Page 88 of Off Camera
Outside the bedroom, she irritates the ever-loving shit out of me.
She makes me want to pull my hair out and has me furiously answering comments like my fingers are going to fall off if I don’t get to them fast enough.
It’s different behind closed doors when we put our phones away.
Work and life get paused when she shows up at my apartment, and I can be someone else for a little while.
The dude who scores a goddamn beauty queen.
Avery
I should go pay for this before they think I’m trying to rob the place.
Me
You’re too good to do something like that.
Avery
What if I want to be a little bad, though?
Me
Going to block you now. I don’t want to get hard around my friends.
“You okay, Plant Daddy?” Maverick asks. “You look a little red.”
“Fine. Just peachy. It’s sunburn. From being outside. In the sun. Warm weather. Climate change.” I bob my head and pull on my collar. “You know. Save the turtles.”
Dallas smirks. “Let him be, Mav.”
“Speaking of sunburn, you all are confirmed for the softball game, right? Our donations surpassed last year, and there’s still a week and a half to go,” Maverick says proudly. “We’re going to have a good turnout.”
“Still can’t believe you got me to agree to play competitive sports.” I stand and tuck my book close to my chest, thumbing through the pages. “But I’ll be there.”
“I’m a man of many talents,” Maverick says. “You heading out?”
“Yeah. I have some work stuff I need to wrap up,” I say, and it’s the first time I’ve ever lied to them. “Thanks for another great chat, gentlemen.”
I wait until I’m safely downstairs and away from their prying eyes before I read the last message I received. The one from Avery that’s been burning a hole in my pocket since she sent it fifteen minutes ago.
Avery
You’d miss me too much if you blocked me.
Me
I’m heading home.
I know you have an early flight tomorrow, but if you want to be bad, I’d really like it if you came over.
Avery
Bad, huh?
Me
Sorry. My dirty talking is shit.
