I sit in the truck as Avery comes bounding down the front porch steps. She looks amazing in her short shorts and tank top, but then again she looks great in everything. Her dark hair is down tonight, with full-flowing, loose curls, and my fingers itch to get tangled up in them while I taste her lips again.
My cock jerks in my jeans at the very thought. Damn it. This is what happens every time I’ve thought about her since we were in the barn. I take a deep breath and focus on baseball to rid myself of the wicked fantasies going on in my brain. Tonight’s going to be a true fucking test because I’ve already made up my mind that if she says yes to becoming my girl, I’m fucking her until she can’t walk straight.
Avery opens the passenger door with a huge smile on her face. “Hey.”
I love how happy she is to see me. “Hey, there, sexy girl. You look smokin’ hot.”
“Thanks.” A blush creeps over her face as she pulls herself up into the cab of my truck.
Once she’s settled in, I can’t stop myself from leaning over and tasting her. The warmth of her hand on my face sends a little tingle through me as our lips connect. It’s not an intense moment, but more of an I’m-glad-we’re-together-and-I-missed-seeing-your-face kind of moment.
I turn my attention back to the wheel and throw the truck into drive. We bounce down the long gravel drive to the main road. Avery turns the radio to the pop station and begins singing along. It’s funny how comfortable we are together. Maybe it’s because we’ve been together so much lately—who knows—but I’m glad it’s easy between us. She might just be “The One” that Dad worried would come along and make me want to give up my dream and settle down in this town.
“So this party . . . where exactly is it again?” Avery asks.
“It’s at my buddy Blake’s house. He’s a chill dude. I think you’ll like him.”
“Hmm . . . maybe I’ll like him more than you,” she teases. “He might actually want to have sex with me.”
The idea of Blake putting the moves on Avery makes my blood boil, and if I hadn’t already staked a claim on her, that’s exactly what would’ve happened. There’s no way Blake could’ve resisted trying to get into Avery’s pants. Thank God I met her first and have already threatened Blake with bodily harm if he tries to move in on her.
“Hey, now,” I warn. “I never said I didn’t want to have sex with you, just that we’d have to wait.”
“Wait?” She raises one eyebrow. “I thought you took a vow of celibacy or something.”
I laugh. “I never said that I wouldn’t have sex for the rest of my life—only that I would wait until I got my career off the ground—and then I found the right girl who made me want to stop fucking around.”
Avery grins. “Are you saying that I’m the right girl?”
I take my eyes off the road to steal a glance at her. “I think you might be.”
“That’s good to know.” Her smile widens and she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I think you’re pretty special too.”
That causes my heart to do a double thump in my ribs. “Guess there’s only one thing left to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Make it official,” I tell her. “Avery, I want you to be my girlfriend—for real this time. No fake shit. I’m talking the real deal, Tyler-and-Avery-sitting-in-a-tree kind of relationship while I’m still in town—even if I’m not here that long.”
She unbuckles her seatbelt and slides across the bench seat of my truck to sit right next to me. I throw my arm around her shoulders and she leans in and kisses my cheek. She feels good sitting next to me. I don’t think I ever want to let this girl go.
She leans her head against my shoulder. “You’re sweet. I hope you’re as nice as you seem.”
I know she’s probably worried I’ll hurt her like that asshole ex-boyfriend she has, but I want her to know that I mean it. I think with a girl who’s been hurt the way she has, actions speak louder than words, and I want nothing more than to prove that she can trust me with her heart.
I want to be honest and up-front with my intentions. While this thing between us might be short-lived, I want her to know that she means a lot to me, and my leaving has nothing to do with her. My plan to get out of this town has been in the works for a while, and I owe it to myself and my father to see it through.
We drive through the streets of Wellston and I pull up along the curb in front of Blake’s house. It’s an old two-story house with a bright blue paint job and a rickety front porch. It’s not much. Working for barely above minimum wage at the lumberyard doesn’t buy you a very lavish place to live—not even in this town where the cost of living is substantially lower than living in Columbus.
