Des took a deep breath before answering. “I think you need a woman. You were great when you had a woman. A real woman, someone who will mellow you out, make you have fun, and bring the real Avery back out.”
“No such thing, Des.” Rubbing a hand across the back of my neck, I trekked toward the kitchen. I definitely needed a drink to deal with this.
“Yes there is, you just have to find her. I think a relationship would work wonders for you, I’ve seen it!”
I gave her a skeptical glance as I pulled open the door to the liquor cabinet. “Where the hell is this coming from, Des? I’ve told you before, the whole ‘love’ thing isn’t for me.”
“Ugh! What is with you and Tori? She said something similar, and I’m sorry, I don’t believe it. Real love is out there, for everybody. When it’s right, it changes you for the better, so obviously the thing Natalie wasn’t meant to be, because look what it’s done to you! She turned you into a bitter old miser.”
“I’m not bitter, or old, or a miser,” I argued as I pulled out a bottle of bourbon. “You can’t tell me I’ve been walking around like a troll for the last two years, I don’t buy it. You or Deidra would have checked me about it a long time ago, and despite what you seem to think, the kinds of women I like don’t respond well to ‘mean.’”
This is why I know I definitely won’t be hearing any praises from Tori.
Desiree sat down at the bar, thinking for a moment before she conceded. “Ok, I’ll give you that, but you’re definitely jaded, Avery, and it’s affected you and the people around you. You aren’t the same carefree, fun guy you were, and I think it’s because you’re lonely.”
“Lonely? Please. I’ve got a dozen women I could call righ—”
“And you think that means you aren’t lonely, Avery? Those women don’t mean anything but a warm body to you. You need someone you can talk to, and care for, someone you can love.”
I scoffed. “I need someone I can trust.”
Leaning over the bar, Des rested her chin in her hands. “So Natalie broke your trust?”
I didn’t look at her as I carefully measured the bourbon into my glass before I lifted it to my mouth, swallowing it in one drink. “Yeah.”
“Oh, Avery. I’m so sorry.”
Shrugging, I placed my glass down on the marble counter. I didn’t know how to feel now that I had admitted it to someone other than myself.
“So, I think I have an idea.” Des covered my hand with hers. “I think you need a little third-party assistance with your dating. Just hear me out,” she said, lifting a finger to quiet my protest. “If you could have the women vetted first, so you know they’re really single, really looking for love, and really are who they say they are, it would make you feel better about opening yourself up, right?”
“I guess. But how do I do that? I know you’re not talking about online dating, because I’m not doing that shit. People can lie like crazy when they’re on the other side of one of those stupid dating profiles.”
Desiree shook her head. “Nope. I’m not talking about that at all. I want you to promise me you’ll at least try my suggestion. Please? I know you, Avery, and there’s no way your current lifestyle is truly making you happy. I can see it in your eyes.”
Again, was it that obvious? I had returned from the Maldives with the intention of going right back to normal. The first night back, normal had included two women and a bottle of tequila, but I hadn’t felt satisfied. Honestly, I’d felt a little disgusted, just like I felt now. It had only taken a few hours with Tori to make my entire hedonistic lifestyle lose its appeal.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll let you set me up with somebody, but I can’t make any promises I’ll like her.” I still wasn’t buying it, but I was willing to humor Des.
“Me?” Desiree broke into laughter, placing a hand over her belly. “Avery, are you crazy? I’m horrible at setting people up. However, I know someone who isn’t… ”