Page 135 of Camera Shy

“Shit. Oh no,” Cass says, looking over my shoulder. I release Cass and spin around to see Avery in tears with her bra retied around her neck. She’s hysterical, covering as much of her face as she can with both hands. She’s been watching us, crying, putting herself through the torture of seeing me with another woman.

“Fuck,” I mumble. “Avery—”

She holds up both her hands to stop me from advancing and I see her wet cheeks and smeared makeup. “I am…so…sorry,” she says, completely in disarray. She’s gasping for air, trying to control her frenzy. She pats her chest. “My fault…it’s my fault. I thought I could…I just can’t do this…I’m sorry.”

“Baby—” I reach for her, but she steps away. Dammit. She’s going to run. I know it.

“I’m so embarrassed,” she murmurs.

In tandem, I take a step closer and she takes one back, toward the door. She’s looking at me like she’s scared of me.

“Avery, please calm down. Come here. We can stop.”

She glances down to make sure her breasts are fully covered and glances at the door.

I hold out my hand. “Just come here, please.” I feel like I’m coaxing a stray dog out of the street. Like if I move too fast it’s going to go running straight into traffic.

She finally takes my hand and I breathe out in relief.

“Finn, we’re fine. I’m sorry. I’ll be okay.” Then she rips her hand away. “But I need some space. Don’t follow me.” She darts from the room, shutting the door behind her.

Falling backward, I slump onto the edge of the sofa. Cass sits down next to me but knows better than to touch me right now. First, I zip up my jeans and refasten my belt, then I growl in frustration into my hands.

“Fuck this,” I mumble. “I’m going after her.”

“Finn, she asked you not to,” Cass says. “Just give her the night, then go talk to her tomorrow.”

“How’s she supposed to get home? She’s running around half-naked, crying. Something could—”

“Finn. She’s not drunk and she’s a smart girl. She knows how to call for a ride. If you treat her like an idiot right now, she’s going to be even more embarrassed. There’s a fine line between protective and patronizing, okay? Don’t make this worse.”

I nod. “Okay.”

“I’m sorry, I have no idea what happened. I kissed her first but then backed off. She’s the one who wanted to—”

“I know. It’s not your fault. She’s been trying to prove all summer that she can handle sex with me. She’s trying to be more daring so she fits into this scene. This city. She thinks that’s what I want from her.”

“Do you?”

“Not at all,” I reply. “Look, Cass, we’re not doing this anymore. You and I are going to keep our clothes on from now on.” I look around the room. “And I’m not coming here anymore. Gramps can donate Ruby’s for all I care. I don’t want anything in my life that comes between me and Avery.”

* * *

I burst through the exit doors of Ruby’s and scour the long row of vehicles parked in front of the club. There is a fleet of limos waiting to take drunk partygoers home, but I’m looking for a red Escalade—my ride share.

By now my breathing has calmed and my tears have mostly dried. I made a quick stop into the bathroom to somewhat compose myself.

What the fuck was I thinking? I pull my phone from my clutch again and check the ride-share app. I had to share the ride and I’m the second passenger to be picked up. I am not in the mood to drive around Las Vegas with a stranger, but it’s all that’s available right now. I’m sure I’m lucky to even have booked a ride. From the looks of it, my driver is stuck at a red light and attempting to make a U-turn, so I make a call to kill the time.

She answers in a groggy slur.

“Aves?”

“Palmer,” I say through a sniffle. She hears the strain in my voice and is immediately on high alert.

“What’s wrong?” For a moment, I just breathe and cry into the phone, so she asks again. “Where are you? It’s past midnight.”

“Outside of the birthday party, waiting on a ride.”

---