The screen door swings open and Blake comes stumbling out with a beer in his hand. He shields his eyes against the shine of the porch light and then waves us inside. “You comin’ in or what, asshole?”
I shake my head and open the door. He’s crazy, but I love the guy like a brother.
“Let me get the door for you,” I tell Avery before I hop out and walk around the front of the truck. Once outside I whip my head in Blake’s direction and flip him the finger. “What’s your big hurry?”
A crooked grin lights up his face. “You know why I’m rushing you. Let’s see her.”
Blake’s never been known for his patience, but you can’t fault the guy for wanting to get a look at the girl I’ve been talking about nonstop for a week now, ever since I first met her in that movie theater parking lot.
I point my gaze squarely on him. “Remember. Hands off.” I can’t stop myself from giving him one last reminder. Unlike me, Blake has zero self-control.
Blake throws his hands up in surrender. “I know, man. No trying to bag your new piece. I got it.”
I raise my eyebrows and point at him. “I mean it, Blake. Don’t even—”
“Dude, you sound like a psycho. Chill.” He laughs.
Maybe I do sound a bit crazy, but it’s probably because the very thought of someone touching Avery sends me over the edge.
I pull on the door handle, and Blake tucks his beer between his arm and torso so he can rub his hands together like a little kid whose Christmas present is about to be revealed. I turn my attention back to Avery and give her a hand to help her out of the truck.
She smiles up at me as she steps onto the ground. “Is it weird that I find it sweet that you’ve kind of lost your mind when it comes to me? It’s nice to feel so wanted.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “It’s no stranger than how being jealous is causing me to lose my shit, so I guess it’s a good thing you find my possessiveness endearing.”
“Holy shit!” Blake’s words cut between us. “I’m sorry, bro, but I may have to say fuck guy code on this one and go for her anyway.”
I wrap my arm around Avery and tuck her against my side. “Sorry, man. This one’s taken.”
Avery looks up at me and smiles and I know making a commitment to her was the right thing to do.
We slide up next to Blake on the porch and he grins. “Welcome to mi casa, where the liquor flows and clothing is optional. That especially goes for you, Avery.”
I throw a quick jabbing punch into his shoulder. “Dick.”
Blake laughs and holds his hand out to Avery. “I’m Blake and anything that you need, and I do mean anything, you let me know.”
Avery shakes her head while she holds back a laugh, taking him in stride. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that. Come on. I need another beer.” Blake turns and opens the screen door and we follow him inside. The house is crowded with all the usual faces that frequent Blake’s little get-togethers, so all eyes fall on me as I escort a new one into their midst. “Everyone, meet the new girl, Avery.” Blake turns toward my girl. “Avery, meet everyone. Now that that shit’s out of the way, let’s get fucked up!”
Everyone cheers and raises their drinks in the air, and suddenly the music gets cranked up and a lot of the g
irls jump up and dance.
Blake returns a couple moments later with a round of beers. “Let’s drink to the new hot chick in town.”
Avery laughs as she takes the drink. “I’ll drink to that.”
Blake downs his beer in one gulp and then belches loud enough to be heard over the music. “Have fun, you two. I’ve got something I have to take care of.”
With that Blake files through the crowd, leaving Avery and me in the living room full of people I’ve known most of my life.
Bodies gyrate to the latest Top 40 pop song, in turn clogging up every spare inch in the living room. Avery and I weave in and out of the crowd and make our way into the kitchen, where the beer is kept. Blake and a few other guys I recognize from work are playing a very intense game of beer pong. If I had to guess, Blake’s laid down some money on a bet. He always says money on the line makes the simplest things more interesting.
Blake tips his chin up when he notices us in the room. “You two want a piece of this action? You can play the winner of this game.”
“I’m not sure.” I’m hesitant, not sure if Avery would be willing to jump into the game, but the super-competitive side of me is dying to play.
