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"I know who you are. I'm a big fan of your work." She shook his hand. "Avery Brighton."
"It's nice to meet you. You look beautiful. Even better than the pictures."
"Hey." I clamped my hand on his shoulder. "Stop trying to steal my girl."
He turned back to me, an approving look on his handsome, weathered face. "You two are looking good. I like what I see." He quickly scanned the room, and his smile turned into a grimace. "Most of it, anyway. I think I might have to take someone out tonight. You're going to have to hold me back." He jutted his chin in the direction of the penguins and ominously cracked his knuckles.
I turned and saw Pax and Jessica sipping champagne and regarding us coolly. I groaned. "Have you talked to him at all?"
"Hell no," Reggie said loyally. "And I don't plan to. Word is that he's getting traded. It can't happen soon enough. We're all ready to jump him and beat his ass senseless. A broken nose just isn't enough."
"He's not worth it. I should know."
Reggie shook his head. "I knew the guy had no class, but what I did not realize was that he's absolute trash. And Jessica…I guess she's shown her true colors. I'll leave it at that." He grunted.
I sighed as I watched Jess rub her boobs, which were spilling out of her too tight dress, against Pax's chest. "I've got nothing to say—except ugh." I reached out and grabbed Avery's hand. "Are you ready to go and face them?"
"Already?" she squeaked.
Reggie looked at me as though I'd grown an extra head. "Why're you talking to them?"
I shrugged. "I'm going to see him tomorrow at practice, anyway. A very wise person once told me that the best defense is a good offense. So we're trying that out."
Avery took a gulp of champagne. "Let's get it over with. Before I have too much to drink and start speaking my mind."
Reggie nodded and gave us a thumbs-up. "This one's a keeper. You remember I told you that."
"I'll remember. I promise."
I felt as though I was walking the plank as we headed toward Jess and Pax. Jessica inspected Avery from head to toe. Pax had dark bruises underneath his eyes, but his nose looked okay now. "Hey." I nodded at them in what I hoped was a friendly manner. "Pax, I wanted to say that I'm sorry. That was unprofessional of me to go after you like that." Even though you fucked my wife and were taunting me about it.
He looked taken aback. "It's…okay." He sounded unsure. Jess gave him a stern look that I was all-too-familiar with: Stop talking.
"This is my girlfriend, Avery Brighton. Avery, this is Jessica and Pax Unger."
"Hey," Avery said. She smiled at them.
"Chase," Jessica said, nodding at me icily. "I saw your swan boat pictures. Nice work."
"It wasn't work—I actually like kids. Unlike you." I took a gulp of champagne. "I saw your Instagram." I didn't say anything else.
A very awkward silence ensued.
She turned her laser-like glare to Avery. "And you…it's interesting to meet you. How did you two meet, again?"
"I met Chase in Harvard Square. We were book shopping."
Jess laughed. "Chase doesn't read."
Avery nodded at her, her smile still intact. "You're right—I haven't even seen him crack open the book he got that day. I think he just wanted to meet me, so he followed me into the store."
I squeezed her hand. I fucking loved this girl.
Another awkward silence ensued.
Jessica tossed her hair over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing. She turned back to me. "Mickey said you're closing on your new house soon. I need the proceeds of the sale wired into my account as soon as the Wellesley house closes. You understand that, right?"
I thought I saw Pax wince a little at either her demand or her tone, but that wo
