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Avery snorts, her back still turned, but looks over her shoulder at my idiot brother. “Good luck getting her back at all.”
He flips her off, and Avery just winks. “I mean it. Good luck with that. She’s been planning her revenge for a decade, Casey. Ten long years, where we planned every conceivable way to torture you without anyone around to hear you scream.”
“She’s horrifying,” Linc mutters. Then he claps his hands together. “Come on, Casey. I’ll drop you off on my way back to the station.”
Casey reluctantly leaves, but not before giving me a few more pointed looks. Once they are gone, I try to think of what to say to Avery. What I can say that might make my earlier statement sting a bit less.
“Let me drive you home,” I finally manage to say. When it becomes clear that she is ignoring me intentionally, I cough. “I promise I don’t bite.”
Avery turns, her eyes shining. “You might not, but I do.”
Her words shoot straight to my dick, which suddenly decides to join the party. Ignoring the urge to adjust myself, I narrow my eyes. She is teasing me, just for fun. Two can play that game.
“Great. I like a little pain.” With the keys in my hand, I walk away. “Get your ass in the truck, Ms. James.”
8
AVERY
My mother didn’t raise an idiot. I get my ass in the truck. Yes, I’d thrown down the gauntlet, but I didn’t know what else to do. Everything about Carter draws me in, making it hard to even think when I stand next to him.
Hell, I had to force myself not to rub up against him like a cat in heat when he’d stood too close. So, that is how I find myself sitting in the front seat of the truck, my hands pressed between my knees. If I don’t, I’ll touch him and that means that I’ll fuck him. Besides, if I do that, there will be no chance of forgetting about him.
“I’m going to Bria’s house,” I tell him when he passes the road to her house.
“That’s probably not a good idea,” Carter muses quietly. “Casey’ll end up there in the morning, and I’ll be doing him a disservice if I don’t have his back right now.”
“What?” My spine stiffens at the idea of him giving me a ride to make sure that his brother has access to Bria.
“You’ll end up killing him, and I’ve seen Bria with a hangover. She can handle her own, I’m sure. I don’t want to have to arrest you, Avery. And if you assault my brother, I really won’t have a choice about doing it.”
All the righteous indignation I’ve been working on for the last ten seconds evaporates into nothing, and I slump back in the seat.
“Whatever, just take me home.”
“Can’t do that, either.” Carter taps the steering wheel, humming along to music only he can hear. “Chris and that guy looked pretty chummy. You don’t want to interrupt their night. Nope. I think you should stay at your brother’s.”
My blood runs cold. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Except the smile on his face says that he plans on just that.
“He lives at the club,” I huff. “I hate that place.”
Carter keeps smiling, clearly loving the fact that he is about to ruin my night. “That’s your only option.”
Inspiration strikes and I turn in my seat, straining against the seat belt. “Is it, though?”
The smile drops from his face, and I almost laugh when Carter clenches the steering wheel. “No.”
“Why not?” I purr. “You issued the challenge,” I tease, pursing my lips slightly. “Can’t handle it when I give it right back to you?”
“You’ve been drinking, Avery.” Carter offers the excuse up on a silver platter.
The perfect way for me to explain my actions. Just keep my mouth shut and walk away. Even though I’d literally just reminded myself not to get too close to him, I want to. All I need to do is close my mouth. Let him drop me off at Deacon’s. I can sleep it off. I’d already arranged a substitute teacher for the next day at school. I can sleep in, get breakfast, and go home.
But none of that is what I really want.
“I haven’t.” The truth slips out, and Carter’s shoulders tense.