Avery doesn’t say anything, just sticks by my side as we watch the game unfold in front of us.
Avery kisses my cheek. “Want a beer?”
“Sure. Thanks,” I say before she pulls free and heads toward the coolers that are full of beers, sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor.
Loud cheers from Blake’s beer pong game jerk my attention back toward him just in time to see him high-five his partner. “Still the reigning champs. We’ve beat everyone in this fucking place.”
I grab the ping-pong ball off the table and hold it up between my fingers. “Not everyone.”
“Oh, shit,” Blake crows. “Step on up. But you know how shit goes down in my house. You better break out some of that money I know you’ve been stashing away, because we’re playing twenty bucks a game, and there’s no fucking handicap because your partner’s a chick.”
“Sure you want to make that bet?” Avery flanks my side. “Because if you’re challenging me and Tyler, I hope you’re prepared to have your ass handed to you, Blake. I’m pretty damn good at this game.”
Blake rubs his palms together. “Hell yeah! I love a hot chick who can talk shit. This is going to be fun.”
“I hope he’s good for the money.” Avery smirks and then winks at me. “Because I’m about to take it from him.”
I think I just fell in love. This is a new side to Avery—the little hustler—that I find pretty damn sexy.
We start the game, and she wasn’t kidding about being good at this game. She sinks two balls in on her first two shots, forcing Blake to drink, and he instantly offers up a proposal for marriage, claiming she’s the baddest chick he’s ever met.
Avery and I stun everyone when we win the very first round. Blake quickly throws down a challenge of double or nothing, and we launch into another game.
Avery doesn’t mess around. She’s focused on the game, landing shot after shot as she digs her way to another victory. I’m sure being a student at Ohio State presented her with ample opportunity to play this game.
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. You can’t bring some fucking beer pong ringer into my house and not give me a shot at a rematch,” Blake whines as Avery and I bask in the glow of our back-to-back wins.
“Best two out of three,” Avery challenges. “But if I give you this rematch, we’ve got to make it interesting. We’ve got to play for more than just money.”
“Fair enough,” he says. “Name your terms.”
I hold back a laugh. The intensity over a game of beer pong is comical, but I have to admit seeing this determined, bossy side of Avery is a complete turn-on. It’s nice to see her confident in herself, especially after the conversation we had earlier about how she worries about her appearance.
“Okay . . .” Avery trails off. “My dad and Tyler are working on an addition on my granny’s house. If I win, you have to come over and help them out one day next week.”
Blake takes a moment to ponder that and then says, “Deal. But if I win, you have to give me a kiss on the cheek.”
That catches my attention and I can’t hold my tongue on this. “No fucking way, Blake. We went over this shit already. Change your stipulation.”
“Fine. Fine. If I win, then Avery has to come back over in the morning and clean the mess that is my house. It’s always being trashed and could really use a woman’s touch. The toilets, in particular, because those things are a fucking mess.”
Avery shudders, and I’m sure the very thought of probably touching the barf- and shit-filled toilets in this place has disgusted her thoroughly. The bathrooms here are pretty fucking disgusting. I wouldn’t take that bet.
“Deal,” Avery agrees.
My eyebrows rise up in surprise. Damn, my girl has some balls.
Blake’s face lights up. “All right! When you come over in the morning, you might want to stop and get a pair of rubber gloves and a biohazard suit, if you can find one. It’s pretty rank in there.”
“There will be no need,” Avery assures him. “I don’t plan on losing. Ever.”
“We’ll see about that,” Blake taunts.
“Let’s get this show on the road then.” She takes a long pull from her beer and then grins wickedly. “Let’s see what you got, Blake.”
Avery and I work on the next game, but lose quickly to Blake. The way Blake explodes after his victory, you would think he’d just won the Super Bowl, but he shouldn’t get so excited just yet. We’ve still got two more games to play.
