why does doing something I know I shouldn’t do feel so good?
The awareness that only Avery and I are in on it stirs up something mischievous in me.
Sharing this secret with her feels naughty in a way that makes me want to pull her aside and teach her a lesson.
Like I need a reminder of what her mouth tastes like, so I don’t absolutely lose my mind.
Shoulda kissed her at the masquerade, idiot. Avery would have died over being kissed at a ball.
It’s been occupying my thoughts for days, rearing its head at the most unexpected moments.
And then I remember why I didn’t. Because the last time we kissed, she said it was a mistake.
Whether I fully agree or not, I have to respect her wish to remain friends.
No matter how muddy that label is at the moment.
Parting the blinds, I watch as the girls pull up and park in the driveway.
Bold move, Avery. Ducking down, I press my back against the wall.
I don’t know what Avery’s doing, but I trust her.
Just like she said the other night, she has dreams to uphold.
Things she’s worked hard for. Whatever fib she’s spewed to Larissa, I will go along with.
At this point, there’s not much I wouldn’t agree to if Avery asked.
The girls make their way into the house, and I can hear them echoing through the foyer, their giddy sounds making their way up to the second floor.
My heart pounds in my chest as they scale the stairs one step at a time.
They pause on the landing, discussing their next move.
Larissa coos about how beautiful the place is, and I wait to hear Avery’s response.
“Yeah, the owner keeps pretty private, but I’m excited to be housesitting. Until taking this job, I’d never actually seen Soleil Drive before.” Avery laughs nervously, her voice waning as they make their way to her room.
Larissa replies, but they’re too far down for me to decipher the words.
Squeezing my eyes shut, my head tilts back against the wall beside the window.
I stay like that for a few minutes before Dollyboy struts around me happily.
I scratch his head, which appeases him for a moment, but then he’s moving on.
He trots to the door, and I crawl after him, as though standing would alert Larissa to my position.
When he scratches it, I scootch him aside and prop to my knees to let him out.
Twisting the knob, I pull the door open to a panicked Avery.
She releases Dolly into the hall before diving inside and locking the door behind her.
Avery towers over me as I freeze where I am, crouched before her.
She leans down, lowering her voice, a smirk finding her full lips. “Ty, what are you doing?”
I swallow hard, taking in all of her.
Avery’s top is cropped, her pants are cut high.
I can’t see her bellybutton, but the V in the front of her leggings teases that it exists just below its barrier.
They’re fitted and dark blue, the Kings’ accent color.
My eyes trail from her clean white tennis shoes, up the length of her long legs, over her fitted top, before landing on her face again.
A sight that would surely bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already on them.
She extends a hand to help me to my feet, and I grip it.
Clearing my throat, I stand, gazing down at her.
“You didn’t knock,” is all I can muster.
“I was going to. I need deodorant. Apparently, I’m doing the promo today.”
“Nice. Same.”
She quirks a brow.
I back away, trying to decide how far I’m willing to push this. My brain surges, rifling through all the words I know. I want to say something charming, but instead the only thing that comes out is, “What do I get in exchange for it?”
“In exchange for deodorant?”
I nod, though I know how gross it all sounds. Who shares deodorant?
She pushes me aside, butting in front of me and heading to the bathroom. Opening my cabinet, she reaches up, grabbing the new container. My backstock. The one I keep in there just in case I run out. She turns and smiles up at me mischievously. “I’ll be taking this.”
She waves it in my face, teasing me. Without thinking. I snatch it up and hold it over my head. “Pay the toll.”
“What?”
Immediately, I feel gross. Wrong. Who am I? I’m not the guy who does this.
Pay the toll?
The guy who seeks out an opportunity and takes advantage of someone else’s desperation.
Thinking better of it, I lower my arm, handing the stick of deodorant to a relieved Avery.
She rolls her eyes and pushes past me to leave.
I trail behind her, trying to keep my eyes on the swish of her ponytail instead of the sway of her hips.
As she reaches my doorframe she turns to me, gazing up into my face.
“You look good, by the way.” I clear my throat. “Pretty. You look really pretty. Are really pretty.”
Her lips pinch and twist into a smile that knocks the wind out of me.
“And you can keep the deodorant.”
“Thanks, Ty.” She hesitates.
I’d say it’s awkward, but it isn’t. It’s Avery.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about her since she moved in before August, it’s that awkward to be around is the last way I’d describe her.
Avery has become an unexpected comfort. Dollyboy has too.
In fact, as much as I miss Maggie and hate that she decided not to stay with me, Avery is a welcome sub-in for her. More than welcome.
Avery’s chest heaves as she sucks in a deep breath, her eyes searching mine. I swallow hard, allowing myself to follow her cues. Which seem to be all green lights, directing me to do exactly what I want to do. She presses her back against my door as I lean over her, my arm framing her in.
“You’re welcome,” I reply.
She bites her lip, and that’s all it takes. Avery’s hand opens, dropping the deodorant to the floor before snaking around my neck and pulling me in.