Page 39 of Muddy Messy Love

My eyes fall shut, bracing for impact, but Liam’s loose words dissolve in my alcohol-soaked blood like a body in acid. I only hope Tej didn’t hear.

“Babe,” Jen says. “Don’t talk about him.”

“Shit,” he groans, facepalming. “Sorry.”

I worm from their embrace, needing fresh air, and Jen finds a new target. “So nice to meet you, Tej.” She stretches her open arms towards him. “I can tell you need a hug too.”

“Yeah, bro love,” Liam says. “You’re all right, man.” They capture Tej and his guitar in a bear hug with mumbled words, and I wince, mouthing “Sorry” to him behind their backs.

Tej laughs, hugging them the best he can without dropping his case. “Nice to meet you too.”

A shiny Mazda pulls up to the kerb, and Jen frees Tej and claps her hands. “Oh,” she says, turning back to me. “If anyone asks, I’m staying at yours tonight, okay?”

I shake my head. It’s moments like these I’m thankful for the distinct lack of parental concern in my life. “They know you’re eighteen, right? As an adult, you should be able to sleep at your boyfriend’s house.”

Jen looks at me like I’ve recited Satan’s curse. “You try telling them that. I dare you.”

I wouldn’t have the courage. Her Dad is Scottish and built like a bulldog. His accent alone rods my spine and makes my voice squeak. Jen harrumphs, satisfied she’s made her point.

“Since when do they let you stay at my house, anyway?” I call out as Liam climbs into the back seat. Our slumber parties promptly ended when I first moved out.

Jen rests one foot on the chassis and leans atop the open door with a proud grin. “Since I told them you live with Beth, work full-time, and are done with your stupid phase.” As she climbs in, my cheeks burn. The thought of Tej knowing my dirty little secret stirs fear. Winding down the window, Jen pokes out her head and winks. “I told them the old Avery is back.”

TheoldAvery. Who is that, anyway? The naïve Goody Two-shoes who thought perfect grades could make her mother proud? What a fat waste of time that was.

Their Uber indicates, then pulls into a stream of cars, all spectating us revellers as if on safari tour. Liam seizes the opportunity to press a giant blowfish against the back windscreen, and Jen topples over in a fit of giggles. We stand on the footpath, laughing, until Liam’s tonsils fade from view.

“Wow. They’re some glasses, hey?” Tej remarks.

I chuckle. “Liam’s special.”

“So I noticed.”

“They’re nutjobs, but I love them,” I say with a grin, but my gaze drifts over Tej’s shoulder, locking onto a familiar frame in the distance, walking towards us. As I frown, Tej turns to follow my line of sight.

“Of all the places to see boss man,” he says, and butterflies swarm my stomach.

What is he doing here?

Tej answers me as if I spoke aloud. “Knowing him, he’s probably just left work. Oh no,” he whistles under his breath, “looks like he’s on a hot date.”

My brows jump, and I zoom in on Cole as he stops to allow his female companion time to catch up. She’s wrapped in sapphire-blue satin from breast to knee, her earlobes sparkling as they catch street lights and neon signs. I rake my gaze down her long legs to stiletto heels—long ago mastered—then fixate on my new boots. They glitter in the headlights of passing cars but are comparably unsexy all the same.

“Mr. B, how’s it going?” Tej says, and I look up to find Cole standing mere feet away with his eyes locked on mine.

I force a small smile and wave. “Hi.” Hell knows why I keep waving at the man whenever I say hello. It’s so dumb, but I can’t seem to stop.

The vertical line is back between his brows, and his date watches on with a polite but empty smile, barely disguising her boredom. She must be freezing. Or cold-blooded.

“Tej, Avery,” Cole says with a nod. “I trust you’re having a pleasant night.”

“You bet, Mr. B. We’re just waiting for our ride home.” Tej slaps Cole’s shoulder in a friendly man-to-man gesture, but Cole stiffens and hardens his eyes on mine. He opens his mouth to speak, but Tej beats him to it. “Ah, here it is now.” I drag my gaze away from Cole’s to find a white sedan hovering at the kerb. “See ya, man. Monday morning.” Tej salutes with a grin, then dips his head towards the lady in blue. “Madame.”

She smiles at Tej, but the sparkle leaves when she looks at me. She drags her gaze over me from head to toe like a trawler searching for treasure on the ocean floor, and when she finds none, satisfaction floods her tight smile. I’ve been classified as no threat, and I barely refrain from withering.

Why do successful men like Cole need hollow, etiquette-trained arm candy to reaffirm their superiority? And why can’t I be like that, goddamn it? I clench my jaw, and Cole’s eyes narrow on me.

I nudge my chin higher. “See you Monday, Mr. B.” I throw in the last part knowing he disliked the moniker, and his annoyance radiates in blistering waves. Climbing into the sedan next to Tej, I don’t look back. I’m not sure what it is about that woman, but I don’t like her. And I’m annoyed too. At Cole. Only, I’m not sure why.

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