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Hmm, maybe not, thinking about it. I couldn’t even manage to keep a plant alive.
I closed my phone with a sigh and returned my attention to Avery. I noticed Luke giving me an amused sidewards glance, his gaze darting to my phone. Shit, has he seen what I’ve been typing?
The evening flew by. The conversation flowed, everyone relaxing and loosening up as we ate and drank our fill. When everyone was full to bursting, we moved to the comfortable sofas in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. I flopped onto the floor, leaning back against the sofa.
“Let’s play a game,” Avery suggested, and I groaned. She looked all sweet and innocent, but she was so competitive.
“Fine, but only if we’re in teams. Boys against girls.”
“Deal!” she exclaimed. “Let’s play charades.”
Everyone groaned at that.
Half an hour later, I’d had enough.
“Avery, I’m swapping teams. I can’t deal with you anymore,” I mock-cried from my position on the floor, burying my face in my hands after she’d berated me for the tenth time for not being able to guess her charade.
“She’s your girlfriend,” Luke was quick to point out to Ethan, giving me a conspiratorial grin. He obviously didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Avery’s wrath, either. I loved her to death, but she was the worst loser ever.
I sniggered at Ethan’s pained expression.
“Dream team!” Avery shouted drunkenly, high-fiving Ethan.
“You ready to win, partner?” Luke’s voice sounded close to my ear. I leaned my head back on the sofa, next to his legs, and stared up into his eyes. He watched me, his gaze hooded. My stomach did a funny flip, and I suddenly felt short of breath.
“You look weird upside down,” I blurted out, flustered, my cheeks heating.
A slow, sexy smirk appeared on his lips.
“Do I make you nervous, Payne?” he asked, in a low, dangerous voice.
I scrambled upright to face him, kneeling up on the floor, and he leaned forwards, his eyes darkening.
“Yes,” I admitted in a whisper, our faces inches apart.
“And why is that?” he whispered back, holding my gaze and never once looking away.
“I-I don’t know,” I stammered, flushing.
I watched, hypnotised, as he licked his lips, moving his face closer to mine.
“Okay, I don’t know what’s going on here, but the sexual tension is making it hard to breathe.” Avery poked her head in between us, staring curiously, huffing alcohol fumes into my nose and making me cough.
“What?” My voice was breathy and high-pitched.
I cleared my throat and tried again. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Luke lean back on the sofa, rubbing a hand over his face.
“What was that, Aves?”
“You’ve literally been ignoring me and Ethan for the last five minutes, eye-fucking each other or whatever it is you were doing. Don’t get me wrong, it was hot, but I want to play charades!” Her slurred voice rose an octave, and I winced.
“Okay, baby, I think we’ve all had enough now. Time to get to bed,” Ethan soothed.
“Yep, time for me to leave,” Luke agreed. Unfolding himself from the sofa, he stood, shrugging into his leather jacket.
“See ya, Ethan, Avery. Thanks for dinner.” He did that manly hugging thing with Ethan, complete with back slapping, and dropped a kiss on Avery’s head.
“Bye, Payne. See you at work.” He waved, already backing away and avoiding my gaze.
