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You’re seriously breaking up with me via text message?
I raise my phone to show Kali the text. All she does is grin and shrug a shoulder.
“He’ll be over it by tomorrow. Now let’s find you something to wear.”
Over the next few hours, we blast our favorite 90’s hip hop station while we dance around the apartment. I love these girls with every fiber of my being. Kali, Emiline, and Peyton, even though she isn’t here right now, they just have a way of making anyone feel better. Thomas coming back into Peyton’s life brought Emiline to us and she’s been the perfect addition to our friend group.
That’s the thing about our girl gang, when one person is having weird feelings about something – whether it’s good or bad – we just blast some music and dance it out. Probably something we picked up from our years of binge-watchingGrey’s Anatomyon repeat.
I don’t know jack shit about dating, what to wear or how to approach this. Thankfully, Kali lives in a romance world with Peyton, and she knew exactly what I should wear tonight. We settled on the standardlittle black dress.It’s got spaghetti straps and reaches mid-thigh with a little bit of flow to it. Really, it would be a great dancing dress for a night out.
I opt to pull my hair back into a slick ponytail. I can’t stand when my hair dangles in my face, so it’s my favorite hairstyle. Paired with a set of stud diamond earrings and it’s a perfect dressed up look.
Just as I sit down on the kitchen stool to slip on a pair of black heels, I hear Kali shuffle into the kitchen with a low whistle.
“Damn, Ave.” She winks as she grabs two wine glasses. “You look fucking hot.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s my line.” I chuckle.
Kali doesn’t get a chance to respond when the doorbell rings. I’m expecting Marc on the other end, but when I open the door I see Marc’s driver, Fred, standing there.
We had first met the night of the charity event in December when we couldn’t find Thomas to get out of there after the hospital called Peyton about Gigi. Marc was quick to have Fred pull the car around front and we were out of there in seconds.
“Oh… hey there, Freddy.” I give him a fist bump.
“Good evening, Ms. Woods.” He gives a little half bow. Despite whatever is thrown at him, he always remains at the peak of professionalism. “I was asked to pick you up and bring you to the restaurant.”
“Works for me,” I tell him as I turn around to grab my wristlet off the kitchen counter. “Hey, Freddy. Since you seem to know where we are going, can you tell me if this outfit works for the restaurant?”
“You look lovely, Ms. Woods,” he replies.
“Oh my god, Avery!” Emiline shrieks as she enters the kitchen space.
My eyes widen in shock wondering if I'm forgetting something or if I have lipstick all over my cheek. I look at myself up and down in the hallway mirror to see if anything is out of place.
“You’re…” she pauses as she shakes. A small grin forms on her lips. “You’re going to be my brother's undoing.”
An uneasy feeling creeps into my gut.
Because the truth is, he might becomemyundoing.
I’m late to just about every single thing in life. Yes, this also includes meetings. My secretary knows to relay messages to my assistant that meetings start thirty minutes before they actually start so that I show up on time. It’s a bad habit I'm struggling to break.
When I first asked Avery to dinner tonight, I had no plans as to where I would take her or how to approach this night. After a quick phone call with Oliver, who knows all about these places from his time blogging, we settled on a more upscale Bar and Grill on Park Avenue.
Now here I am, twenty minutes early to a practice date for our little ruse this summer. Twenty. Minutes. Early.
I’m standing on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant and trying to control my urge to nervously pace the sidewalk. Looking up from my watch, I see my car that Fred drives, pull up to the curb and my nervous energy spikes again.
I can’t even pinpoint why this entire thing makes me as nervous and jittery as it’s been making me. I know Avery won’t fuck me over. She may be a little on the wild and loud side, but she’s not a woman who would do that. If I had to guess… It all stems from having your sight set on something you want so badly and wanting it to work out the way it should.
It has nothing to do with Avery, because this arrangement will never amount to anything.
My thoughts are cut short when Fred opens the back door to let Avery out of the vehicle.
My breath hitches when she emerges from the car in a little black dress that is just short enough to expose her toned legs.
The air is physically trapped in my lungs as I stare at her.
