Page 43 of Camera Shy

Reaching over Avery, I grab another bottle. I don’t bother grabbing the opener. I angle the tip against the side of the deck and pound the bottleneck. The lid rolls away as the beer foam spills over my hand. I chug the entire thing, trying to buy a little time to think. Avery is patiently quiet. She’s nervous but not pushy.

“So you want me to tell you what positions men like best or something?”

She shakes her head. “No. I could watch porn for that. I need you to show me. I need practice and real-time feedback, so when I do get back out there, I’ll know next time…” Her bottom lip trembles and she quickly covers her mouth.

“Next time you’ll know what?”

Inhaling deeply, she composes herself. “That if things don’t work out, it’s not my fault because I suck at sex.”

Where does her prick of an ex-boyfriend live? I really want to pay him a visit.

“I understand how crazy this sounds, but last night it seemed like you wouldn’t mind sleeping with me—”

I snatch her hand out of the water immediately and put it to my lips. Her lips twitch into a little smile. “If I’m hesitating, it’s not because of the reason you’re thinking. But this is complicated.” I drop her hand and step backward. “You’re asking me to take advantage of you while you’re at your lowest. And I don’t know how to represent the entire male population. Every man likes something different. I mean, what if I’m into really kinky stuff?”

Her brows quirk up. “Are you?”

I shrug. “Nothing…degrading, just sometimes I like—ah! No. Avery, I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I couldn’t even ask you out because I’m still not over my ex.”

“Oh.” Her entire face falls and I can tell it’s taking every ounce of restraint for her not to flee from this hot tub. “Okay, that’s okay. I know this was out of left field. Let’s forget it…”

I let out a heavy sigh. “I mean, I’m not over the way my ex treated me. I don’t love her anymore, but I’m still angry. I’m not ready to get involved with anyone right now.”

“I get it,” Avery says with a nod. “Me neither. I think I got a little in my head last night in front of the mirror and all. If I’m being honest, it was kind of exhilarating to be that brave. I think I’m chasing a high. Sorry. Can we forget I brought it up?”

No. I’m never going to forget how stupid I’m being right now. I should just pony up and fuck her properly. I’d make her forget her ex’s name. I’d ruin her for every single man on this planet. But that’s not what a good guy would do. This is a deal my dad would jump at.

“Sure.”

“I’m still going to help you, though, with your business.” Avery’s smile is sincere. Her eyes look even lighter, almost full gray…ghost-like. I notice they lighten when she’s about to cry. “And we’ve got a lot of work to do, buddy, so strap in.”

“What?”

“Oh, come on, Finn. Don’t be offended. It’s no secret you’ve been neglecting your marketing. You’re in a hole. We have to pull you out one step at a—”

“No, I mean, you still want to help me for free? Even though I told you I wouldn’t…”

“Yeah. Of course. I have one big project for the summer, but the rest of my contracts are on maintenance. I have the time, so why not? I’ll help a friend, no strings attached.”

No strings attached. Is that possible? Can we honestly do this with no strings attached?

“How would this go?”

“Well, we’d start with rebranding the boudoir website. Darker colors, clean transitions—”

“Not that part, Avery. Sex. You and me. If I were to teach you, how would that go?”

She reaches for her beer and tips it to her mouth to no avail. It’s empty, so she sets it behind her. She could stall by opening another bottle, but instead, she decides to be brave. “It’s simple. We’d have sex the way you like. You’d tell me what to do and how to do it. You’d just be patient with me and help me try new things and get better at them.” She rolls her wrist in the air. “I think confidence is key. Like you said in the closet. But I have to practice confidence in the bedroom. It’s not natural for me.”

“Okay… New things such as?” I’m going to pass out if she says anal.

“Do I really have to say it right now?”

I lock my gaze on hers. “Explicitly.”

She grumbles and rolls her eyes as she sinks lower into the hot tub so the water is coming up to her neck. “Have you heard of that app called Rumble?”

Fuck. “I could lie…”

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