Page 3 of Stick Handled

“Well,” he says, voice dipping lower, “either way, it’s good to see you again, Red.”

I glance out the window, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. “Yeah, you too.”

We pull onto the long, gated driveway leading to Rowan’s house, and I can feel my nerves prickling again. As soon as we park, Damien’s out of the car and heading to the trunk, grabbing my bags before I can even unbuckle my seatbelt.

“You don’t have to—" I start, but he’s already lifting my suitcase like it’s made of air. His biceps flex, and I can’t help but notice the way his shirt pulls tight across his chest.

He turns to me, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “Relax. I’ve got it.”

“Right.” I swallow hard, trailing behind him as we make our way to the front doors. The house looms large and familiar, but stepping back inside feels different now. It’s like everything’s changed since the last time I was here.

I take a deep breath as I look around.

Damien sets my bags down in the entryway, turning to face me with that same playful glint in his eyes. “You look tense,” he says, stepping closer. “You sure you’re ready for a whole summer with us?”

His voice dips at the end, sending a shiver down my arms. I force myself to stand still, even though every instinct tells me to back up. Sarah’s voice echoes in my mind:Flirt with him, just for fun.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “I can handle you no problem.”

The second the words leave my mouth, I want to crawl under a rock. Damien’s brows shoot up, and his grin turns wolfish like he just found his favorite game.

Crap.

“Oh, yeah?” he asks, his voice low and teasing.

I try to laugh it off, but it comes out shaky. “I mean… yeah.”

His smile widens, eyes gleaming with amusement. “I’m going to hold you to that, Red.” He leans in a little more, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “We’ll see how long you last.”

My heart races as I stand there, completely regretting taking Sarah’s advice.

My breath hitches, and all I can do is nod, not trusting myself to speak. Damien chuckles softly, straightening up, and the tension between us eases just a little.

“The whole summer, hopefully,” I mutter as he heads toward the door.

But before he leaves, Damien throws one last knee buckling glance over his shoulder, his grin as sharp as ever.

“I’ll be around. Try not to avoid me this time.”

The door closes behind him, and I’m left standing in the entryway. His car’s engine roars just for a few moments before stopping again. I look out the window, seeing him get out of the car and head for his own door a few yards away. I watch him as he strides into his house, my pulse still racing, already knowing that it’s going to be a long summer.

Chapter two

~DAMIEN~

I’m fucked.

The second she said it, I knew. IknewI was screwed.“I can handle you, no problem.”

Avery trying to flirt? It was the most awkward, cringe-inducing attempt at confidence I’ve ever seen. But the thing is, it worked. Not in the way she wanted it to, most probably. But that was all I needed to feel the first crack in my self-control I’ve been working on for so long.

Because it wasn’t about the words, it was the way her face flushed the second they left her mouth. The way she panicked, instantly regretting it. The way she couldn’t even look at me after it. That innocent little act… yeah, that fucking got to me. I researched her college and the type of people who attend it. All the frat houses I hope she’s never been to, all the sororities I hope haven’t warped her mind. She’s spent too much time around her college friends—good thing she’s back where she belongs.

I’m still thinking about it. About her. For those two years she’s been away, I’ve been dreading this exact moment. I’ve dreaded and anticipated seeing her again. I thought—no, Ifearedthat maybe college would have turned her into someone else. Someone I wouldn’t recognize. But there she was, standing at that airport with her auburn hair, freckles, and those wide, nervous green eyes. Same Avery. Same girl who’s always made it hard for me to keep my shit together. Same girl who made my heart stop the moment I laid eyes on her. And It's been that way since she moved in with her brother at nineteen.

Rowan’s little sister. And that’s always been the fucking problem.

It’s not like I haven’t had the opportunity. I’ve hadplentyof opportunities over the years to try and scratch that itch. The problem is that it’s not even an itch at this point—it’s a need. But I’ve always held back because of Rowan. He’s the definition of overprotective, and the last thing I need is for my best friend to break my jaw. But now that she’s back for the whole summer and possibly more, living next door… it’s gonna take more than my self-control and the very real possibility of Rowan breaking my face to keep me away from her.

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