Chapter 12: Chapter 12

AVERY

“Get up!” Olive sings as she bursts into my room, armed with a glass of water and some Tylenol. “Go shower. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

I groan, regretting my decision to go running with her. My head is throbbing, my mouth feels like a desert, and I’m still in last night’s clothes. I sit up, grumbling.

“Not everyone is a morning person, Olive,” I say, swallowing the pills with a gulp of water.

“You’re right. Not everyone is as amazing as me, but you’re a close second. Now, get your cute butt up and into the shower!” She takes the glass from me and practically pushes me out of bed. “I’ll pick out your clothes.”

When I come out a few minutes later, there’s an outfit waiting for me. Black leggings with mesh cutouts, a plain white T-shirt, a navy-blue hoodie, and my Nike running shoes make for a surprisingly cute look.

~I don’t deserve Olive~, I think as I get dressed, already feeling a little better.

Once I’m ready, I join her in the kitchen. She’s securing the lid on her water bottle.

“Ready? I packed water for you too.” She slides another one toward me. “Let’s go.”

***

The sun is just starting to peek through the trees in Central Park when we arrive. The weather is not as chilly as it could be this time of year, which is a relief. The paths are mostly empty, save for a few dedicated runners.

My muscles groan at the thought of exercise, but I push through and start jogging. Olive matches my pace and nudges me with her elbow.

“So, last night was fun, wasn’t it?” she asks.

I sigh. ~It’s too early for this.~

“Yeah, it was fun.”

“It seems like Reed had fun too.” She winks at me.

I don’t rise to her bait and shake my head.

“I’m sure he did.”

I hope Olive will drop it, but she doesn’t.

“He seemed jealous.”

“Jealous? Reed?” I ask. “Of what?”

“Of Devon, obviously! He didn’t look happy when you asked him to sing. And he seemed upset when Devon complimented you after our performance.”

Memories of Reed questioning me about Devon outside the bar flash through my mind.

~He was a little testy about Devon. He seemed mad when I said it would have been fun to go out with him if he had asked me. But that’s probably because he thought I was wasting his time about the whole date-coaching thing, right?~

“Reed Everett doesn’t get jealous, and he was definitely not jealous of Devon. Devon isn’t even interested in me.”

“Well, I don’t believe it. I know a jealous guy when I see one. And Reed Everett was oozing with it,” she insists.

~Oozing with jealousy? Are we even talking about the same Reed?~

“Oh, Olive.” I shake my head and pick up my pace, leaving her behind as we approach a bridge.

She calls out to me, but I ignore her, pushing myself to run faster. Soon, it’s just me and the beautiful emptiness of Central Park with the sun rising and the birds singing in the trees.

And my thoughts. Thoughts that wouldn’t even be there if Olive hadn’t planted them.

~Could she be right? Was Reed jealous of Devon last night? What does he have to be jealous of? Devon is just a friend. Is Reed…~

“You’re too slow, chick,” Olive says as she catches up to me, slapping my butt as she passes.

I’m about to complain about the sting when I see Reed stretching at a bench ahead of us.

~Shit! What is he doing here? He said he had an early client, right?~

Olive is about to say something else when Reed looks up, and I quickly pull her behind a conveniently placed bush.

“What are you doing?” she protests.

“Shh, Reed is over there,” I whisper, pointing.

We have a clear view of him through the gaps in the branches. Olive turns to me, a mischievous grin on her face. I know that look. It spells trouble.

“Oh, is he?” she says playfully.

I panic, my eyes darting between Reed and Olive.

“Oli, don’t. Please, don’t.”

“Don’t what, Avery?”

She says my name extra loud, hoping to attract attention. I want to disappear as Reed looks around, trying to locate the source of the noise.

She grins wider, that wicked gleam in her eyes. My heart sinks as he starts walking toward our hiding spot.

“Thanks, Olive. Thanks a lot.” I mutter.

“You’re welcome,” Olive whispers as Reed gets closer.

My pulse is pounding in my ears as I try to hold my breath.

“Hey, you know what’s funny?” Olive says, nudging me.

I sigh. “What?”

“We’re about to be am-bushed,” she giggles.

Olive’s laughter gives us away, and I stand up quickly as Reed pushes through the branches. He steps back, surprised.

“Avery? What the hell are you doing in there?” He chuckles, helping me out.

I feel my face heat up as I scramble for an excuse. “I-I was hiding here to scare Olive.”

Reed frowns. “She’s right there next to you.”

Olive, always ready with a quick comeback, says, “Looks like we had the same idea.”

I want to melt into the sidewalk.

She smoothly shifts the conversation as if she’s my personal life preserver, even though she’s the one who got us into this mess.

“What brings you out here, Reed? I thought you had an early client this morning?”

“I do, but I’ve got some time before their appointment, and I like to kick off my day with a peaceful jog through the park,” Reed replies, shooting me a suspicious look.

