The bathroom is one floor down from where the party is being held so I’m surprised to see Avery against the wall when I exit the restroom, her legs crossed and a sexy smirk across her lips as she holds a highball glass in her hand with an orange peel floating around the bottom. Champagne, tequila, and now, whiskey? Fuck. “Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?” she asks.

  “Who said I was leaving?”

  “Lucas,” she murmurs. “I asked where you ran off to because my father was looking for you.”

  “Oh. What does he want?”

  “Nothing. I couldn’t exactly tell him I was looking for you.” She pushes off the wall and moves closer to me and I take a step back, not wanting her perfume to infiltrate my space.

  I nod. “I am probably going to head out.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want to crowd your space.”

  She looks up at me and bats her eyelashes at me. “It never bothered you before. I can remember many times you crashed our parties as we got older.”

  “Ave…” I trail off. “I don’t know that it’s the best idea for me to be around to watch my son get in a pissing match with every man that breathes in your direction.”

  She groans and rolls her eyes. “Elijah is a nonissue and Lucas knows that. He just likes fucking with him.”

  I nod because what can I say? ‘I don’t want to watch my son stare at you with the same stars I’m trying to keep out of my eyes?’

  “Please stay?” She says and darts her eyes down the hallway before turning them back to mine. “It’s my graduation party.”

  “I know,” I tell her as I reach into my coat pocket and pull out a long envelope that I slide into her hands.

  She takes it from me but doesn’t open it or even look at it. “Thank you, but that’s not what I want.”

  “Avery…we can’t.”

  “I want to finish what we started last winter break.”

  “Lucas is home,” I tell her because I have no intention of sneaking her in or touching her while my son is in the house or could potentially show up at any time.

  “I’m sure you can figure something out.” She smiles.

  “How are you going to get away from your friends? From Lucas? He’s going to want to make sure you get home safely.”

  “Lucas isn’t my dad, Theo. I know how to handle him.” She’s up against me now looking up at me with the sexiest eyes fueled by alcohol and lust and…fuuuuuck. “And then I want you to handle me.”

  I grit my teeth, trying to hold my breath so I don’t smell her. “Anyone could walk down here.”

  “Say yes,” she whispers.

  “Why?” I blink at her. “Is this just…why me of all people? Is it because of who I am? Is this just the thrill of someone that should be off limits?” I move and she takes a step back as I tower over her. “What is it about me that has your pussy so wet?”

  She whimpers and her cheeks pinken and I wish my words hadn’t affected her because she looks so fucking adorably innocent. “I–I’ve had a crush on you…for a while.”

  The air leaves my lungs because I wasn’t expecting that. I was expecting her to say something equally sexy or about the fact that she’s older and can fuck whoever she wants and she wants me.

  “What’s a while?”

  “Since you moved in?” she says weakly and my eyes widen.

  “Eight years?”

  She nods. “I mean I haven’t been saving myself for you or anything,” she teases and I hate the annoyance that ripples through me at the thought of someone else touching her. “But yeah…” She winces. “I didn’t think you’d ever touch me.”

  “Because I shouldn’t touch you.”

  “But you did and now…I can’t stop thinking about it.” She shakes her head and takes a step back before taking a sip of her drink. “I should probably get back, but please consider staying or…seeing me later?”

  I have long since left my own graduation party in favor of going downtown with my friends while my parents stayed at the restaurant and entertained theirs. It didn’t escape me that Theo stayed longer than I think he planned and opted to leave when we did to head home. He’d mingled with us and my parents all night. It felt almost like a game; how many times could we lock eyes in a room full of people without making it obvious?

  A bunch of us are at a club downtown, the time nearing almost one in the morning when I decide now is time to figure out if I’m going to a more private party next. I break away from the group and make my way around the large circular bar in the middle of the club to give myself some space.

  Me: Hiiiii

  The bubbles indicating that he’s typing pop up before disappearing. They pop up again and then disappear again and I giggle at the thought that he doesn’t know what to say.

  TG: Are you okay?

  Me: Yep, I’m fine

  TG: You having fun?

  Me: Yes!

  TG: Good, I’m glad.

