The bar is so loud and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a place like this.It’s also huge and I have no idea where they are. I’ve watched that video she sent me at least ten times on my way over here and each time I get angrier for torturing myself by watching it. I should just delete it.Don’t you fucking dare.The way she gasps my name the second she goes over the edge and shoots the sexiest wink to the camera, almost has me coming in my pants every time. There are two large bars both positioned in the center of the room and I walk around one and then the other before I see her in that sexy gold dress. I get closer and fuck she looks gorgeous, like she’s been out in the sun since the week I’ve seen her making her even more bronzed than usual. Her lips are painted red and quirked up in a smile towards some fucking asshole standing next to her.Fuck that.He leans down to whisper something in her ear, his hand resting at the small of her back, and I instantly feel the aggression r
After a very long forty-five minutes—trying to wrangle two intoxicated girls alone is no easy feat—I’m back at my house with Avery. As soon as we’re in my room, she’s already pulling off her clothes.“Avery,” I tell her just as she pulls her dress over her head. “Do you want to shower with me?”“I think...maybe we shouldn’t...”“Oh,” she scoffs, “we definitely should.”“I just don’t want things to get more complicated between us. I mean things are still unsettled with Lucas and—” I shake my head. “This puts us right back where we were two weeks ago. Sneaking around.”She stomps her foot. “You came to get me!” “Because you are drunk.” “And? This is not new! I know how to get myself home when I’ve been drinking, Theo. You wanted to fuck me and now you’re having second thoughts while I’m naked in your bedroom? You sure picked a fine time to stop thinking with your dick!” She unsnaps her bra and as her perfect tits spring free, I instantly crave the taste of them.“Avery.” I groan. “You’
A few days later, I’m at the café at the crack of dawn to help my momwhen Lucas walks in and my mouth drops open. He casually waves and I immediately run around the counter. I’m hoping that his being here means he’s forgiven me or at the very least wants to talk, and that’s something.“Lucas.” I stop myself before I hug him in case he isn’t ready for that yet.“Hey, Ave.”“You look good.” I nod at him because he does. I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks and he looks like he’s lost a bit of weight but somehow also gained some muscle. He’s typically clean-shaven but he’s got more of a beard coming in and it’s startling how much more he looks like Theo now.“Been at the gym and running.” I nod. “I heard you moved.”“I did. You should come by and see it.” I hate how awkward things are between us when they’ve never been this way. Is this the new normal between us? “You want some coffee or breakfast?”“Sure.” He smiles. “Whatever. You know I like everything.” I move around the counter
That night, the three of us and Raegan and Wes are at Theo’s house for dinner when Lucas speaks up. “So, how’d Camille and Shawn take it?” Lucas says as he takes a bite of the steak Theo had prepared.Theo and I exchange a glance. “Well...”Lucas’ eyes widen. “Holy shit, they don’t know?” “My mom does!” I say and Lucas’ mouth drops open.“Oh, shiiiiit. Please. You both owe me. Just let me be there when you tell Shawn.” He puts his hands together like he’s praying.Raegan giggles and shoots me a look. “You do kind of owe him.” “You’re absolutely not helping,” Theo interjects as he glares at her. “I’ve helped a lot, thank you very much,” she says with a snap of herfingers. “Besides, this is not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about wedding things.” She points back and forth between her and Wes. “This is the whole reason you’re home,” she says to Lucas as she smacks his arm. “Tuxedos. Tomorrow. All three of you. Ten a.m.”“Yes, I know,” Theo says like he’s heard this a hundred times
Ten Months Later“Mrs. Graham,” I wrap my arms around my wife—as of twenty minutesago—and press a kiss to her neck.She turns around and rubs her hands up my chest before she reaches upon her toes to kiss me. “Mr. Graham.” She scrunches her nose. “You know? I think I’m just going to call you husband instead. Mr. Graham makes me feel like I’m thirteen again.” She giggles.“I don’t care what you call me as long as you’ve got this ring on your finger.” I rub the wedding band I’d just slid on her finger that joined the four-carat oval-cut engagement ring. We’d snuck off to the bridal suite for a moment before we have to join everyone at the reception and I am hoping that I can entice her to let me see what’s under her dress again. “You look so beautiful,” I tell her as I help her take her veil off. “I am the luckiest man in the world.” I cup her face and press my lips to hers.“Theo...we really can’t.” She giggles. “It’s bad enough we started the ceremony twenty minutes late because som
There’s a spike in my heart rate the second Theo Graham enters the room.My skin prickles and although I only notice him out of my periphery as my grandparents stand in front of me going on and on about how proud they are of me for graduating college, he has all of my attention.Tonight is my graduation party and my parents rented out one of their favorite restaurants for the occasion and invited practically the entire town where I’m from in Pennsylvania to celebrate.My back straightens as I follow him with my eyes, and suddenly I’m hyper-aware of everything. How do I look? Is there anything in my teeth? Why are my hands sweaty? Has he noticed me? Fuck, Avery, do not look over there.Despite my instincts telling me not to react, I can’t help it; my eyes are inexplicably drawn to Theo whenever we share a room. It’s been like that for longer than I can remember. He knows how to command attention in any room. He knows how to command my attention anywhere.God, he looks good.At somewher
Six Months Prior: Winter Break 2022I just got home from college this afternoon after my most stressful semesterof school yet and with a hellish week of finals behind me, I came straight to the bar to meet my friends. Our high school senior class was super close. There weren’t any cliques; every friend group just intermixed making us one of the closest graduating classes our school had ever seen. Even four years later, we all go to the same bars when we’re home. The same parties. The same restaurants. The running joke is you couldn’t see a Riverside High School alumni without seeing at least three more in tow.Lucas isn’t home from NYU yet and his older sister, Raegan moved out and is living with her boyfriend across town, which means Theo has the house to himself tonight. Something I haven’t stopped thinking about since Lucas texted me that he won’t be home until early next week. The last time I’d been in Theo’s house when no one was home was this past summer.We’d made out for hour
Present DayI’ve been dreading tonight for weeks. The second her father Shawn told mewhere they were having her graduation party, followed by the invitation that her mother Camille sent over with all of the details, I’ve felt uneasy. I’ve been trying to avoid all things Avery Summers for what feels like three fucking years and yet she’s been able to embed herself into every aspect of my life effortlessly. Her parents still live next door and my son can’t go the length of a conversation without bringing her name up so I’ve been forced to have her name or her face flash through my mind at least once a day and it’s driving me fucking crazy.I tried to tell myself those nights didn’t feel as good as they did. That she didn’t look as good as she did. That I’m not attracted to the girl that I watched grow into a woman. The woman that my son has or had feelings for—I’m uncertain of where he currently stands. I do believe that if there are feelings, they’re not reciprocated on Avery’s side.