I shook my head with a grin as I surveyed the room. “I’m good, Shelb. You should find someone else to take care of.”
I walked away without a backward glance, knowing I needed to keep my distance. I wasn’t trying to be a dick, but I didn’t want to lead her on either.
Chase was standing across the room with his parents. All the Malones were present, even the children. But still no sign of Audrey yet. I wondered if she was even going to come. She couldn’t show up while Scott was alive; why would this be any different?
“Hey, man,” I said to Chase, shaking his hand. “Hey, Doc. Mrs. Allen.” I greeted his parents.
“Eyes feeling better?” Doc asked me.
Jesus. Did everyone know?
“Yes. Thank you.”
I turned to say something to Chase, but his attention was focused on something behind me. “Oh,hello.”
I followed his gaze, my eyes trailing up from the black heels with a red sole. Up the line on the back of the black stockings. Up to the black sheath stretching over the most perfect heart-shaped ass I’d ever seen.
Fuck me.
And then she straightened and faced us, and I realized who it was—Audrey. I gripped my bottle tighter and tried to focus on something—anything—else.
“Damn,” Chase said. “Is that Audrey Monroe? I haven’t seen her in years.”
Emerson had her arm around Audrey, and Sidney and Dylan joined them not long after.
“You know her?” I asked, watching their interaction curiously. She seemed so different from the woman I’d dealt with—warmer and friendly.
“Yeah. We went to high school together. Man—” He whistled through his teeth. “She has only improved with age.”
“I thought you went to Fall Creek High.”
“I did. Her house has a Sunnyville address, but it’s technically in Benton County where Fall Creek is, so she went to school in Fall Creek. She was always really sweet, despite being pretty much perfect—captain of the debate team, Student Council secretary, on the honor roll.”
I jerked my head back. “Are we talking about the same girl?”
“Yeah. Why?”
I shook my head, lifting the bottle to my lips. I didn’t want to talk about her, think about her, even if my body had different ideas. Because the sight of her in that fitted dress, with that damn seam running up the back of her legs and pointing straight to her ass, had my dick on notice.
“I’m gonna go talk to her.” Chase set his beer aside, his eyes never leaving her.
I glanced around, realizing he wasn’t the only one. Nearly every man in here had his eyes homed in on Audrey, and I gnashed my teeth.
“Good luck.” I scoffed as he walked away, knowing Audrey would likely think Chase was beneath her. She might have been nice in high school—according to Chase—but I had a difficult time seeing past her cold exterior.
When he tapped her on the shoulder, she spun around and flashed him a brilliant smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck, then started talking animatedly as she took him in.Huh.
Whatever. I turned away and found Doc Allen watching me curiously.
“How are you and Audrey getting on?”
I lifted a shoulder, not wanting to speak badly of her, even if the woman was a pain in the ass.
He stepped closer. “How are you doing—with everything?”
“Fine.” I tossed back the rest of my beer. I appreciated his concern, but I didn’t fucking want to talk about it.
He lifted his chin, his gaze knowing and a bit sad. “I miss him too.”