  Me: Will you come get me?

  He doesn’t answer right away and I resist the urge to text him again when I sense bouncing in my periphery. I turn to see Rory sipping what I think to be a rum and coke through a straw.

  “Who are you texting?”

  “No one.” I close the message and set my phone to sleep.

  “Okay, you’re so full of shit,” she says through narrowed slits. “But why?”

  “Rory…” I’ve come close to spilling the beans to her a few times. I haven’t because sometimes I can’t tell if she’s just as close to Lucas as she is to me and I worry she might accidentally slip up to him especially if she’s drinking. I wish I could tell her, but it’s just too risky.

  “Are you seeing someone?”

  “What? No.”

  “Someone that lives here?” she pushes.

  “Of course not.”

  “Someone that may have been at your grad party?” She sings and my palms start to sweat.

  “Like who?”

  She shrugs. “You tell me.”

  “I am not into Elijah, Rory.” I deadpan and she rolls her eyes in response.

  “Obviously.”

  My phone buzzes in my hand and I want to look at it but the thought of Rory catching who I’m texting makes me nervous.

  “You’re hiding something!” She bumps her hip with mine.

  “I am not!” I down the drink in my hand. “I have to pee,” I tell her. “Do you want to come?”

  “No, I’m good,” she says and I bolt away from one of my best friends and her very prying eyes. I’m not even through the door of the bathroom before I’m opening his message.

  TG: We shouldn’t do this.

  My head falls back in frustration and an exasperated sigh leaves my lips as I try to figure out what to say. My phone buzzes again and a smile finds my lips at the unexpected words on the screen.

  TG: I’m not saying I don’t want to.

  Me: I want to.

  The dots appear and then disappear twice before he replies.

  TG: Can you get away easily?

  Me: Yes. I’ll Irish goodbye!

  TG: Your own graduation party? Everyone will notice you’re missing, and what if Lucas shows up at your house looking for you later?

  Me: I’ll figure it out. Lucas won’t find out, okay? I know that’s what you’re worried about.

  TG: Aren’t you?

  The words on the screen make me feel like shit. Should I be more concerned? Does it make me a terrible friend for doing this? Keeping it from him? My reasoning is slightly different from Theo’s. It’s a secret, a big secret I’m keeping from my best friend. But he’s not going to find out. No one is going to know.

  My phone vibrates again.

  Lucas: Would you hate me if I left?

  I look up in the air. Thank you! I mouth, even though I’m sure God isn’t really on my side about hooking up with my best friend’s father.

  Me: Of course not. Everything okay?

  Lucas: A few of the guys want to go to Pratt Street.

  I snicker, thinking about Pratt Street.

  Me: Oh IIII see. Blowing off my grad party for strippers?

  Lucas: I’ve barely seen you! You’ve been MIA all night. I’ll make it up to you. You own me all week, Summers. I swear.

  Me: I’m messing with you. Have fun!

  Lucas: You want to come?

  Me: I’m good lol

  Lucas: Oh come on, I’ll buy you a lap dance.

  Me: Bye Lucas.

  Lucas: Where are you anyway?

  Me: Bathroom

  Lucas: Okay, called the Uber. It’ll be here in five. You coming out soon?

  Me: Two minutes

  I pick up the phone and Theo answers my call on the first ring. “He’s not going to find out. He’s going somewhere else with his friends.”

  “You’re his best friend. You’re not going wherever he’s going?” Theo asks and I wince. I don’t really want to tell his dad he’s going to a strip club but I guess he is twenty-one. More than likely he’ll tell him himself.

  “His guy friends.”

  “Ah.” He chuckles in realization. “Well, when is he leaving?”

  “He said he called the Uber and they’re leaving in five.”

  “I can be there shortly after that.”

  “Are we going to your house?” I ask. “I think that may be risky.”

  “We aren’t,” he responds and I hear the sounds of his keys.

  “Oh?”

  “I got a room.” I don’t even stop the smile from finding my face. “I’m not saying we’re doing anything.”

  “Sure, Theo.” I saw the way he was looking at me in this dress. All it would take is a flick of a wrist to get this dress off and then game over.

