“Friends, huh?” Well, at least he was straightforward. Laughing, I pressed my weight into the wall behind me. “I don’t think I’m interested in being the same kind of ‘friends’ you want to be, Avery.”
“You sound really sure about that, but I’ve been known to change minds.” With one hand still at my waist, he pressed the other palm into the wall beside me, effectively pinning me in place. Damn, he smelled good. Damn, he was wearing his suit well.
I shook my head. “That won’t be happening in this case.”
“You haven’t heard me out.”
“I don’t need to hear you out, because my final answer is no.”
“Even if I guaranteed you would have a very enjoyable time as my friend?”
I laughed, dropping my gaze to the lily pinned to his lapel. “You could promise me five good times, and the answer would still be no.” When I dared to look up, my eyes snagged on that magnetic gaze of his, and I was so enthralled I didn’t realize the door had opened beside us, and Deidra had stepped out.
“Avery, leave her alone! Don’t you have something better to do than harass the bridal party?”
I startled, and with a teasing wink, he stepped back, giving me room to step away and take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. I tried to keep my expression neutral, knowing Deidra was looking right at me, but my skin was flushed, and on fire from that short interaction. Without looking back, I told Avery over my shoulder that I would see him at the wedding, and entered the room to find Des pacing.
“Tori! Oh thank God, I was getting worried about you! Where were you?” Des asked, stopping in front of me to grab my hands.
“I just stepped out to get some air, Des. I’m ok.”
Behind me, Deidra snorted as she approached. “I found her in the hall, cuddled up with Avery…”
“With Avery?” Desiree’s eyes widened. “Tori, seriously, no. Avery is…”
“— An asshole?” Deidra interjected, earning a scathing look from Des.
“He’s not an asshole, Dei, don’t say that. Avery is just… he can be… Okay, it’s like this—”
“Des!” I shook my head, sending a withering glare of my own in Deidra’s direction. “I was not cuddled up in the hall with your brother, I just met him. I have no idea why Deidra is getting you all riled up.”
“I’m just telling what I saw,” Deidra said in an innocent voice, turning to check her makeup in the mirror. I caught her reflection in the mirror to make sure she could see me rolling my eyes at her. I liked Deidra well enough, — most of the time— but damn, the girl told Des everything she saw, and it usually wasn’t even the most accurate account. Deidra knew her cousin had a tendency towards worst-case scenario style dramatics, but she fancied herself Des’ sidekick, so I guess she had to observe and report accordingly.
Des entwined my fingers with hers to pull me off to the side, away from Deidra. When we were out of earshot, she squeezed my hand. “Tee, I know things are rough right now with you and Rafael, but if you’re gonna have a fling, trust me, my brother is not the one to have it with.”
I had to remind myself that this was her wedding day so I wouldn’t roll my eyes at her as well. “Well, I wasn’t planning to, but what’s so wrong with Avery? He seems charming— a lot more than I expected.”
Rolling her eyes, Des lifted her hands to my updo to fix a few loose strands. “Duh, Tori. You’re a beautiful woman; of course he was nice to you. I’m just glad you’re married now, and I don’t have to watch you around him.”
Watch me around him?
Des had been making little comments like that for the last year or so, and it was more than getting on my damned nerves. Ever since she’d gotten with Drew, it was as if she was suddenly the relationship expert, never mind that her dating history was more pitiful than mine was.
I pushed her hands away. “What the hell does that mean?”