AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Avalyne
“Ihate Professor Timmons with a passion! Did you hear what he said about my essay today?” Lilac keeps rambling something about class stuff, but I can’t bring myself to focus. You know that feeling that you’re being watched? Well, I have that. The hair on the back of my neck stands as I search for the gaze that is fixed on me. A cold shiver sweeps up and down my spine: Oliver, Damien’s cousin.
“Hey! Ava, right?” He says with a warm smile as he approaches us. My first impression of him that night at the club was that he’s a typical nice guy. If he were a book character, he’d definitely be one of the less meaningful ones. A side character. But that was before. Today, something has changed. There’s something unnerving in his gaze.
“And Lilac. Yeah!” Lilac throws a death stare at Oliver, whose facial expression couldn’t be more confused, and I chuckle. “That’s why I prefer females!” She mutters, shoving past him to disappear down the hallway.
“Shit. It looks like I’ve offended her,” Oliver scratches the back of his neck with his fingers while giving me a nervous, somewhat embarrassed look. And for some reason, I find it cute.
“No, it’s okay. It’s not that easy to do so,” I smile at him, and his eyes brighten up. “She’s pretty chill,” I reassure.
“Oh, good. Something tells me that I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side,” he says, grinning again.
“Yup! You better not!” I tease.
“So, how are you today?” He slowly takes a few steps closer while gazing straight into my eyes, the gorgeous smile still there.
Gosh, how are the hot males of East Palm suddenly so into me?I watch his cool gray eyes that give him a mysterious vibe, watching me. I think those eyes contrasting his brown skin make him look unique. Like a man-unicorn.Rare.
“Well…,” I start hesitantly, contemplating what I want to say. “I’m hanging in there,”I suck at small talk.
“Rough day?” He tilts his head to the side, grazing his teeth over his bottom lip.
“More like a rough life,” I joke, and we chuckle.
“Listen, we didn’t get the chance to talk at the bar,” he switches the topic. “I was thinking, maybe we could hang out sometime?”
Dammit.What am I supposed to say? I’m kind of into his cousin. I should say no. Say no, Ava.No.
“Yeah... I mean... why not.”That went well.
As soon as he hears my positive response, he straightens up, and his irresistible grin grows even broader.
“Great!” He seems way too excited for this noncommittal type of reply. “Do you have any plans for this evening?”Not wasting any time here, huh?Usually, I would divert a person’s attention to their physical appearance. You know, compliment him out of nowhere, and duck out of the way and run, but something inside me is intrigued by this specimen of a man.
What is your game plan, Oliver?
“I…,”I have a date with your cousin.I feel somewhat embarrassed, and words just won’t come out of my mouth. I mean, who agrees to hang out with two best friends who happen to be cousins at the same time?
“Maybe I could take you out somewhere?” Oliver interrupts my inner dialog. But the idea of going out with him isn’t what gives me goosebumps. It’s his cousin. His presence alone makes my body shiver. Damien Alarie’s presence is a force so strong you can sense it close by. At least I can. I don’t even have to turn to know he’s there, right behind me.
“Too late, cuz,” his raspy voice reaches my ear from behind, making my heart skip a beat. “Firefly already has plans for tonight. With me.”
Damien’s satisfied tone gives away he finds this,whatever this is, as a competition. I let out a soft breath, trying to compose my nerves. In vain. My heart’s thumping so hard as if it’s going to jump out of my chest anytime now. I take a step back and let my eyes flicker between them. They exchange a serious look, and the tension between them is getting so thick you could cut it with a knife. This situation raises all types of red flags. If my brain had an ‘abort’ button, this would be the time to tap it… hard!
Is it a coincidence they are both suddenly interested in me?The question runs through my head repeatedly as I watch them coldly staring at each other.
“I see,” Oliver says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Well, maybe next time, Ava.” He looks at me expectantly.
“Yeah, maybe next time,” I say, rubbing my elbow nervously. I feel their gazes on me, and it makes me feel uneasy.
Oliver shakes his head, clenching his jaw. It seems he’s about to give up and leave when suddenly something stops him, and he turns on his heel and gives me a vicious look before stating: “Just be careful, Ava. My cousin is far from the man you’d like to fall for.” He looks at Damien and continues, “If you do, he will let you fall flat on your face.”
Ouch.
I see Damien narrowing his eyes at his cousin while clenching his jaw as if trying to restrain himself from saying something he’ll regret saying later. His eyes, however, give away it’s a stab in the back—alow blow.And I don’t like low blows.
“How could you possibly know what kind of man I’m looking for, Oliver?” I snap, and they both whip their heads towards me.
