Page 73 of Burnout
“Slow day.” His phone pings and he pulls it out and stares at it so long I get bored waiting and start watching the TV behind the bar. Sports highlights. Football updates, hockey predictions, and a new coach for a college basketball team. My stomach drops when they switch to discussing motocross—specifically the Thorne team changes.
“Hey,” Brogan says. “That gymnast that’s helping you. What’s her name again?”
I glance away from the TV and blink a few times before his question registers. “Avery.”
“Avery Oliver?” He turns his phone around to show me a video of some sort. I see that Ken doll Tristan before it finally pans to a clear shot of Avery.
“What the hell is this?”
“Media day.”
“Why do you have a video of it?”
“They’re livestreaming it.”
I continue to stare at him.
“The girls are hot. A buddy follows the team social media page and sent it to me.”
“And you’re just creepily gawking at it?”
He rolls his eyes. “They’re doing interviews, asking questions, showing some behind-the-scenes shit.”
“That’s like saying you get porn magazines for the articles.”
“Nobody gets porno mags anymore.”
I grit my teeth. Not the point, but before I can argue with him, another customer comes into the bar.
Brogan hands me his phone like he’s throwing down a silent gauntlet, daring me to peek and not enjoy myself. What an idiot. I pick it up and watch as the camera girl with a bubbly voice goes down the line and asks each person their meet day breakfast. I’m already bored, but I hold out to hear Avery’s answer.
When it gets to the girl in front of her, Avery is half in frame, enough I can get a good look at her. Her hair is down instead of pulled back into a ponytail or bun like she does at practice. Her leotard is a blue shiny material. Long sleeves, but cut up high on her thighs, showing off her toned legs. She has her phone in one hand and holds it up like she’s scrolling it to kill time.
The camera moves over to her and she smiles, but it doesn’t make her face light up like normal and she looks nervous.
“Meet day breakfast?” The girl repeats the question.
“Oh, umm…an omelet with toast and a banana.”
I’m not surprised by her answer, but it’s her expression that I can’t stop thinking about even as the camera moves away.
I set Brogan’s phone on the bar and pull out my own.
Me
You look nervous.
Avery
Uhh…Hi. Stalk much?
Me
I’m at the bar grabbing lunch and my brother was watching. Apparently the gymnastics team is “hot.”
Avery
You disagree?
