Cheater (Curious Liaisons #1)(18)

I wanted to blame her.

So I did.

It was, after all, her moans I wanted to hear, not Amy’s, damn it, and when I’d tried to get in the mood, I couldn’t.

Because even though Avery was sometimes a judgmental psycho, all I could imagine was her standing over me with tears in her eyes—like her hero had fallen into the depths of hell, and she had no way of saving him.

“What?” Thatch barked by way of answering his cell. “I’m getting ready to go into the OR.”

“You work tonight?”

“Off after this last breast augmentation.”

Lucky bastard got to touch tits all day long and get paid for it. “Our spot at seven?”

“Done.”

He hung up. Thank God he was free, because for a half a second I had entertained the thought of calling Avery.

Shit.





Chapter Eight


AVERY

“I hate him.” I sucked my drink down, my lips clamping hard on the straw with a vengeance.

“Eh.” Austin arched an eyebrow and grinned. “You’ve said that like ten times—once on the way over here, twice when we walked in, and every time you take a sip. I’m pretty sure I got the memo.”

“Why are we friends?” I wondered aloud.

“You’ve been stuck with me since second grade. I’m not changing now, even though I’m so busy these days I can barely see straight.” She pouted her red-tinged lips and twirled her hair into a low bun, then slumped her shoulders. “I think I may actually decide to become a bum. You know, live off the land.”

“You were kicked out of Brownies,” I pointed out. “And last time your electricity went out, you asked if I knew how to light a match.”

“I was just making sure I was doing it right!” she yelled defensively, her pale skin going red.

I burst out laughing. “Because you’re afraid of fire, admit it.”

She lifted one shoulder. “It’s more of a healthy fear, like Oh, that shit’s hot—let’s not burn down the house or a finger off. Those things happen, you know, with stuff like firecrackers.”

“Okay, my little fire-fearing friend.” I patted her hand gently.

She scowled. “How much do you hate him again?”

“This much.” I held my hands wide, nearly taking out our waitress as she tried to squeeze by us. We were at the bar, drinking away our sorrows. The only reason I was there was because Austin had promised to buy me two drinks. Then again, her parents were rich, so I didn’t feel too guilty about saying yes.

She still lived at home.

Of course, if my parents had three pools, a sauna, and a tennis court, I would ask to be buried in their house.

But no. Instead, I had my mom’s macaroni and a room filled with stuffed animals that came alive at night. Yay me!

When I was little, I was convinced my teddy bear was real—and all these years later, I still found him in different spots throughout the house, though I was pretty sure my dad moved him around to freak me out, the bastard.

I let out a wide yawn. “Hating people is exhausting.”

Austin gave me a funny gaping look, then red flooded her cheeks.

“What? Why are you blushing? Who did you see?” I glanced around the dimly lit bar, hungrily seeking the reason for her reaction, but all I saw were overworked men in poorly fitting suits and a few girls with way too bright lipstick and skirts that barely covered their asses.

Austin gaped again, her gaze tracking right behind me.

“What?” I turned, but she grabbed me by the dress and held me in place.

“If you love me, as a friend, you won’t turn around right now.”

“Why?” I asked slowly.

“Because the hottest man candy in the entire world just looked our way, and if you look, he’ll know I’m talking about him. Quick, lipstick on my teeth? Weird makeup smudges on my cheeks? Tell me straight, sister, because I’m going over.”

Austin always looked perfect, even when she was tired from trying to finish her MBA in less than two years.

Her dark brown hair was wavy and messy but gorgeous, and her blue eyes stood out like giant, dazzling diamonds.

“You look horrible, ugly. How did you even leave the house this morning?”

“Thanks.” She kissed the top of my head, hopped off the barstool, and ran off.

I finally turned around when I thought it was safe, but it was too dark to make out the guy she was talking to. Then again, she was taller than most, so her body was blocking the view.

“Move, bitch,” I hissed under my breath.

“Well, well, well. Drinking alone I see,” a familiar voice said to my left.

I closed my eyes and willed Satan away. That was how those things worked, right? I needed garlic.

Instead, I reached for the salt in front of me and shook a little in Lucas’s direction.

When I opened my eyes, he was glancing down at the salt on his pants with a cheerful grin. “I think that only works on vampires. Or is it witches?”

“And here I thought it worked on all of Satan’s minions and even the little red man himself—my bad.” I smiled wide and took a large drink of my vodka and Coke. “And I’m not drinking alone. Austin found, according to her, the hottest man alive, so she just had to chase after him. Fingers crossed she won’t get another restraining order.”