  “I’m serious. If you’re drunk…”

  “Do I sound drunk?” And the truth is, I’m not. I’m tipsy at best because at my graduation party my mother warned me about getting sloppy around my grandparents and so much of my family. So, I never even got drunk while I was there and when I got here, I was significantly more sober and then I only had one shot of tequila.

  “No, but you know how to hide it.”

  “I’m not. I’ve been drinking water for a few hours. I wasn’t sure if I was going to see you tonight and I wanted to be…aware. I knew you’d want me to be aware.”

  “Hmmm,” he says but it comes out more like a growl that I feel throughout my body.

  “I’ll text you when Lucas is gone.”

  By the time I get back to my friends, the guys are leaving. Lucas pulls me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my forehead, and tells me we could meet for brunch or whatever I want tomorrow before he leaves.

  “You really feel nothing for him?” Rory says as we watch them head outside.

  “No…” I scrunch my nose because, honestly, I wish I did some days. I wish I had reciprocated the same feelings he had in high school. Something tells me we’d still be together if I had. It would certainly make my life easier. If he’s this way about his best friend, I can only imagine how he’d worship the woman he’s with.

  “You got that man fucked up.”

  I gasp, and smack her shoulder. “Rory, I do not!”

  She snorts into her glass. “Okay. I’m going home with Justin.” She runs a hand through her hair.

  “Of course, you are. Why didn’t he go with the guys?”

  “Because a stripper won’t stick his dick in her mouth?” She looks at me incredulously. “Or I suppose she might, but I do it for free.” Her red-painted lips form a straight line and she rolls her eyes. “Like an idiot.”

  I chuckle. “Shut up, you love him.”

  “I do not!” She mimics me and I raise an eyebrow at her. “Okay, the point is…I’m leaving to go get laid.” She leans in to kiss my cheek. “You good? I assume whoever you’re texting is going to come get you.” She nods at my phone and I do my best to avoid her prying eyes.

  “I’m just going home,” I tell her as my phone buzzes.

  TG: I’m around the side. Wasn’t sure if any of your friends would be outside.

  Me: Coming

  My head darts up and I’m glad Rory is on her phone. “I’m leaving, my Uber is here.”

  “Text me when you’re safe.” And I make a mental note that she doesn’t say ‘when you get home.’ She kisses my cheek again. “I’m not going to hound you about this right now because I can sense a girl thinking with her pussy from a mile away and I don’t want to ruin your ‘I’m about to get dick buzz,’ but this conversation is not over.”

  “Fine,” I relent because she’s right. The buzz has kicked in and nothing in this moment matters more than getting Theo Graham between my legs.

  I escape my friends, without having to do a million goodbyes and slide into Theo’s Mercedes. He has multiple cars, and I notice he’s brought the one that’s the most nondescript. The paparazzi rarely catch him doing anything and don’t often really even care what he’s doing now that he’s this far removed from the NFL, but people still recognize him and I’m sure he doesn’t want that or worse, to get papped going into a hotel with me.

  “Hi,” I say with a smile and he smiles back, his eyes drinking me in. He’s still in his suit from my graduation party, making me wonder what he’s been doing since I left him three hours ago.

  “Hi, beautiful,” he says and I melt as he pulls out into the street.

  “Thank you for coming to get me.”

  “When have I ever not come when you called?” He asks and my heart begins to race.

  I raise an eyebrow. “I think this is different.”

  “Fair.” He grunts as he zooms down Main Street.

  “Where did you book a room?”

  “The Ritz.”

  “Oh fancy. Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Graham? Am I getting the football star Theo Graham treatment?” He chuckles but I see a bit of a flush moving up his neck. “Oh my gosh, I was kidding!” I move across the console and put my hand on his thigh. “You don’t need to try to impress me. You do that by just being you.” I tell him as I move my fingers along his thigh and brush against his hardness.

  “Avery,” he groans.

  “Mmmm?” I narrow my eyes and give him a cheeky smirk.

  “Don’t…”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Tempt me.”

