Page 114 of That First Date

“Interesting.” A displeased frown on his face. “And how did you two meet again?”

“What is this–a game of twenty questions?” Avery snickers beside me, shaking her head in disbelief.

“No. I’m just trying to figure you two out. I’ve yet to see you at a work event once,Avery,” he says her name with so much accusation. “And you turn up out of the blue and here you are. Happy and engaged.”

“Isn’t that what an engaged couple is supposed to be,Todd?” she asks, using the same tone he used. “Last I checked, engaged couples should be ecstatic about their future nuptials. I also don’t have to attend every single work function.”

“It’s just that you’re…” He pauses as he scratches the back of his head. “How do I put this?”

“I’d be very careful of the next words that come out of your mouth when speaking to my fiancé, Todd.”

“No, babe. Let him finish that. Ican’t waitto hear what he has to say.”

“You don’t fit the mold,” he finally says. “You don’t fit the type of girl Marc Ford would ever be caught dead with, let alonemarrying.”

I stand from my chair, bringing myself face to face with him. My hands ball into a white knuckle fist as anger bubbles to the surface at the way he’s talking about her… to her right now.

“It’s funny you say that,” Avery says calmly before I get a chance to talk. She slowly stands from her chair and saunters her way to stand next to me as if this whole thing is the most casual thing in the world. How is she not raging right now? Hooking her arm in mine, I’m sure she feels the tension under her touch. “I was feeling the same way about you and Vivian.”

“Leave her out of this.”

“So what you’re saying is that you wantusto leave her out of this, but it’s quite alright for you to butt yourself intoourrelationship?” Avery laughs at him. “How much are you paying her for this summer charade, Johnny ruff nuts?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sure if I’ve picked up on it, that Bill and Cathy have as well. Where is she by the way?” Avery exaggeratedly looks around the back deck. “Ohhhh, I forgot. She wants to get as far away from you as possible, huh?”

“You have some fucking nerve.” Todd takes a step towards her.

“I might, but you haven’t denied anything yet.”

He moves to face me, pointing his finger directly at Avery. “This girl is nuts, Marc.”

“My girl’s got fire.” I smirk. “What can I say?”

Todd lets out a displeased scoff as his eyes bounce between the two of us. “She might. But I’m the one who Bill is going to give the entire company to.”

I say nothing as he turns on his heel and stalks back into the house at the same time Bill comes out. I barely hear Todd tell him he’s heading to bed with Vivian and he’ll see him in the morning.

Cathy emerges right behind him with a wide grin on her face. “Apple crisp anyone?”

* * *

We’re back in the room after being fully stuffed with dessert. Bill and Cathy excused themselves for the evening and headed to a friend's house up the mountain for some drinks on their back deck. That seems to be the thing to do up here.

Avery is bouncing around the bathroom as she washes her face and takes off her earrings. I slip into my sweatpants and sit on the edge of the bed.

“The nerve of that guy to be such an ass,” she says from the bathroom.

“He really shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I’m sorry, Avery.”

She comes to stand in the bathroom doorway and shoots me a smile. “Why are you sorry? You didn’t say it. He did. And trust me… people like himdo notbother me one bit.”

“I know. But I wanted to punch him in the face for talking to you like that.”

“He’s not worth it.” She spins on her heel and is back to doing what she was doing.

I move off the bed, and I quickly find myself pacing with nervous energy. I need to tell her how I feel, and I need to do it tonight. The water shuts off in the bathroom as I stand in front of the full-length mirror and see her emerge from the door through the reflection.

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