Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Lola laughed. “I feel that.”
“Eventually I met some guys, and we formed a band, but we were a bunch of loners drawn together. We weren’t friends. Then I met Avery. I was sitting under a tree with my ever-present notebook. I was struggling with some lyrics I couldn’t get right, and she plopped down next to me and offered me one of her cookies.”
“The key to a man’s heart and all that?” Lola grinned.
Grey groaned at her bad pun. “Hardly. Turns out she was a loner in her own way too. Ever since her father was outed as . . . I don’t even know the word for a guy who has two families, but ever since then, she felt alone and ostracized. She got me immediately.” He shrugged. He didn’t know how to explain their bond. “I never told her I had these huge dreams. Not in so many words. I think she knew I’d go after fame one day. I mean, she did know how much I loved music. She understood it took me out of myself and had always kept me away from the pain at home. But we graduated, and I read an article about an up-and-coming rock star who’d hitchhiked cross-country and made it big. I wanted that.”
Lola watched him, understanding clear in her eyes.
Grey grabbed another gulp of water, suddenly parched. “I knew Avery was so bonded to her family she’d never leave, and frankly, selfishly, it never dawned on me to ask her.” He ducked his head at the admission. “Once the dream took hold, it wouldn’t leave. So I said good-bye one day and was gone the next. I blindsided her.”
He’d told Lola a lot over the years, about his family, his life, even about how Avery was his first love. But he’d never told her this. He’d always kept his betrayal deep inside.
She let out a slow whistle. “Okay then. I can understand why Avery is skittish about you. And add her father’s life and abandonment into the equation . . .”
“Yeah. But I came home to see if things were still the same for us. If the memory I kept all these years held up over time. And it turns out that, yeah, we still get each other. Still have that deep respect and understanding.” The sexual compatibility and chemistry was theirs alone. He didn’t need to discuss that with anyone. “I’m not giving up on her,” he said.
“I don’t think you should.” Lola reached across the table and grasped his hand. “And I’ll do everything I can to help you make it work.”
“Same for you, baby.” He grinned at his best friend—next to Avery, of course.
“I know.” She winked, then stood up and began cleaning up.
They had each other’s backs. Always. And that’s why Lola was like family. Now he just had to cement things with Avery in order to make himself and his life complete.
* * *
Avery, Olivia, and Sienna agreed to meet at their father’s hotel, The Meridian, in South Beach. It wouldn’t have been Avery’s first choice, but Sienna was on the beach with friends, and it was easiest for her to join them there.
Avery arrived at the restaurant on the water first. Rick left the car with the valet. He stayed close by even though once inside the private hotel, she didn’t have to worry about paparazzi. Prying eyes were something else, and she couldn’t stop people from looking and recognizing her, but she doubted anyone would.
She settled into a chair facing the ocean and closed her eyes. She breathed in the salty, humid air and tried to relax, but thoughts of hot, sweaty sex with Grey prevented her from mellowing out. He’d taken her against the wall, hard and fast, and she’d let him, giving in without thought, without care. Without a condom.
He’d apologized afterward, sworn he was clean. He had recent blood work to prove it, he’d said, and he hadn’t had sex in over six months. She was on the pill, so she wasn’t worried about possible pregnancy either. But she hadn’t stayed for a long conversation after that, his I love you while he was buried deep inside her ringing in the air and inside her head when she’d left. She knew her lack of acknowledging his words had hurt him. Just like she’d hurt him running off this morning.
Except she really had somewhere to be this time. Before she could keep thinking and make herself crazy, Olivia joined her, waddling in, Avery thought with a happy smile. Her sister wore maternity clothes now, and the small bump protruded from the light-blue tank top she wore, along with what looked like black biking shorts, but Avery was sure those, too, were maternity.
“You look so cute!” Avery rose and hugged her sister.
Olivia flushed red. “I feel like a butterball. This kid likes when I eat. I’m always hungry and I’m gaining fast.” She patted her stomach.