Chapter 6: Chapter 6

REED

It’s barely a kiss, only a feather-light touch, before Avery’s phone rings. She pulls back, her eyes scanning my face and searching desperately for something as it goes off again.

“I-I have to get it. It could be the clinic,” she stutters, stumbling toward the bench on shaky legs.

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as she answers.

The euphoria I’d been feeling seconds ago crashes into a wall when Avery’s eyes go wide, and she holds out the phone.

“It’s Josh. He wants to talk to you.”

I give her a tight smile, my fingers closing around it.

~How the fuck did he know I was with Avery?~

I look around the gym and groan.

~Of course her brother follows her on social media. He probably saw her photos and recognized the gym from my posts.~

“Hey, man. What’s up?” I ask innocently, wanting to punch myself for being so dumb.

I walk away from Avery, giving myself a little privacy even though I can feel her watching me anxiously.

“Why is my sister at your gym, Reed?”

“I ran into her at the clinic when I took Champ in. Why didn’t you tell me she worked there?”

I let that accusation hang in the air for a moment. Josh always tried to keep Avery and I apart, thinking I wasn’t good enough for his sister. I couldn’t blame him at the time, but I’m a different man now.

“Anyway,” I continue. “We started talking, and she mentioned something about wanting to learn a few self-defense moves, so I’m giving her a little lesson. She should know how to protect herself.”

I sigh, grateful I think quickly on my feet.

“She’s not one of your trophies, man,” he says, a not-so-subtle hint at my past.

“Josh, I told you I’m not that guy anymore. And besides, that’s your sister. I would never do that to her. I’m just showing her some moves, man. That’s it,” I say, watching Avery from the corner of my eye.

“Does she even know about all the other girls?” he asks, his words nearly knocking me on my ass.

I look down, growing more frustrated.

I’m not a perfect man. I know this. I’ve made some mistakes, especially when it comes to relationships. I wasn’t shy about getting what I wanted from a woman and leaving her shattered heart behind.

It took me a while to realize that lifestyle just left me feeling briefly satisfied, but empty. I wanted more. I wanted Avery. So, I stopped seeing anyone else. I haven’t dated another girl in months.

“You mean you haven’t told her already? I’m shocked,” I bite back. “Don’t worry, Josh. I’ll take Avery home right now.”

I hang up and storm back toward the bench, a deep frown on my face as I pull my shirt back on. I can feel Avery watching me cautiously, and I try to calm myself down. I don’t want to frighten her, but Josh has gotten under my skin and I’m furious.

~I’ll never be good enough for her in his eyes. No matter what I do.~

I hand back her phone and snag her sweatshirt, yanking it off the hook as if it personally offended me. I toss it to her.

“Better get you home,” I say bitterly. “Hate to piss off your brother more.”

She remains silent, pulling on her shirt as we leave the gym. I fume the whole way back to her place, wishing Josh would see that I’ve changed. That I want to be the kind of man that deserves her.

~I’ll show him. I’ll learn everything I can from her before I make another move. Maybe then Josh will finally step aside and let me pursue her the way I wanted to when we were teenagers.~

AVERY

When our dad passed away, Josh stepped up to the plate, juggling the roles of protective older brother and strict father even though he was only fifteen. Sometimes, he struggled to differentiate between the two.

Growing up, I usually yielded to my brother. It was easier to do what he wanted and avoid conflict than see that look of disappointment in his eyes. So, I stayed clear of the boys he labeled as bad news, avoided friends he believed would lead me astray, and did my best to make him proud.

But Josh is my brother, not my father, and I’m not a little kid anymore. I sometimes wonder if he realizes that.

Reed hardly says a word to me as we walk back to my apartment. Whatever Josh said put him in a dark mood, and though I want to talk about what just happened, I stay quiet.

He rushes off as soon as we reach my building, not even waving goodbye. I let myself into my apartment, flopping down on the couch with a groan. I never considered Reed anything other than Josh’s friend before, but he’s different now.

He was patient while he helped me with the punching bag, relaxed as we joked around, and when he touched me, it felt like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then there was the kiss.

