“You said your relationship with your brother was…what did you say at the gym? ‘Complicated’?”
I’m more interested in hearing her open up further than breaking down my dynamic with Landon, so I deflect. “Yeah. But I’m really close to my youngest brother, Connor. He’s finishing his freshman year at Princeton.”
“Smart kid.”
“A fucking genius.” I shake my head. “School was not my friend, but he got me through?—”
“Okay, you two good to go?” Farah interrupts.
I look around to find all eyes on us.
Shit, I forgot what we were even doing here.
We got lost in our conversation.
Huh.
6
AVERY
I’m going to need Rawley Battle to be less hot and less damn likeable.
Who is this guy? Is he for real?
Now that we’re just sitting here chatting, not in motion, I’m getting a full view of his stupidly perfect face. He looks like the famous actor from the Marvel movies my brothers used to watch. Not Loki, but the Thor guy. Honestly, he might be hotter, with his square jaw and bright blue eyes.
And while with his looks and background he has every cause to fit the asshole jock mold, it doesn’t describe him one bit.
Instead, his lively eyes dance around a mile a minute, and he seems to always be searching for the next chance to laugh.
He is just showing you his best side.
Whether that’s true or not, I need to refocus on getting through this interview.
“Yeah, let’s start,” I say to Farah before returning my eyes to Rawley. “They told me we’re supposed to alternate questions, and I’ll do the first one?”
“Yes, I guess that’s the plan.” He glances around, and then directs a question at Farah. “Everyone is going to watch us record this?”
Farah’s face is full of understanding. “We can clear out most of the staff. They were excited to catch a glimpse of you two, but there’s no need for them to stick around.”
She shoos everyone out until she and her assistant, Kayla and Aiden, who’d introduced himself earlier because of his connection to Dylan, are the only ones left.
“Now, just a reminder,” Farah says. “You’re asking each other the same thing, back and forth. So follow the scripted questions. They were agreed to by both teams and your personal reps.”
I nod. Okay, let’s do this.
I reach to turn on the recording device, only—Rawley does too. As both of our hands hover over it to push the “record” button, they meet.
And for the first time today, we’re touching, his fingers resting on top of mine.
A sizzling sensation pulses through my hand, up my arm.
Whoa.I can’t help the flash of surprise that I know covers my face.
He looks startled too, pulling his hand back quickly. “Sorry.”
I shake my head, trying to convey no apologies are needed. It was just static electricity, right?
