Page 57 of Stick Work

Her question feels genuine, not calculated, which makes me relax. Meeting her at the Nook, her connection to Taylor, and the overlap in our paths all feel like a sequence of coincidences. But I don’t sense that she’s out to befriend me to get a step up in life or use me for my connections.

“Governor of California.” I glance in the mirror again, catching Taylor’s reflection. Her phone is still in her hand, but this time, she’s watching me.

“Maybe one of these days you could introduce them,” Taylor suggests.

Avery’s eyes go wide. “Really? That would be amazing.”

“They’re planning a visit in the new year, when Elias plans to have his house fully furnished and ready for guests. They want to catch one of Elias’s games. Oh, you should come to one. He has a home game next week,” Taylor adds breezily.

“Yeah, they’re planning a visit,” I confirm, keeping my voice neutral even though a storm is building inside me. “I don’t know the exact dates, but I’m sure Dad would love to chat with you.”

She puts her hand on my arm. “Elias, I can’t believe you’d do that for me. That is so nice. I owe you big time for that, and Taylor, I’d love to come to a game with you.”

“I’ll get the tickets. Oh, and Elias loves lasagna,” Taylor provides, her gaze straying to some distant spot in the road.

“Lasagna. I can manage that,” Avery says, then with a laugh adds, “Although full disclosure, I can’t cook to save my life, but I can buy it from the Nook. They make a mean lasagna. Let me know when you’re free.” I turn down her street. “Oh, I’m just over here,” she says and points to an old, weathered building that has been broken up into apartments for college students.

I pull over on the street, since there is no parking lot, and she gives me a megawatt smile as she unbuckles. “Thanks again, and lasagna it is. I’ll get your number from Taylor later. We exchanged numbers earlier when I ran into her in the hall.” She shoots Taylor a hopeful glance. “Taylor please tell me you’re coming out tonight with us.”

“I’m not sure yet,” Taylor responds, her tone noncommittal.

“Come on. It’s going to be fun.” Avery glances at me. “Elias, why don’t you come too? I’ll buy you a drink to thank you for this ride.” She laughs, holding her hand up like she’s swearing an oath. “Don’t worry, lasagna is still on the table.”

I grip the steering wheel, the thoughts of a college pick-up bar making me cringe. Honestly, the last thing I want is to spend a night surrounded by drinking college kids.

Ah, but Taylor is a college student, dude…

“Oh, I…Uh, I actually have plans,” I finally tell her and now it’s my turn to avoid Taylor’s glance. Yes, I feel her eyes on me after that little white lie. Although technically it’s not a lie. I have dinner plans with Taylor. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Disappointment moves over Avery’s face as she climbs from the car. She pokes her head back in. “I hope to see you tonight, Taylor. We definitely need to blow off steam after this semester.”

“You’re not wrong about that.” She holds up her phone. “I’ll text you.”

As Avery shuts the door and walks toward her apartment, I glance at Taylor in the mirror. Silence arcs between us as she slowly turns her eyes to me. “What the fuck, Taylor?”

“What?” she responds, all innocent. Did she really expect me not to call her out on her matchmaking bullshit?

Avery stops at her door and turns back to give us a wave. Once she’s safely inside, I continue. “You know what. You’re trying to set me up with Avery because we have political science in common.”

She puckers her lips, going on the defensive. “I just thought?—”

I hold my hand up to stop her. “Get your ass up here.”

She grumbles something about me being bossy as she slides from the back seat and slips in beside me. Before I can say anything, she throws her hands up in the air. “I just thought?—”

“I know what you thought,” I interrupt. She slouches dramatically in her seat, her bottom lip sticking out just enough to tug at my heartstrings. I sigh and soften my tone. “Hey, I’m not ready for that, okay? We discussed this.”

“Technically, you said you’d think on it. You still haven’t given me an answer and the opportunity with Avery presented itself.”

She’s right, I did say I’d think on it. “How about this? Let’s get through the holidays and the wedding, and then I’ll go from there.”

“I just thought if you had something in common, and she’s really nice. I bet your parents would like her. She’s going into politics, after all.”

“They like you,” I remind her.

“I know and that’s the problem,” she huffs out. “This is all Roman’s fault.”

“It really is, isn’t it?” I lean in, cup the back of her neck and pull her to me. I don’t give a shit if Avery is peeking out her window as I kiss her with all the need inside me, anxious to show her that I like her too. She melts under my ministrations, and when I move back a little, a warm contented sigh escapes her lips. Does that sigh mean she likes me too? Even if she did, what the hell can we do about it?

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