The next game is just as intense, and when Avery sinks her ball into the last cup on the table, we all launch into a frenzy of shouts and cheers. It seems that most of the partygoers have now chosen to be spectators in our nail-biting event.
The last game has everyone on the edge of their seats. This one will make or break everything. Winner takes all.
As soon as we start the last game, Blake quickly sinks two balls into two separate cups for his team. Avery and I each take a cup and down the beer, and then take our turn shooting at the cups at the other end of the table. Avery surprises me and sinks two into the same cup, and I follow her up by sinking one of my own into a different cup. It doesn’t take long before there are only two cups sitting on the table. One on our end and one on Blake’s, and the first team to get a ping-pong ball into the cup wins. Blake’s team misses their shot and Avery answers by putting the ball into the last cup at the end of the table and winning the game for us.
I scoop her in my arms as the room erupts in cheers. It’s exhilarating to share this moment with her, and it hits me that I haven’t had this much fun in a long, long time. Matter of fact, this might just be the best damn day of my life and it’s all thanks to Avery. I don’t ever remember being this happy.
I wish my dad were here to meet her. He would’ve loved her. She’s beautiful and sassy but deep down I know she’s got a sweet heart that needs to be reminded of how amazing she is.
Avery kisses my lips. I cradle her face in my hands and deepen our kiss, allowing our tongues to dance together. If we keep this up, we will end up sleeping together.
“Get a room!” Blake shouts.
Avery smiles as she still clings to me. “Glad you brought that up, Blake. We’ll see you bright and early to help build my new bedroom.”
Blake frowns. “Come on, Avery. Do you actually expect me to come work on your house for free?”
“Would you have really made me come over here and scrub your toilets?” she fires back.
Blake’s lips twist, but he doesn’t give an answer.
Avery nods and laughs. “Thought so. Like I said, see you bright and early tomorrow.”
She turns to me with the biggest smile on her face and I instantly crush her against me. “You are such a badass.”
“What makes you say that?”
I give h
er a crooked grin. “Not only did you just whip Blake’s ass in beer pong, but I remember a certain scorned lady with a crowbar who was ready to bash a beautiful Camaro to smithereens.”
She threads her fingers through mine. “But in my defense, he was a complete asshole.”
I nod. “Any idiot who’s dumb enough to cheat on you deserves far worse than a couple broken headlights.”
Avery twists her lips. “Just remember that for future reference if you ever feel the need to stray.”
I chuckle. “For sure. My old truck doesn’t have full coverage, so you can bet I won’t be pissing you off anytime soon.”
“Good to know.” She walks backward toward the living room and tugs my hand. “Come dance with me.”
A song about finding a good girl to love blasts through the speakers and it strikes me to the core. It mimics a lot of what I’m feeling right now. The music rocks through me and the overwhelming urge to express to Avery some of the emotion I’m feeling rolls through me. I stare into Avery’s eyes and put as much passion as I can into the lyrics as I sing them directly to her. I want her to know that this thing between us—whatever it is—means a lot to me.
My hands fit perfectly on her hips and we dance and dance until I can barely stay on my feet. When the next song begins to play, she leans into me and wraps her arms around my neck.
“I’m getting tired,” she admits.
“We can go anytime you’re ready—just say the word.”
She looks up at me and grins. “Word.”
This girl fits so perfectly into my world. I can see myself being happy with her for a very long time. She doesn’t even know it yet, but I think I’m already beginning to fall for her.
AVERY
The next morning, I giggle to myself when I see Blake hop out of the passenger seat of Tyler’s truck. I head straight for the guys from where I just finished cleaning the stalls as I dust my hands onto my blue jeans.
Tyler’s face lights up as I embrace him in a warm hug. “Hey, beautiful.”
I pull back and then give him a quick peck on the lips. “Hey.”
It’s funny how at ease I’ve become with Tyler so soon. I know it’s really only been a week since he gave me a ride home that night, but I feel like I can trust him.