“Avery?” she said, my name a rough whisper.
My heart crashed against my chest, my palms slick and hands shaking. My body remembered; the fickle fucking thing remembered what it was like to have her so close. Close enough to kiss… to taste.
“Avery?” she said again, leaning in enough that I felt her warm liquor-scented breath.
I didn’t want to kiss her.
I didn’t want to even think about kissing her.
But I couldn’t stop myself. She pulled me in like gravity until my lips ghosted over hers in a featherlight touch that made her shiver.
“Miley,” her name formed on my tongue but then music boomed through the house, ripping me from the moment. I staggered back, blinking at her. A crestfallen expression washed over her.
“You need to go,” I barked, before taking off down the hall.
“Where’d you go?” Micah smirked as I headed straight for the cooler and grabbed a beer.
“To tell her to get the hell out of here, why?”
“No reason.” His eyes danced with amusement, but I didn’t stick around for any more of his interrogations. I slipped outside into his massive yard and found a quiet spot over by the firepit.
It wasn’t long before a girl sought me out.
“Hey, Avery. Why are you sitting out here all alone?” Kendall Novak lowered herself into my lap as if she owned me. Sliding her arms around my neck, she leaned forward a little, giving me a front row ticket to her impressive cleavage.
Kendall was a cheerleader. She wasn’t captain, but everyone knew she was the favorite. And she’d had her eye on me since I’d become first string quarterback in sophomore year. But I didn’t date. And I especially didn’t date girls like Kendall. They were too clingy, too high maintenance, and once they got their claws into you, they became a bad rash you couldn’t shake. I didn’t have the time or energy for that.
But that didn’t mean my dick didn’t want a taste. She was hot as fuck and I was as horny as the next guy.
“Avery?” she purred, commanding my attention.
“Just chilling,” I said, aware of her tight little body pressed up against mine in all the right places. If she wiggled her ass, she’d be as good as grinding on my dick.
Laughter filled the air as Micah and the rest of the guys spilled outside, Miley still tucked under his arm.
“Seriously, what’s with Micah and the snitch?”
“Beats me,” I ground out. She still looked like a rabbit caught in headlights.
Why the fuck was she still here?
As if she heard me, her eyes snapped over in my direction, widening when she saw Kendall. Without thinking, I slipped my arm around her waist and brought my lips to her neck, not taking my eyes off of Miley as I kissed her soft skin.
Even though she was across the yard, I saw the hitch in her breath. Hurt flashed over her face, and for a second, I felt triumphant. Until she took off toward the pool with Micah.
What the fuck was he doing?
And more importantly, what the fuck was she doing?
Chapter Six
Miley
I’d made a mistake.
When Avery had made it obvious he didn’t want me at the party, I’d dug in my heels and accepted Micah’s invitation. But now I was watching Avery cuddle up to Kendall Novak while I pretended I could party like one of them—the cool kids, the popular kids, the kids I’d spent my entire life avoiding— all while trying to keep control of my reflexes.
I felt a little weird though. I’d only had like one or two drinks when we first arrived, and Micah had given them to me directly. And I’d eaten a handful of the snacks out on the counter while I stood around listening to them talk about the upcoming season. So it wasn’t like I’d been drinking on an empty stomach.
“It’s warm out here,” I said, tugging on Micah’s hand. I knew he was probably setting me up for some big fall, but I couldn’t back down. Not now.
“You should lose the cardigan,” he suggested.
“Good idea.” I pulled it off my arms and draped it over the back of a garden lounger. Kids were littered around the yard, huddled in groups chatting and dancing, while others played water polo in the pool.
The water looked so inviting, rippling and shimmering under the moonlight.
“Better?” Micah brushed his finger over my shoulder and a shiver rolled through me. His touch was nice, comforting. But he was supposed to be the bad guy, wasn’t he?
Avery was the good guy. He was the leader; the cool, composed captain. Only, when I glanced over at him, he was practically making out with Kendall.
My stomach dropped.
He was kissing her…
I didn’t come here so he could kiss her, I came here so he would kiss me.
“Hey, Miley, come meet some people.” Micah beckoned me over and I stuffed down all my thoughts about Avery.
“Hey.” I smiled, my cheeks aching.
“You know Christina and Thea. That’s Jordan, Kercher, and Sam.”
I lifted my hand in a small wave. “Hey.”
“Didn’t think we’d see you around here again.” Christina glowered at me.
“We all deserve a second chance, right?” I exploded with laughter, the five of them staring at me with a mix of confusion and amusement.
“You should take it easy, babe,” Micah whispered.
A song blasted out over the sound system and I did a little leap on the spot. “I love this one.” My hips began to move as I felt my limbs follow. I didn’t usually dance, but I couldn’t seem to stand still. Beads of sweat trickled down my back and between my cleavage as I stood on the edge of the pool, dancing in my own little world.
“Micah, come join me,” I hollered.
“Oh, I’m good,” he smirked, “just enjoying the view.”
I shrugged, letting the music carry me away to