~It doesn’t look like he’s buying our story. I should have claimed I was hiding in the bush to scare him, not Olive. Now it’s clear I was trying to avoid him.~

“Well, what a happy coincidence. We do too,” Olive chimes in, winking at me.

~Ugh. Could she be any less subtle?~

“Are you guys wrapping up?” Reed asks.

“I am. I need to head back and hit the books,” Olive replies, taking a sip from her water bottle.

“I’ll walk you back,” I say quickly.

She dismisses me with a shake of her head. “I know the way. You should stay. Finish your run with Reed.”

She gives me a hug before she leaves.

“Have fun,” she whispers in my ear.

Once she’s disappeared around the bend, Reed turns to me.

“What about you, Little Avery? Do you need to head out, or are you up for another lap?” He raises an eyebrow, his face lighting up with a cocky grin. “If you think you can keep up, that is.”

My heart is still pounding from my run, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge. Especially not when it’s thrown down by Reed Everett.

“I can keep up with you,” I assure him, stretching my arms and meeting his gaze with a confident stare.

“All right. Let’s see what you’ve got, Little Avery.”

He winks and takes off without warning, his feet pounding the pavement as he pushes himself to run faster.

“Hey!” I shout after him, launching myself into a sprint to catch up.

I follow the sound of his laughter through the park, appreciating the view of his retreating backside as I close the distance between us. I find myself staring at his ass more than once and shake my head to snap out of it.

Reed Everett has always been attractive. He’s the kind of handsome that can make a girl forget her own name and how to breathe simultaneously. But today, he’s off the charts hot.

~Is it the gray sweatpants that leave so little to the imagination? The adorable blush on his cheeks from the morning chill? Or that green hat that just makes his eyes pop?~

“Still with me, Morris?” he calls back, slowing his pace and eventually stopping by a tall tree.

“I don’t quit,” I pant, catching up and leaning against it. “But I might be a bit out of shape for this,” I admit with a laugh, resting my hands against the tree trunk.

“I don’t know. You look pretty damn fit to me.”

I catch his gaze as it travels the length of my body before returning to my face.

~Did Reed Everett just check me out? Is he flirting with me?~

“So…last night was fun,” Reed says, grinning widely after taking a sip of water. “I haven’t laughed like that in…I can’t even remember when.”

“Yeah. We sounded pretty good together,” I reply. “Or at least I think we did.”

He chuckles. “For the sake of our dignity, let’s just agree we did.”

I laugh along with him. “I like that idea.”

“Do you go there often?” he asks.

“We used to go every weekend, but then Olive got swamped with schoolwork and we kind of forgot about our favorite spot.” I shrug.

“Are you planning to start going again?” he inquires.

“That’s the plan.”

“Well, if you need a singing partner, I’m available.”

He winks, and we start a leisurely walk down the path, passing under the large canopy of trees that line the sides. I nod, but my attention is drawn to a sparkling pond.

“Duckies! Let’s feed them!” I exclaim, heading straight for them.

I reach into my hoodie for my wallet, but it’s not there.

Reed notices and pulls out his own. “I got it.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” I protest.

“Avery, it’s a few dollars for duck food. I can handle it,” he chuckles, swiping his card through the machine. He guides me over to catch the brown pellets.

The ducks notice us and paddle closer to the edge, quacking and wagging their tails for attention. I can’t help but smile wider with each handful of food I toss into the pond, laughing as the ducks dive under to snatch up every piece.

“Okay, little guy, you’ve had your share. Let’s let the others have some,” I tell a duck with a shiny blue head like he can understand me.

He’s quicker than the rest, gobbling up the food and swimming closer for more.

“Do you feed the ducks often?” Reed asks.

“Normally, but it’s been a while.”

“So, you’re not the one who likes to start her day with a jog through the park then, huh?” Reed teases.

“No,” I giggle. “That’s Olive. I don’t know why she said that.”

“I think I do,” he sighs, a smile spreading across his face.

I blush and change the subject. “Have you ever fed a duck?”

“No.” He shrugs. “Never really wanted to, I guess.”

“Do you want to now?” I offer him the last bit of food.

“Sure,” he agrees.

“Hold out your hand.”

He does, and I pour the pellets into his palm.

“They’re already excited, so they’ll really want it now.”

He steps up to the water’s edge and throws the entire handful of food, causing a frenzy of ducks to fight for the last bits. I gasp and then giggle when we’re splashed with cold water.

“I told you,” I laugh, dabbing at my face with my sweatshirt.

I try to look away as Reed lifts the edge of his shirt and wipes his face, revealing a few inches of toned abs, but I can’t.

~God, he is a beautiful man.~

He catches me staring and winks. “We should head back now. I’ve got that client, and we have a date later, remember?”

“You’re really going to make me go to a bar and practice picking up some random guy?” I whine.

He loops an arm over my shoulders, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “Not random. You can show off your moves on me.”