~What if that spoiled everything? I can’t bear the thought of losing him now.~

Olive saunters into the living room, clad in a long, flowing boho dress with her red hair piled up into a high bun.

“Uh-oh. You look like you need to talk,” she says, settling down on the couch next to me. “Spill or chill?”

I bite my lip, weighing the options.

~She already accused me of having a crush on Reed. Do I really want to spill the beans about our sort-of kiss?~

Her eyebrow arches slowly, waiting.

“Okay,” I sigh. “But you’re not allowed to say anything until—”

“You kissed him, didn’t you?”

“How-how did you know that?” I stutter.

She smiles. “Because you like him, Avery.”

I shake my head in denial. “No, I don’t.”

She rolls her eyes, disbelief etched onto her face. “Then why did you agree to a steamy workout session? Hello! Sweaty bodies, all that adrenaline pumping… Did you really think that nothing was going to happen?”

“In all the years we’ve known each other, he’s never once hinted that he could like me. We barely even spoke to one another.”

“Did you ever consider that could have been because your brother was always around?” she suggests, compassion in her eyes.

I freeze.

~What? No! If Reed wanted to talk to me or have any kind of relationship with me, he would have done it, regardless of my brother. Reed always went after what he wanted. He wasn’t scared of Josh…right?~

“That’s not why.” I shake my head again, dismissing her question as my chest tightens. “Reed does what Reed wants. He always has. If he liked me back then, he would have done something about it, no matter what Josh said.”

“If you say so.” She shrugs. “Now, about that kiss?”

~That kiss. That earth-shattering, yet fleeting kiss.~

My lips automatically tingle at the memory. My heart pounds like a drum as I recall the desperate look in his fiery eyes the moment before he pressed his mouth to mine.

“That good, huh?” She nudges her elbow into my leg, winking playfully.

“It was nothing,” I say quickly. “And it was over before it really started.”

“Why’s that?”

“Josh called,” I chuckle dryly. “Reed did a complete one-eighty after they got off the phone. He was so cold, so…mad.”

“Did Josh know you were together?” she asks, “I mean, I saw your post at the gym, but Reed wasn’t in them. Cute pictures by the way.”

“Thanks. Yeah, he spotted a poster in the background and figured out I was there.”

Her face is a picture of surprise. “What?! That’s insane.”

“That’s Josh. Honestly, I might be a bit grateful that he rang when he did,” I admit. “I like Reed. I enjoy his company. I don’t want sex to mess things up.”

“So, you think things would have heated up if Josh hadn’t interrupted?”

“Absolutely.”

“Do you want to sleep with him?”

I give her a look that leaves no doubt about how much I want to be with Reed Everett.

She giggles. “Why don’t you discuss it with him? Maybe you can come to some sort of arrangement?”

I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of her suggestion. “Sure, I’ll just stroll up to him and announce that I want a no-strings-attached sexual relationship. I’m sure he’ll take me seriously.” I push myself up on my elbows. “Olive, I don’t think I’ve ever even mentioned the word ~sex~ to Reed.”

“Well, you could make him listen. You’re a gorgeous girl, Avery. I bet he’d be more than willing to hop into bed with you if you asked.”

I can’t help but chuckle as I recall all the times I’ve held my phone, ready to call Reed and ask him just that.

“But even if I had the courage to ask, he’s already told me he’s interested in someone else and has been for a while.” I sink back into the plush sofa cushions, letting the fabric envelop my shoulders.

“So, he’s seeing someone, but he kissed you?” Her eyebrows furrow in confusion. “I don’t understand men.”

“Me either,” I sigh. “He wants my help becoming a gentleman so he can get her attention. Apparently, she’s immune to his charm.”

She massages her temples. “So, you’re helping him win over this mystery woman, even though you want him for yourself?”

~No, I don’t want his heart. At least, I don’t think so.~

“I don’t think I want ~that~ part of him.” I can’t suppress the smile that spreads across my face.

“Right, you just want his dick,” she snickers.

“Oh my god, Olive!” I reach out to smack her knee.

“What?” She shrugs and laughs even harder. “It’s the truth.”