Cheater (Curious Liaisons, #1)(22)

I even went so far as to go into the adjoining bathroom, get a glass of water, and set it by her bedside.

It felt wrong somehow—her being in my apartment.

In one of my bedrooms.

And I had no idea why.

Frowning, I stared down at her small body.

How many times in the past decade had I helped her sneak into her parents’ house after a night out with friends? Taught her how to get over a hangover? Or just let her sleep over when her entire family was out of town and she had to stay for softball practice to avoid getting kicked off the team.

That certain night needed to never, ever, never enter back into my consciousness.

Ever.




“Thorn!” Avery yelled, barreling toward my house. I was home for the weekend and staying with my parents, who just happened to live across the street from Avery’s family. “Open the door!”

“Shhh!” I opened the door and smirked. “Avery Bug, my, my, my, this is a surprise—do you do this often? Go to strange men’s homes and ask to be invited in?”

She slugged me in the shoulder. At seventeen, she was still all arms and legs, but her strength was impressive. “I’m scared, let me in.”

I pushed the door wide. “Be my guest, little sis.”

She stuck her tongue out and skipped into my house, then plopped onto my couch, putting her feet up on the table and sighing happily. “Sorry. I’m alone all weekend, and I heard a noise.”

I nodded. “Probably a burglar or an axe murderer. They do seem to know whenever girls are alone in all those horror movies. Good thing you’re here.”

“Make me popcorn?” Her smile about killed me.

“You do realize some people work for a living, right? And don’t often get time off.”

She wiped a fake tear. “You’re so . . .” She frowned. “Old.”

“Why did I let you in again?” I wondered aloud.

Avery laughed and pulled her long strawberry-blonde hair back into a ponytail. “Because you love me?”

“True.” I couldn’t help but smile. “I do, but not enough to make popcorn all by myself.” I held out my hand.

She jumped up from the couch and took it. “Race ya!”

We stayed up until four in the morning, watching horror movies and eating junk food. I’d been working so much to save for the wedding and honeymoon that I hadn’t taken any time for me. Kayla was working as a schoolteacher and trying to get her master’s at the same time. So although I loved her, I rarely saw her, especially since I’d taken a job downtown while she was still in Mill Creek. With the traffic snarls and my having to leave really early in the morning, things between us were . . . strained.

“So.” Avery laid her head on my shoulder.

I stiffened.

But I had no damn clue why.

It was Avery.

She was like a sister.

Except I swallowed and looked away, careful to pull the blanket up over her bare legs and short-as-hell shorts.

“Thanks.” She yawned. “I was cold.”

“Wearing shorts like that, I imagine you’re lucky you don’t have hypothermia.”

“Hey!” She slapped a hand over my stomach and left it there. “Not my fault they’re in style.”

“Whatever you say.”

Feelings I didn’t understand started pounding through me, blood roaring in my ears. No, no, no, I could NOT be attracted to Avery.

Seventeen.

She was seventeen.

I was such an ass! Marrying her sister in less than a year, and I was lusting after Avery, of all people?

Avery? Who got her braces off two years ago and had yet to grow into her body?

I really was stressed, overworked.

Avery sighed. “I got dumped.”

“Sorry, Bug.” I wrapped an arm around her tightly. “But he probably didn’t deserve you.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said after I punched him in the face.”

I burst out laughing. “Oh, please, please tell me you gave him a bloody nose.”

She shrugged. “He shouldn’t have messed around with another girl.”

My stomach clenched.

Was I capable of that?

Fear paralyzed me.

Because suddenly I wondered, if I had the chance to make out with Avery right then—if I had the chance to do even more than that, no strings attached—without Kayla finding out, would I?

The thought haunted me the rest of the night, including when I brushed a kiss across Avery’s cheek and then her lips as she slept against my chest.

I knew, in my gut, I already had my answer.





Chapter Ten


AVERY

I smacked my lips together, my very dry lips. Note to self: hydration saves lives. Ugh, why hadn’t I had any water at Thatch’s? Maybe because Austin had kept pouring wine and I’d kept drinking it, chugging it more likely.

I blinked, then rubbed my eyes. Awesome, they were almost glued shut with mascara, making it nearly impossible to see.

This was all Thorn’s fault! I’d left with everyone because I wasn’t about to let my best friend go to some strange man’s apartment. And then Thorn had gone and ordered pizza—with my favorite topping—that cheating whore! Okay, so my logic was a bit screwy. It’s not like he’d forced me to eat all the pizza and drink all the wine, but still!