Chapter 13: Chapter 13

AVERY

Reed is waiting for me at a new bar downtown later that night, already at a table and wearing his trademark grin.

“I haven’t been here before,” I say, sliding onto the stool across from him.

“Good. Neither have I. Neutral territory then.”

“Okay, what’s the plan?” I ask, a little anxious about what he has in store for me.

“Well, I was going to have you try and pick me up—”

“Reed—”

“Let me finish. After seeing you last night, I think we should work on getting you comfortable in a room first, like how you were on the stage.” He pauses, his gaze heavy as he takes me in. “I’ve never seen you like that before, Avery. You were so confident, so…sexy.”

I blush, and Reed clears his throat.

“Anyway, we’re going to try and bring that out. Men like a confident woman who’s not afraid to get out there.”

“How?”

He leans in, curling his finger so I’ll come in closer.

“You see those guys over there playing pool?”

My eyes find the group he’s talking about, clustered around one of the tables and drinking beer.

“Yeah?”

“I want you to go over there and ask them to show you how to play.”

“What?” I say, pulling back and giving Reed a disbelieving stare. “Why? I don’t want to learn to play pool.”

“It’s not about that, Avery. It’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone a little and tapping into that Avery from last night.” He reaches over to pull my stool away from the table. “Now, go ask them.”

“They’re not going to pay me any attention,” I mutter, feeling my face heat as I think about walking up to the group of strangers.

“They will. Trust me,” he replies. “It’s either this, or we go back to you showing off your moves on me.” He tucks my hair back, lips brushing my ear as he whispers, “See if you can flirt your way into my bed, Avery.”

“Reed!” I exclaim.

My cheeks feel practically volcanic, and my knees quake as I clench my legs tightly together. Need rushes through me, and I have to remind myself that we’re doing this so he can get his mystery woman.

~That’s who Reed really wants. He’s just messing with me~.

He winks as he takes another pull of his beer. “When you get over there, watch them for a little bit. They’ll come to you.”

“You seem pretty damn certain of that.” I sigh.

I’ve never approached a guy before, much less a group of them. All the ways I’m going to mess this up start going through my mind, but Reed gives me a confident nod as I rise from my stool.

“I’m a guy, Avery. I know how we think. Now go.”

I hesitate.

“Have it your way,” he says, a playful smirk on his face.

He pulls me toward him, and I catch myself against his chest as his hand slides down my waist. My heart hammers as I stare into his hazel eyes. My gaze flicks down to his mouth, and I swallow hard.

~Oh my god. He’s so…solid. Wait! What am I doing? He’s got someone, Avery. Get yourself together.~

“Hi, I’m Reed,” he says his voice low. “Just moved here from Seattle. What’s—”

“O-okay,” I stammer, patting his chest. “You made your point, Reed.”

Moving back feels impossible, but I manage one small step and then another. Frustration flashes across his face, so quick I think I imagined it, before his signature cocky grin is back.

“Not very gentlemanly,” I tsk. “Getting handsy before you’ve even said hello.”

“I told you I wasn’t known for being a gentleman,” he chuckles darkly. “That’s why I need you.”

I suppress a shiver at his tone and start toward the guys around the pool table. I glance over my shoulder to see Reed, his face blank till he notices me looking. He slaps on a proud grin and gives me a thumbs up.

A guy with shaggy, red hair looks up at me as soon as I approach. I stand back for a few moments watching their game before he sets his pool cue down and comes over to introduce himself.

“Hey. I’m Ren.” He holds out his hand.

“Avery,” I reply.

“Are you waiting for the table?”

I shake my head. “No. Just watching. I don’t know how to play.”

“I can teach you,” Ren says. “Come on. It’s easy.”

~Damn. Reed was right.~

“Okay, sure.”

He smiles, then nods to his friend. “Rack em’ up, Ty.”

***

Ren slides his pool cue back and slams it forward, sending the eight-ball rocketing into the corner pocket.

“And that’s game.” He smiles, standing back up and walking toward me. “Not bad for a beginner. You made two shots. Want to go again?” he asks, a hopeful cock of his eyebrow.

“Maybe another time,” I respond. “I should get back to my friend. Thanks for showing me how to play.”

He looks over my shoulder at Reed. “You mean your boyfriend?”

I scoff. ~I wish.~

“No, we’re just old friends. Thanks again. That was fun.”

“No worries. It was nice to meet you, Avery. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Ren offers his hand for a high five.

“You too, Ren.”

I slap my hand to his before making my way back to Reed.

“If it isn’t my favorite loser,” he jokes and pushes a cocktail my way. “Here, to lessen the blow. You really are a horrible pool player.”

“My hero,” I reply in a mocking tone. “Does this mean that we’re done for the night?”

He shakes his head, pointing toward another group of guys playing darts. “Not quite. You see them over there? Go over there and get them to let you play.”

