Page 33 of Off Camera
“Don’t worry about the logistics.” Maverick waves his hand. “She’s practically a teenager. She’ll be fine.”
“She isnotpractically a teenager,” Dallas answers. “The fuck is wrong with you?”
“Shawn has her,” I say, and Dallas relaxes. “I saw them in the lobby when I was getting coffee.”
“You know I love June Bug, but I need your attention on me for a second.” Maverick snaps his fingers. “Plant Daddy got laid last night.”
“What? I swear if you touched my sister, we’re going to have a serious problem,” Dallas says.
“I didn’t touch your sister. Remember how I told you about that girl from the bar? Turns out she was at your wedding.”
“Hang on.” Dallas rubs his forehead, slow to catch up. “What’s her name?”
“Avery,” I say, and his eyes widen. He loses his footing, and I groan. “Dammit. What does that look mean?”
A sly smile settles on his mouth. “I’m just surprised you hooked up with someone. Did you have fun?”
Avery is the most fun I’ve had in long time.
Ever, maybe.
I can still taste her on my tongue. I can still hear those breathy moans she let out when I touched her. I can still feel howtightshe was when I sank into her.
Besides the sexual stuff that felt great after an extended bout with celibacy, it’s the other things too. Her laugh echoing in my ears. Her hand in mine. Her sleepy smile when she rested her cheek on my chest.
She’s fucking perfect.
I sit in the leather chair in the corner of the room and stretch out my legs. “It was nice to let go for a night. I woke up to seventy work emails, but it was worth it.”
“Did you two do much talking?” Dallas asks, and I raise an eyebrow.
“Uh, I mean, it was mixed in there with other things.” I pull at my collar, grateful my shirt covers the lipstick she left on my neck. Two showers later, and it still hasn’t come off. “It’s not like we talked about the economy or where we see ourselves in ten years. But she, ah, used to be blond once upon a time. And she’s really nice. Still funny, too.”
“I don’t think I should be here for this.” Emmy tries to pull away from Maverick, but he keeps her in his hold. “Maven and I can get brunch while you all talk about Reid’s sex life.”
“You can stay, Emmy. I don’t care. I’m not sharing any details with these fuckers.” I lean forward and grab a coffee. “Avery told me she played soccer with Maven, and I realized that’s why she looked so familiar. We haven’t met, but we’ve been in the same vicinity.”
“Why does that name ring a bell?” Maverick asks. “Avery. Avery. Do I know an Avery?”
“You’ve slept with half the city. I’m sure there was an Avery in there,” Emmy says.
“I really hope he hasn’t slept with her. I could never see her again,” I say.
“Here I am suffering, and everyone wants to pile their shit on me.” Maverick huffs and reaches for one of the coffees. “Fuck me, I guess.”
“Have you met her, Dal?” I ask.
“What? No. Nope. No way. Maven mentioned her before, but we haven’t actually met.” He rubs the back of his neck and clears his throat. “Are you going to see her again?”
“I invited her to have dinner at my place on Tuesday. I guess we’ll see how things go when we’re talking and not?—”
“Fucking,” Maverick finishes for me, and I turn beet red.
“Yes. That.” I sip the cold brew and sigh. “I’m leaving for the NFL summit on Thursday, and I’ll be gone all weekend. I figured if there was any hope of her not forgetting me, we had to hang out this week.”
“What is this summit thing again?” Maverick asks. “I don’t get to go to anything cool.”
“Because you’re paid to hit a hockey puck.” Emmy kisses his cheek, and he rolls his shoulders back all proud. “Not to do things like create ad campaigns.”
