That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3)(48)

Hopefully.

As if maybe when he gets back he won’t see me.

What the fuck is that about?

“Reid,” I say, trying not to panic. “He’s lying to me.”

Avery gasps, alert now. “Did he cheat on you? I swear I will fly up there and cut his dick off; then he really will be cursed.”

“He’s not cheating on me.” At least not that I know of . . . no, I mentally shake my head. Reid isn’t like that. The Knightlys aren’t like that. And if Reid did cheat on me, I’m sure Avery wouldn’t be the first one in line to chop his dick off. First his mom, then Jen, then I’m sure his dad, followed up by all his brothers. If anything, the Knightlys are the most loyal clan I’ve ever met. If you’re in with them, you’re in for life. It’s why even when Reid and Eric were in culinary school and doing their restaurant thing, and I was back home taking care of my parents, the Knightlys would check in on me, offer up little deliveries of fudge. They did what they could and are a huge reason why I don’t think Reid would ever cheat.

“Okay, well, that’s good, because chopping off penises just doesn’t seem like something fun to do. Not to get gory, but do you use a meat cleaver? Pruning shears? An axe?”

“It’s too early for that kind of questioning.”

“Hey, don’t you give me sass—you’re the one who called me. I was having a wonderful dream about the choreographer I take tap lessons from. You should see his thighs, Eve. Bigger than my head. I want to know what they feel like wrapped around me while I blow him, and I was just getting to the good stuff when you called.”

I rub my hand across my forehead, my patience wearing thin at the visual—those massive legs encircling my friend’s head. “That’s a little too much for me to handle right now.” The man calves are hairy. I take a deep breath, banishing them from my mind. “I’m sorry for interrupting your dream, but I really have no one else to talk to about this. All my girlfriends here are kind of tied in with Reid somehow.”

“Then tell me everything. We can dissect it.”

“Well, he had a conversation with his dad and said it was about some sort of investment but didn’t go into any more detail. I could tell it shook him because he was acting weird that night. I didn’t push the matter, though, because I’m still trying to get to that level of trust with Reid.”

“He doesn’t trust you? That seems pretty fucked up. You’ve known each other for such a long time. At this point, you should be one of the only people he trusts.”

I can’t deny that she’s right.

“I know, but this is also a different kind of trust. It’s the boyfriend-girlfriend trust. We’ve been friends, but we’ve never explored our feelings until now. And if I’ve learned anything over the last few weeks, it’s that Reid really doesn’t tell anyone anything. He holds everything in. Even when he and Eric were close, I don’t think he spoke up much.”

“Yeah, I can see that. But maybe you could be that person for him, the one he confides in.”

“I want to be, but I’m just not sure he wants that.”

“Why? Hasn’t he been all over you since you two got together?”

“Yes, he has. It’s been really great, and I’m not just talking about all the sex.” Avery sighs dreamily at that. “He knows how to comfort me,” I continue, “take care of me. It’s the little things, like bringing me scones, candles, checking in on me after a long day, helping me study. We’ve been so involved in each other’s lives, and then something shifted after he talked with his dad. I can feel that he’s starting to pull away, but I have no idea why.”

“Do you think his dad warned him away from you?”

“No, Mr. Knightly wouldn’t do that. I even saw him around town the other day, and he stopped to whisper to me how happy he was that I was with Reid.”

“Yeah, you’re right, that man is an angel in plaid. Then I wonder what he said.”

“Whatever he talked about has thrown Reid for a loop. I haven’t seen him since that night; his texts are lackluster . . . then he told me he’s leaving town, and do you know what he said?” I pull on a strand of hair, my frustration needing an outlet.

“What?” Avery asks, the edge in her voice telling me she’s about ready to pounce.

“That when he gets back, he’ll hopefully see me.”

“Hopefully? What the hell does that mean? Did you tell him he damn well better see you?”

“I didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say. Hopefully is such a weird way of putting things. Like, is he going to get eye surgery and maybe it will go wrong? Is there a chance he might not literally see me?”

“I don’t think that’s it, but nice try there.”

I groan, sit up from my bed, and reach for my water bottle, taking a long pull from the straw. “I thought I would give it a try. Ugh, I don’t know what to do, Avery. I wish I could be that girl who plays it aloof, gives him the silent treatment, and shows him what he’d be missing, but I don’t think I can.”

“Here, I can be that girl for you. Forward your phone to mine; I’ll tell him a thing or two about hopefully seeing you when he gets back.”

“You would destroy him. I don’t think I want that. Not at this point at least, but I’ll keep the offer in my back pocket.”