Max
I used to give Easton hell about dating someone so simple. Zach and I would team up on him because we all liked a little flashy. I owe Easton one hell of an apology. Avery is incredibly simple, yet so complex. She may have her personal demons with scabbed over wounds, but she’s sensational in many ways.
She doesn’t give a damn that my pockets are deep. Not at all. I’ve stepped out of my normal dating realm and into the land of the unknown, only to be greeted by this short and beautiful, spunky and gracious, witty and charming woman who knocks me off my feet.
And I like it.
Too damn much.
A few days ago, I pushed the wrong buttons with her, and ever since I’ve been kissing ass to make it up to her. Not that I feel I need to, but because I want to. I went too far. I’m so uncertain where she stands with me, and so certain where I am with her. I just want to be able to heal all her hurt and make her happy—something she deserves.
Me: What is it about you?
I shoot her a quick text before heading into Easton and Zoey’s place. It’s the very question plaguing my mind. Love has no bounds, and it’s moving in on me like a tornado dropped from the night sky. I’ve never experienced this.
Zoey’s bright smile greets me as I step into their place.
“Hey.” I hug her neck and kiss the side of her head.
Easton’s on the couch and I tip my chin at him. “What’s up, man?”
I grab a beer from the fridge and take a seat at the other end of the couch. He tosses a folder at me. “I’ve got your stuff you asked for. Complete upgrade to the winery’s entire security system adding twelve cameras to cover inside and outside of all the complexes.”
I flip through the papers. “Will this be easy to tie into whatever the hell I plan to do with the land?”
He nods. “I’ll be upgrading you to a new panel complete with a new monitoring system. This time you won’t have two systems.”
My phone chimes.
Avery: Could be my remarkable smile. ;)
Me: I hope I’m a contributor to it.
“I’m assuming by that shit eating grin that’s the chick you’ve been spending time with.” He nods at the phone in my hand. “Tell me about her.”
“Taking it day by day,” I say.
He leans back and steeples his fingers. It’s the only way he can think. He hums. “You have no idea how she feels, do you?”
I blow a laugh through my nose.
“You’re supposed to be the emotional one out of all of us. In tune with your emotions and shit. Have you not talked to her?”
When I was a teenager, I cried when Easton’s neighbor’s dog got run over and died. I watched that shit unfold in front of me, and it shook me to the core. When Zach was dating Tiffany, I tried talking sense into him because I knew he was cheating on her. I knew he was better than that. When he wanted to party, I tried coaching him into focusing on his future. Apparently, all that counts as sensitive and “in tune with my emotions.” When Easton was in the train wreck of a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, I tried being there. That too counts as some no-ball asshat shit.
“Dude. Really?” I glance at him like he’s ignorant.
He grins. “You’re falling for her.”
My phone chimes again.
Avery: You do tend to brighten my day.
I glimpse up to him. “I like her, yeah.”
He scoots to the end of the cushion and clasps his hands. “I know that shit with Nicole—”
“High school bullshit. That was years ago. Irrelevant today,” I interrupt him.
“You didn’t let me finish.” He grimaces. “I know that shit with Nicole scarred you to keep yourself protected and then when you allowed yourself to feel again, Jennifer burned your ass up. Don’t categorize this one. I want you happy. You’ve told me before you’re content with faceless sex, but being that I’m a made man, I know what’s over here.”
I smirk. “And I’m the emotional one?”
He lifts a shoulder. “You’re rubbing off on me.”
“I’d say Zoey has you becoming a better man.”
“I won’t deny that.”
“Don’t worry about me. My past hurt has only grown me.”
He looks to the papers in my hands. “Speaking of growing, you have any ideas what you want to do with the extra land?”
I shake my head. “I’ve got a few ideas, but nothing final yet.”
Just like that, our sensitive talk is over. Easton is only emotional with Zoey. She’s told Jade multiple times how “sweet his heart is.” And it doesn’t surprise me. He’s always worn his heart on his sleeves, covered up, of course. It only took the right person to bring it out of him.
Me on the other hand? I’ve never been scared to open up. Not to my boys. Not to my girlfriends. I guess I learned the hard way that tomorrow is never promised. When Jade was in the hospital after falling into the ice, I sat there, scared out of my damn mind that I would never be able to tell her I loved her again. I’d never be able to pull her pigtails or intimidate her boyfriend when she was old enough to have one. I learned through her to be brave and not be scared of my feelings. I was taught a hard lesson about being tough and honest.
Jade says I’m able to hide my emotions, that even my eyes don’t give anything away. I say she’s not paying close enough attention. Eyes are the windows to the soul.