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“Just because I enjoy learning doesn’t mean I’m a dork,” she said, insulted.
“Two words for you Aves: science club.”
Avery sucked in a breath, and I realized that the science club might not be the best topic of discussion tonight.
“Words that are no longer allowed to be repeated for the rest of the night,” I said quickly. I prayed she wouldn’t start crying again.
Avery slowly let the air out of her lungs and then put down the hair drier. As she brushed her hair into place, I had a strong urge to touch it. Then she coated her lips with a light layer of shiny pink gloss that smelled delicious, and I was the one sucking in a breath. My mouth had suddenly gone dry.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
She turned and looked up at me as if wondering what my problem was. Hell if I knew. We shared one small moment of intimacy, and suddenly the girl had my insides turning to mush. She had no idea how close I was to kissing her right then.
“Uh, Grayson?”
“Hmm?”
I pulled my head out of my butt just in time to watch Avery’s cheeks get all pink again. Man she was cute like that. “Right. Sorry. Okay. So prepare yourself. Everyone’s downstairs, and it’s going to be awkward as hell until we can get out the door. Think you can make it?”
She hesitated but then nodded. The action was quick and jerky like a little bit of the panic she felt earlier was creeping back in.
I forced her to keep her eyes focused on me. “Hey. I’m right here. If you need to, just keep your head down and let me do all the talking.”
I took her hand when it became apparent that her feet wouldn’t start walking on their own. Her fingers automatically curled around mine. She was starting to tremble, so I hurried her downstairs before she had any more time to work herself into another panic attack. I dragged her straight over to the front door, grabbed her coat off the hook, and held it out for her to slip her arms into.
“Where are you guys off to?” my dad asked, being the first one to notice us.
Heads turned our direction and the air in the room turned thick and heavy. I felt the stares every bit as much as Avery did, but I didn’t pause in my efforts to bundle her up. I zipped her coat, then reached for her hat and scarf.
“We’re just going to go walk around town for a bit, grab some hot cocoa, and maybe head over to the resort in time to catch the fireworks.”
Scarf now securely in place, I plopped Avery’s hat on her head. Our eyes met and I whispered, “We’re almost free. You’re doing great.” I was shocked when I received a small smile from her.
Avery put on her gloves, while I grabbed my own coat. As I quickly shoved my hat on my head, Aiden finally opened his big, stupid mouth. “You’re taking out Avery?”
My jaw clenched. I knew it was too much to hope to just get out of there without anyone saying anything. The fact that it was Aiden bringing it up, along with the incredulity in his voice that made it sound as if Avery wasn’t good enough to be my date for the evening, pissed me off way more than I’d expected it would.
I felt insanely protective of Avery all a sudden. Instead of just walking out the door like I probably should have, I turned around and gave my brother a defiant look. “Is that a problem?”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed on me. “It’s just out of character. He flicked his gaze to Avery. “For both of you.”
As if he could talk about acting out of character. My hands clenched into fists, matching the tension in my jaw. “You’re the one who told her she needed to start hanging out with other people, and since when is it out of character for me to want to spend the evening with a beautiful girl?”
Aiden’s face flashed with pure rage, but I stared him down. If he tried to argue that statement in any way, I was going to lay him out.
I must have been pretty obvious because the adults all chose that exact moment to intervene.
“Be back by twelve thirty.”
“You haven’t had di
“Take your cell phones!”
I sputtered as I tried to figure out what everyone just said. “We’ll get some di
My dad rolled his eyes. “One,” he agreed grudgingly. “But only because it’s Avery, and I trust her to keep you out of trouble.”
Normally I would argue that, but I just wanted to get poor Avery out of there. I grabbed her hand and whirled around toward the door. “Thanks, Dad!”
We’d almost escaped and then my mom said, “Grayson you come over here and give your mother a kiss goodbye before you go.”
Suppressing a sigh, I gri
The look she gave me said she wasn’t in the mood, so I obeyed with no more arguments. “Thank you,” she whispered as she brushed her lips on my cheek.
I pulled back and Kaitlin was right there, waiting for her turn to hug me. This was not a standard practice every time I left the house by any stretch. This was our moms, the worry twins, inwardly gushing over my rescuing Avery, so I wrapped my arms around Avery’s mom and gave her an exaggerated bear hug. “Happy New Year, Kaitlin!”
She laughed when I gave her a big kiss on the cheek. “Always such a charmer, Grayson Ke
I gri
“Just make sure you don’t try to use that charm on my daughter tonight.”
“Ms. Shaw!” I pretended to be scandalized. “I would never!”
Except apparently I would. I almost did upstairs not five minutes ago.
Kaitlin sobered up and lowered her voice so that only I could hear. “I mean it, Grayson. You be careful with her tonight. I’m sure she’s really vulnerable right now.”
Talk about a mood killer. I tried to sound sincere when I said, “She’s practically a sister to me, Kaitlin. I’ll behave myself.”
This afternoon that statement would have been true. Now I just hoped I could get through the night without breaking my promise, because Kaitlin was right. Taking advantage of Avery right now would make me a bigger jerk than Aiden.
“You’d better,” Kaitlin said, but there was teasing in her tone now.
“I will.”
It was now or never. I grabbed Avery’s hand again and made another break for the door. I even got it open this time, but Aiden just couldn’t let us go. “Aves, are you really going to go out with Grayson?”
And I was back to being pissed off. I tried to keep walking, but Avery stopped. “Do you want me to stay with you?”
Balls! If he said yes, she would stay for him. Even after how much he hurt her today. And he would ask, the selfish punk. He’s always gotten his way with her, ever since they were kids. He says jump, and she happily asks how high? It’s not that he doesn’t care about her. He just has the more dominant personality of the two, and apparently her feelings run a lot deeper than his, so she gives in to his every whim.
“Aves, of course I want you to stay. It’s New Year’s Eve, and we came here to spend it together.”
Avery frowned. “But earlier you said—”
“I didn’t mean I never wanted to see you again. You’re still my best friend. You don’t have to go out with him just to avoid me.”
What the hell! I don’t know what I ever did to him that he thinks hanging out with me would be so awful. I’m an awesome big brother. “Maybe she wants to.”
Aiden glared at me and then stomped over to us. “Do you, Avery? Do you actually want to go on a date with Grayson? Or are you doing this because of me?”
“I—” Avery’s eyes darted frantically between Aiden and me and then they filled with tears.
“Aves,” Aiden said in a voice that he had no right using on her. “Obviously I hurt your feelings earlier. I’m sorry. I was nervous, and I guess I didn’t explain things right. Why don’t you stay home tonight and we’ll talk.”
He reached up to wipe the tears from her face, and I almost decked him. I really wanted to, but I didn’t have any claim to her. This was between the two of them as much as I didn’t like it.