“Reed, I don’t feel like losing another game tonight,” I complain, bringing the glass to my lips. The first sip is refreshingly cold. “Can’t I just sit here and get drunk instead?”

“I didn’t say I wanted you to play with them. I want you to get them to move so that we can play.”

“Why don’t you go ask them?”

“Because I don’t need a lesson in confidence. You do,” he reminds me.

“You really are a pain tonight,” I say, taking another sip of my drink.

Reed laughs. “Well, I’ll give you a choice. Go over there and tell them you’ve got next game or ask me to dance.”

My eyes flick to the only dancing couple in the bar as they dry-hump against the wall to a Meatloaf song. I choke on my cocktail, coughing as Reed pats my back, a delighted evil grin on his face.

“What’ll be, Avery?” he asks when I’ve recovered. “Not going to lie, part of me hopes you’ll go with the second option.”

~I wonder what part~, I think dryly, frowning at him. ~Truthfully, I’d give my right arm to be all over Reed Everett like that. Just not in a crowded bar.~

I slam down the rest of my cocktail and hop off my stool, stepping into him. His eyes widen in surprise.

“Careful, Reed,” I say softly, batting my eyelashes at him. “You keep making jokes like that, and I might just take you up on it.”

He swallows, eyes traveling down my body as I retreat.

“You want the dartboard so bad, Reed?” I square my shoulders. “I’ll get it for you. Order me another and meet me over there.”

I spin on my heel and march toward the group of guys standing around the dartboard. A blond with his snapback hat on backward takes notice as soon as I arrive.

“Hi there, gorgeous. Come to challenge the winner?”

“Actually, looking for the next game. My friend and I want to play,” I reply with a smile.

“Your friend, huh?” says a brunette as he steps around the blond and leans his arm against my shoulder. “She as pretty as you are?”

Both of them are taller than me, so I feel crowded out quickly as the blond steps closer.

“Um,” I say, glancing back and forth between them.

The blond chuckles and runs a finger along my cheek. I jerk my head back.

~Crap. This is not going how I expected.~

“What do we get?” he coos, leaning closer by the second.

I feel Reed step up behind me.

“You won’t get your asses beat if you walk away now,” he growls, pulling me away and squaring off against them.

“You gonna beat my ass?” the brunette scoffs, trying to size Reed up like he stands a chance.

I watch Reed’s fists clench and realize this could be very bad. Reed’s got about two inches on the guy, not to mention his years of training. He’d wipe the floor with him.

~Shit.~

The blond puts himself in the middle of it, trying his best to defuse the situation before it escalates too far.

“Come on, Aaron. I’m not trying to get kicked out of another bar over some chick.”

Reed glares, and I reach up, taking his arm. He turns to me, a familiar wild look in his eyes. It’s the same look he’d get back in high school right before he got suspended, but it’s darker now, more dangerous.

“Reed, let’s just call it a night,” I suggest, tugging on his hand. “Come on, Reed,” I say again, hoping he’ll hear me through the rage clouding his judgment.

The blond drags his friend out the door. The cold wisp of autumn air that rushes in as they leave seems to shake Reed out of it. His shoulders lower, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“What the hell was that?” I ask with a sharp jab to his side.

“Ow,” he groans. “What the fuck, Avery?”

“That’s what I want to know, Reed! Why’d you just go all caveman?”

“That guy was being sleazy,” he snarls. “He shouldn’t have touched you.”

“So, you threaten to beat his ass?” I reply, rolling my eyes and making my way to the bar for another drink.

Reed follows closely behind, sliding onto the stool next to me.

“You’re Josh’s little sister. I have to protect you when you’re out with me.”

“No, you don’t. I can handle myself,” I scoff. “You’re not my brother, Reed. I don’t need you chasing off any boys who might be interested in me.”

My drink arrives and I take a big gulp, frustration coursing through me.

~I’m not some helpless damsel in distress. I can stand up for myself. And besides, I don’t want Reed to think of me like Josh’s little sister anymore. I fantasize about him for crying out loud.~

“I know that,” he says, exhaling heavily like he knows he overstepped.

“How is this coaching thing supposed to work if you jump down the throat of every guy who looks at me the wrong way? You’ll scare off the rest.”

“He didn’t just look at you the wrong way, Avery. He touched you.”

“He was harmless.” I shrug, not quite sure I believe my own words as I finish off the rest of my cocktail.

“It didn’t look that way to me,” he says. “You looked scared.”

~Reed is right about one thing. I need to be more sure of myself and assertive.~

He sighs. “Probably a good point to call it a night.”

“Better if we had stopped after pool like I wanted,” I reply as we head for the door.

He hangs his head as he holds it open for me. “Fine. You’re right. I shouldn’t have pushed so hard. Baby steps.”

I pat his stubbled cheek, relishing the rough feel of it under my palm.

“Lesson One: Know when to listen to your woman.”

His eyes darken at my words. “Got it. Listen to my woman.”

“Good boy,” I tease.