The longer the game went on and as the girls took off their clothes, I came to my senses and realized I had left this former me behind when I met Avery. Now it just seemed so absurd. And a little like cheating. I had to bail while everyone was still decent.
“Look, I’d like to stay, but I am needed downstairs.” There was a crowd of others standing around watching, some fighting to take my place.
“Oh, boo,” said Stephanie Landry, who was just about to take off her bra. “Stick around for the fun. I was hoping to show off my latest piercing.” She licked her lips, her tongue ring sparkling. That wasn’t the newest one, though. Everyone knew about it.
“Have fun,” I said to Thomas Hammond, who was sitting in his boxers and socks beside me. He was so drunk he didn’t care, and by the girl on his arm, he was sure to get lucky, even if he lost.
“Come on, Seth. You have to play. You’re the best we’ve got, and I need help getting these girls naked.” Geoff was so drunk that he could barely hold his cards.
“Dude, if you need my help getting chicks naked, you’ve got worse problems than me leaving the game.”
His friends ribbed him as I made my escape. They were a fun bunch, and that was always why I had loved to party with them. I was one of the guys to them, someone to chip in on beer, and a magnet for hot girls attending their party. It wasn’t like I could score with all of them. I’d even been told that having a man-whore around had its perks.
But I was tired of being their prop.
I pushed my way through the crowd and made it to the hallway. That was where Will found me. “I talked to Britany, and she promised she wouldn’t start anything. I told her the repercussions if she did, but she does have her entire squad egging her on, and there’s always Lizzy in her ear.”
“Do you think they’ll fuck with her?”
“If they’re smart, they won’t. Avery could mop the floor with any one of them.”
“I just don’t want her to be ganged up on. Especially over all of this bullshit.”
“I hear you. I can talk to her if you want. I don’t mind explaining everything.”
“She needs to hear it from Britany. She’ll think I forced you.” And I didn’t want him getting too close to my girl.
“Well, I tried. But there’s something else.”
“Is Avery here?” I hoped I hadn’t missed her come and go. I had to make things right before they got worse, and if Omega parties had taught me anything, it could get a whole lot worse.
He looked away, rocking on his heels. “Yeah, about that. She’s with someone.”
My expression faded as my head seemed to grow hotter. “Like she came in with someone?”
“No, but she’s been pretty into him since she arrived. I think you should go see for yourself.”
Without another word, I turned and hit the stairs, pushing my way through the few people who crowded in the middle to chat. When I got downstairs, I was immediately greeted by some of my friends, mostly girls, who were eager for my attention.
“Hey, Seth. I didn’t know if you were here or not. I’ve missed you!” Betsy Patterson threw her arms around my neck. “If you’re up to it, I’ve got some toys back at my place. You can do that thing you love to do to me.”
“No, I’m sorry, Betsy, I’m looking for someone.” I pushed her away.
Betsy crossed her arms. “I thought you and that girl broke up. She’s been hitting on Ben all night, so she apparently moved on.” She gestured across the room, and before I could get a good look, a little blonde head appeared in front of me.
“Hi, stranger! I brought you a shot.” I tried hard to remember her name as she handed me a drink, but everything was a blur.
I shook my head and gave it back to her. “You take it. I’m taking it easy tonight.”
She huffed as I walked away from her, but I kept going, pushing through the room and trying to listen over the noise for Avery.
I found her friend in the crowd, and that was a good sign. If Abi was still around, maybe she was too.
I spotted Britany, and she immediately turned her head and looked back at me with a big grin. I glanced over to see what she found so amusing and found Avery leaning against the wall, and Ben was right up on her. He had that stupid look on his face like he thought he was getting lucky, and while Avery looked less enthused, she wasn’t telling him to back off.
Was this some kind of game to her? She had told me how Ben upset her and that I should have taken up for her when he said those stupid things. But now she was willing to forgive and forget. I guessed I wasn’t the only one who she was willing to give a second chance to. But I wasn’t going to just sit back and watch her make a big mistake.
The crowd seemed to clear as if my anger was making me glow or something. It sure felt like it.
Avery’s eyes narrowed as I approached. She had a beer in her hand, and I immediately thought of her condition as I snatched it away.
“Hey!” she said. I braced for her to slap me again, knowing how bad it hurt before. But she dropped her hand instead. “You have no right.”
Ben backed up. “Hey, Seth. What’s going on, man?” He reached to shake my hand, but I looked down at it as if it were a pile of shit. I couldn’t stop thinking how that was the hand that he’d had on Avery.
“What’s going on here?” I looked at the keg and knew he had minded it earlier, which meant it was probably his night for keg duty. “You served her beer? She just got out of the hospital, dick!”
His eyes widened. “Oh, shit. I wasn’t thinking, man. I’m sorry. She’s been nursing it all night actually.” He held his hands up. “You know I’d never try anything with your girl, right? I was just looking out for her.” He turned and gave Avery a pleading look. “Right, Avery?”
“I don’t know. I thought you were kind of cute.” She put her arm around him. “I’m just having a little fun with my new friend.” She placed her other hand on his chest and stared me right in the eyes. She was teaching me a lesson I’d never forget. This was what I’d done to Layla, and now I knew how it felt.
“No, no, we’re just talking,” said Ben. “You know she’s not even my type. I mean, not that she’s not sexy. A lovely girl. What am I saying? You know she is, but all I’m saying is, I would never try to poach anyone from you, man.” He was so nervous if the music was lower, we might hear his knees knocking together.
I looked down my nose at him and puffed out my chest. “That’s not what I heard.” I just wanted to intimidate him.
“Well, you know how untrue rumors can be, right?”
“Yeah, I do.” I looked at Avery.
I noticed the crowd had quieted their chatter, and everyone was staring at me to see what would happen next.
Normally, I’d put someone’s fucking head through a window, but I had to behave, and I couldn’t let my temper get the best of me.
I put the beer down on the windowsill beside me and grabbed her hand. “Come on,” I said. “We need to go somewhere and talk.”
Avery pulled away. “I’m fine thanks. I’d rather not.”
“Dammit, Avery. Don’t do this.”