  We make it to the front of the hotel and despite the late hour, the valet staff are still outside. “Welcome back, sir.” A man, probably no older than me, opens the door for him while another opens the door for me.

  “Welcome back?” I look up at him.

  “I came earlier to check into the room,” he says as his hand finds the small of my back.

  “I see,” I tell him as we make our way through the lobby to the elevator. The second we step into the elevator I feel the tension crackle between us. We are going all the way to the fifteenth floor, so we have a few moments before we make it there.

  “You are so fucking beautiful.” He drags his eyes down my frame, zeroing in on my feet. “Do your feet hurt?”

  I bite my lip because being in four-inch stilettos for eight hours is a lot even on the most experienced of heel wearers. “A little.” He moves across the elevator and just as it dings, he lifts me into his arms like I weigh nothing. I gasp, being in his strong arms, and I allow myself to press my face to his neck and take a deep inhale. “You smell good.” I continue dragging my nose along his neck and I feel him swallow.

  “Avery,” he whispers as he walks to the end of the hall where there are double doors to enter meaning it’s some sort of suite. He sets me on my feet and backs me against the door. “Front pocket.” He grits out. I look up at him questioningly and his lips curl into a smirk. “The key is in my front pocket.”

  “Oh.” I gasp as I reach into the right pocket first, feeling around but not finding the key. I switch to his other pocket and I find it instantly but continue exploring, trying my best to push his slacks closer to his dick to no avail. I pull out the key card and turn around to drag it against the detector when I feel him at my back and his lips resting on my shoulder.

  “I couldn’t pull my eyes away from you all night.”

  “I know.” I push open the door and pull him inside with me. “Every time I searched for you, you were already looking at me.”

  “You are impossible not to look at. Believe me, I’ve been trying,” he tells me as he slides his jacket off.

  I make it a point to text Rory to let her know that I’m safe. I also respond to a very jumbled text message from my mother asking me if I’m staying out tonight and I tell her yes.

  Oh, but she can get drunk. I roll my eyes.

  The last text is from Lucas asking me if I’m okay and if I’m home safe to which I also respond yes. I’ll deal with all of that tomorrow.

  Tonight, I just need him.

  I close my phone and sit on the couch, noticing how massive the suite is. We’re still in the living area but I see the bedroom just off to the right and my skin prickles with anticipation. He sits on the coffee table in front of me and pulls my feet into his lap as he unbuckles the strap around my ankle to remove each shoe. “What started…this crush you have on me?”

  I rub my foot against his thigh, dragging it up and down slowly. His hand finds my calf and he moves his rough hands along it. I feel the calluses on his fingers and it reminds me that I don’t know what they feel like on my clit or my tits or anywhere intimate. His thumb drags along my ankle and reaches the arch of my foot, pushing his thumbs into the soles and I moan at the feeling.

  “Have you seen you? I was thirteen and the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen moved in next door.” A ghost of a smile finds his lips. “And you were nice. Probably the nicest man I’ve ever met besides someone I’m related to.” I cock my head to the side in memory. I’ve always been bubbly and outgoing and the day they moved in I marched over to their house before they were even done unpacking with a lasagna and a tray of cheesecake brownies my mother made and inserted myself into their lives without even giving them the option.

  I pull my foot out of his hands and reach my hand out to pull him to the couch next to me. Within moments I’m in his lap, fueled by the memories of what straddling him feels like. “You’re sexy and smart and kind and hardworking and protective…and…” I let out a breath. “On the slightly more fucked up side, you’re my best friend’s favorite person in the world. He’s spent the last seven years trying to be you and while I’m not attracted to him, I am attracted to the man he’s been trying to be ever since he could walk.” I bite my bottom lip and I watch his eyes flit to the movement. “And okay, maybe I do have some daddy issues.” I let out a breath before I gently brush my lips against his. “You’ve been such a constant in my life for so long, Theo. But, I don’t want him to find out. I don’t want the drama, and you’re right; he wouldn’t like it and he’d be angry at you and hurt by me and I don’t want to do that to someone I care about.” My tongue flicks out and drags along his bottom lip. “But it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped thinking about what your dick would feel like in my mouth.”