Avery
I want to die. Is it possible to run out of their house, get in my car and never set foot in this town again?
There’s no way he wasn’t referring to the Xtreme Buzz, is there? Please tell me he didn’t see me. He couldn’t, the angle was too low, at least until my body started contorting and writhing involuntarily.
I need a hole to crawl into right now. Or the earth to open up and swallow me whole.
Ugh, and he offered to come drill me. And nail me. No, no, no. Even if he is hot, sitting there in his tight t-shirt, showing off his powerful arms.
I wonder what he’s like in bed.
“I never see anyone visit you. Got a boyfriend?” Knox asks.
“No, Dad, Avery doesn’t have a boyfriend. She broke up with hers six months ago, and that’s why she moved here,” Piper says.
“Thanks, Piper. I think Avery can speak for herself,” Knox says.
“Piper’s doing a great job, aren’t you?” I say to her. She can answer his questions while I slink away.
“I’m just trying to get to know my new neighbor, is all,” Knox says.
Funny, he didn’t want to get to know me when I brought the beers over and said I wanted to get to know him. He obviously knows what I was doing earlier, and sees this as an opportunity for convenient sex. Figures.
“There’s not much to tell, really. This is my first house, I bought it with an advance on my book, and I like chocolate.”
“That’s everything?” Knox asks.
“That’s the main stuff.”
“What are the pictures of?”
“What pictures?”
“The ones you were hanging. With your drill.”
My cheeks flush all over again. I walked straight into that.
“Nothing exciting, flowers in fields and stuff.”
“That’s disappointing,” Knox says, smirking.
He leans forward in his chair, and sets his beer can on the worn coffee table. When he rights himself, he’s got some serious man spread going on. Like he’s trying to tell me his dick is so big he has to sit with his legs wide apart to accommodate it.
Or maybe he wants me to look at it. I refuse to let me eyes go there.
“You know, in college I once did a study on body language, and how to tell if a guy likes a particular girl.” It’s my feeble attempt to get back at him.
“What kind of course were you taking where you had to do a study like that?”
“Behavioral studies.” I leave out the in a sexual context part. I took the single class when I started vlogging, so I’d at least sound a little bit credible.
Knox grunts.
I sigh.
“Anyway, it’s been nice but it’s late, and I have some work to do in the morning before we go shopping,” I say, standing.
Piper jumps up and gives me a hug. “I can’t wait,” she says.
“We’re going to have a blast,” I say, hugging her back.
Knox doesn’t move from his position. Most people would get up and see their guest to the door, not him, apparently.
“Thanks for the beer,” I say.
He grunts.
“Okay then.” I walk towards the front door.
“Hey Avery,” Knox says, stopping me in my tracks.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for taking Piper shopping.” He locks his eyes on mine, and a pool of heat forms in my core.
“It’s my pleasure,” I say, and flee out the house before I do something stupid, like ask him to help me hang some pictures.
* * *
It’s morning, and I need to shoot a video before I take Piper shopping.
This one is called Don’t be Annoying.
“My ex always used to make this noise that sounded like a worn-out squeeze toy. He didn’t do it when he was close to orgasm, that would’ve been understandable. No. He would do it when he wanted some. Like the noise was going to somehow get me in the mood. It didn’t. Ever.”
My rant about Nathan continues. “Admittedly, I never had the guts to come out and tell him to stop with his stupid noise, but, trust me, guys, I hinted at it plenty. But he never took the hint. So here’s where today’s tip comes in. Pay attention to your lover. If you do something and they wince, you probably shouldn’t do it again. But if you do, and they wince again, you definitely shouldn’t do it again. Remember, always pleasure your partner, and they’ll pleasure you.”
Instead of turning off the webcam, I vent all of my sexual frustration. I can edit it out later. Right now it just feels good to say it out loud.
Why did it take me so long to leave Nathan? I curse myself every day for staying with him for so many years. It’s four years of my life I’ll never get back. I could’ve found someone else, and been happy.
And had lots of amazing sex and I wouldn’t be an internet fraud, the way I am now.
Piper and I are going out at one. I need to eat lunch first, but a thought hits me. I quickly change my shirt so I’m not wearing the same clothes as the Don’t be Annoying video, and hit record.
“I know my pages are generally aimed at couples in relationships, but today I want to talk about casual sex. Because we all can’t be in a relationship all the time, can we? And we have needs. Needs that sometimes just can’t be fulfilled on our own, no matter how powerful our toys. So what do we do? Suppress those urges? Or find someone to scratch them? Say someone you’d never, ever be interested in a relationship with, because they’re a jerk or whatever. I’d be interested in hearing your opinions on this issue, just comment on this video and maybe we can get a good discussion going.”
I hope my viewers can tell me what to do, I need their help, for once.
“Do we find someone we know we could and would never, ever have a real relationship with, but that we find really sexy? Or do we only find them in our minds and fantasies and stay solo until another real relationship starts?”
I spend the rest of the morning editing it. Fueled by the anger I felt while videoing it, I bump my originally planned video to next week and post my Nathan bitchfest Don’t be Annoying. After a moment, I publish the second as well. I call it F*ck Buddies.
The doorbell rings, and I realize it’s one o’clock and I still haven’t eaten. I head downstairs, and let Piper in.
“Hey, Piper. Have you eaten? I haven’t had time yet, I’m just going to grab a quick sandwich.”
“No problem. Sorry we didn’t have any dessert last night.”
I laugh, “That doesn’t matter, it was fun hanging out with you guys.”
“My dad really likes you.”
“He does? He barely said anything.”
“He never talks much. He likes to listen.”
Maybe that’s why Piper talks so much, since he doesn’t someone had to.
“Is he like that with everyone?”
She shrugs, “Don’t know. I think so. But he agrees with me that you’re really pretty and beautiful and funny.”
I laugh, why is she saying this? Is this part of his attempt to drill me? Was he serious when he said that? When he first said it I thought he was serious, but this morning I wondered if he was joking and decided it was all an attempt to embarrass me more after the Xtreme Buzz thing.
Which reminds me, I must never talk to him again. Or even see him. And I definitely can’t let him see me. Which will be tricky, since I live next to him and seem to spend a lot of time hanging out with his daughter, but I’ll figure out a way.
“What’s your favorite pizza?”
“Meat Lovers,” I say. I’m getting used to her quick changes of topics.
“We’re going to order pizza tonight. You’re coming, right?”
I try to keep my face from looking too horrified while I think of an excuse not to go.
“I’m really sorry, but I have some work I have to get done for tomorrow.”
“But it’s Sunday tomorrow.”
“It’s not fair, is it? But you know editors.”
“That’s so cool. I can’t believe I’m living next to a real, live author.”
How long can I keep this writing-a-book facade up?
“You know what, I’m good with eating a banana in the car. Ready to shop till you drop?” Because the faster we get out of here, the less chance there is of him seeing me.