Trust in Me

I shook my head, focused on Henry. The fucker had slowly made his way over to where Avery sat. Nothing was wrong with the dude. I kept telling myself that, but when he said something about her socks, I started picturing him as the next serial killer.

Avery was drinking, much to my surprise, and I mean really drinking. Tequila shots and at least two beers for someone who didn’t drink was one hell of a way to kick off being a lush.

Her soft giggle hit me straight in the chest. My eyes narrowed as Henry grinned and Avery smiled.

“Seems like your friend likes Henry,” Steph commented quietly. “Interesting development.”

My heart kicked against my ribs in protest. Was she flirting with him? My hands curled around my knees as Avery laughed again. What the fuck? Jealousy—red-hot, ugly jealousy—hit my veins with the consistency of dunking my head in an acid bath.

I glanced at the screen and then Jase nodded at me, his gaze flickering over to Avery. I sat the beer down on the coffee table as Henry said, “Old enough to know better.”

Damn right he was fucking old enough not to even be thinking what I knew he had to be thinking.

“Hey Henry,” I called out as my skin stretched tight. “Come here a second.”

“Jesus,” Steph muttered, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the couch.

Henry leaned down when I motioned him closer. “What up, man?”

“Leave that girl alone,” I told him, voice low as I met and held the older guy’s gaze. “I’m fucking serious. She’s not for you or anyone in this room.”

Henry’s brows rose and so did the corner of his lips. “Message received, buddy.”

I watched him make his way over to Jase, and I felt a little better. Not much, because I couldn’t fucking believe that after everything with Avery, she’d show up at my apartment, and start drinking and flirting with Henry the Horn Dog. I was absolutely in a state of fucking shock.

“You totally cock blocked,” Steph said, placing her hand on my arm again.

“What?” I twisted to her. “What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “They were getting to know each other and you cock blocked.”

Getting to know each other? Fuck no that wasn’t happening right in front of me. “Do I look like I give a fuck that I stopped it?”

Steph jerked her hand back, but, honestly, I also didn’t give a fuck about her in that moment. Avery was smiling at Henry. Her smiles were so fucking rare and she was smiling at him. I couldn’t even remember the last time I was jealous, but I recognized the bitter taste in my mouth. It mingled well with anger.

Avery glanced at me and her smile started to fade.

“This is not happening,” I said.

Steph shot to her feet, and I had no idea what she was pissed about, but I really didn’t care. Standing up, I stalked over to where Avery sat. A big, wide and slightly drunk smile broke out across her face.

“Come with me for a sec?” I said, surprised by how even my voice sounded.

Avery shot from the chair like someone lit a fire to her ass. She wobbled way far to the side. “Whoa.”

I caught her arm, holding her still. I couldn’t believe she was this drunk. “You okay to walk?”

“Yes. Of course.” She bumped into me, giggling. “I’m okay.”

Wondering exactly how many shots she’d had, I shot a grinning Ollie a death look as I led her into the kitchen. “What are you doing, Avery?”

She held up the bottle. “Drinking. What are you doing?”

“That’s not what I’m getting at and you know that. What are you doing?”

She made a face that was sort of cute and a bit weird before she sighed. “I’m not doing anything, Cam.”

“You’re not?” I arched a brow. “You’re drunk.”

“Am not!”

“A drunk’s famous last words before they fall flat on their face.”

“That has not happened . . . yet.”

I shook my head as I took ahold of her arm. We needed to talk and the fact that she was here probably meant she wanted to. Or she wanted to hook up with one of the random guys here. I didn’t know what, because who the fuck ever knew what was going on in this girl’s head, but nothing was happening. She was taking her little drunk ass back to her apartment. Any number of those guys in the living room would love to find themselves between her thighs and I didn’t know exactly how far gone she was. I wasn’t her babysitter. Fuck, I wasn’t anything to her.

“Um . . .” she said, frowning when I led her to the stairwell and closed the door behind us. She looked up at me, confused.

I pointed to her door. “You need to go home, Avery.”

Her mouth dropped open as she stared at me. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m fucking serious. You’re drunk and that shit is not going down in front of me.”

“What shit?” She took a step back. “I’m sorry. Ollie invited me—”

“Yeah, and I’m going to kick his ass later.” I took my hat off and ran my hand through my hair. “Just go home, Avery. I’ll talk to you later.”

Avery swallowed heavily. “You’re mad at me—”

“I’m not mad at you, Avery.” I was mad at the fucking world right at the moment.