Fall Into Love

by Melody Anne

  Tracy’s pleased laughter floated back to us. Attention. That’s all she wanted.

  I set my beer down, ready to take Avery home, when she kissed me on the cheek and settled back into her chair. “So, you were going to tell me stories about all the trouble you two got into when you were younger.”

  Ryan met my gaze over her head and nodded in approval. He liked her.

  Hell, I was speechless.

  So when Ry started in about crazy shit we did as kids, it took me awhile to find my voice and dispute half the stuff he was telling her. Ryan told her about the time we snuck out and climbed onto the roof of my house to drink beer when we were twelve. Avery said she didn’t believe him until he pointed farther down the dirt road to where a run-down trailer sat behind a row of unkempt hedges.

  And I stared at it.

  Sara was so close. Was she in there right now? Was Davis? I clenched and unclenched my fists until I felt Avery’s hand settle over mine. Soon after, I told Ryan we had to go. Coming here was both good and bad. I was glad Avery saw this small piece of me and didn’t run the other way.

  But it also reminded me that I was a failure, because Sara was still here.

  That sobering thought kept me quiet on the ride back to Avery’s place. When we got inside, she put on a movie and pulled me over to the couch. When she curled herself around me without saying a word, I let her warmth sink through me.

  Neither of us paid any attention to what was happening on the screen.

  “It’s like I’m living two different lives right now,” I said. “I’ve got you, and you make me feel like everything is possible, and then I go back and it all comes slamming back into my head. The reality is that my sister is a drug addict and I can’t help her.”

  Avery pulled back enough to look me in the eye. “You will. You got a job and you’ll have a lawyer soon. You’re doing it the right way, I promise.”

  There was no doubt or hesitation in her words, but they didn’t make me feel better. The sick feeling in my gut still twisted and tumbled. “But what if it’s too late? It’s going to take weeks to get the retainer I need. If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  She took my hand and twined her fingers with mine. I stared at them as if they were a lifeline in an endless sea.

  “Remember, you fight for her, and I’ll fight for you. Always.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Avery

  I couldn’t believe I was striding into CS on Monday morning with an actual bounce in my step, but there it was. So much had happened this weekend that it seemed impossible that it was only three days earlier that I had contemplated approaching Seth in the parking lot after work. Now I couldn’t wait to spend the day with him, even if it did mean spearing trash by the roadside in a hideous orange jumpsuit.

  But Rick had other ideas.

  “Hunter,” he bellowed as soon as Seth and I walked in together. “Get over here, you’re with Dave today since Mike’s got a doctor’s note this week. You two will be helping the pickup crew through Wednesday. You’ll ride in and back with them. The rest of you, get on the bus, we’re heading out.”

  I saw Rick glance over at Seth and me.

  The way he was watching us, I knew what was going on. My father had Rick keeping an eye on me. I knew that already, but I guess it went deeper than that.

  “My father’s doing,” I said to Seth. “I know it was him.” I wanted to call and yell at him, but Rick shouted a last warning and pushed out of the door. If I didn’t get on the bus, I’d get written up as a no-show.

  Seth pulled me in for a quick hug, then kissed my forehead. “I’ll see you after CS. We can grab a pizza and go back to your place for a really long dirty shower.” He turned me around and slapped my ass, and I jumped forward. A couple of the Works guys laughed.

  Outside, I could see Rick waiting for me by the bus doors.

  Damn my father. After we got done today I was going to call him. I was twenty-one, for crying out loud. I didn’t need him babysitting me. I took my frustration out on the door and pushed it open as hard as I could.

  Last night after the trailer park visit, Seth had been so down, and it broke me to see him so hopeless. I knew he was thinking about his sister, and I wanted to fix everything for him so bad, but I couldn’t.

  Not if I wanted to keep him.

  He needed to do it on his own and I respected that, even though I hated watching him suffer through it. I started toward the bus but paused next to Rick. “I know my father told you to do this,” I said to him under my breath, not wanting the others to get wind of what was going on.

  “I told you before, you should stay away from that one. He has a violent past, and your father is just looking out for you.”

  I snorted, actually snorted at him. “You don’t know the first thing about Seth or what he did. As for my father? He’s just mad that he isn’t getting his way for once. Guess what, you’re both wasting your time. Play your games from six to two. It doesn’t really matter in the big picture.”

  “You’ll see his true colors eventually,” Rick said.

  I lifted an eyebrow. “Seth’s or my father’s?”

  Before Rick could answer, I stepped onto the bus and took a seat in the middle. From the window I could see Seth and Dave climbing into the big trash truck that would pick up the bags we filled.

  Already I missed him.

  Just being around him made me feel like I could do anything I wanted. He made me not want to do what everyone else wanted me to. The girl I was around him? I was really starting to like her. I smiled and leaned my forehead against the glass. It didn’t matter what my father did, he couldn’t stop Seth and me from being together.

  True to his word, Rick kept us apart the entire week during the day, but we did get to see each other every single night, and I talked Seth into staying over to make it easier on both of us. Friday morning, the alarm went off and I rolled over and watched Seth’s eyes blink open.

  Having him there when I woke up was the best part of the day.

  With Grant, on the few occasions he would stay over, we operated on autopilot. I think maybe one time we had a morning quickie and it was because I asked. Looking back, it was clear what was missing.

  Passion.

  I never had this under-the-skin itch to be around Grant every minute of the day. To hear his voice or laugh, to lose myself in his eyes right before he kissed me. I never actually anticipated the next time we’d be together. Matching our schedules to fit in a date seemed logical at the time. Hell, my parents did it for as long as I can remember, and it made sense.

  Or it did.

  Now, with nothing but time, CS aside, I was starting to see the draw of a before-dinner quickie on the table, or even being surprised in the shower by a totally hot tattooed boy who stole my breath every time I saw him naked.

  He was happy with grilled cheese sandwiches and a beer.

  Didn’t need eighteen-year-old scotch and a four-course meal.

  “You look good enough to eat this morning,” Seth said in his sleep-rough voice that sent my pulse racing every time I heard it. “You’re too far away.” He reached out and slid an arm under my waist and dragged me closer.

  He didn’t need to pull me, because I’d go to him anytime he asked.

  Seth nestled my back against his front and buried his face in my neck. The light overnight stubble on his chin sent goose bumps rippling down my arms.

  “I wish we could play hooky and stay here all day.”

  “Saturday morning. It’s a date,” he said against my skin. “No clothes. No plans. You. Me. This bed and maybe the couch, or the table, or the . . .” He oomphed when I elbowed him. “I take back my own rule. The plan is now to have you in every single room of your place. That might take all day.”

  He punctuated his words with his lips against my shoulder.

  I shifted my hips and pressed back against the hard bulge in his shorts.

  “I think maybe we should get an
early start on the weekend,” he growled.

  I was about to agree when my phone started humming. I’d set it to vibrate last night so nothing would interrupt us.

  Still, who the hell called at five in the morning on a Friday?

  A quick glance at the screen told me I should have known.

  “Good morning, Mother.”

  “Avery. I need you to be at the house tonight at seven. Your father is meeting a few of his more important campaign donors, and we need to show them that all this nonsense with you has not affected our family. The gray suit and black heels, the thin ones, not that clunky pair you like to wear. Please make sure your hair is presentable. I can call in a favor to my stylist; actually I’ll just do that right now. Be at Trinity’s by five.”

  She hung up before I even had a chance to mumble a reply.

  “Has she always been that overbearing?” Seth asked.

  “You heard that?” I leaned over and set the phone on the stand. My hand was shaking with anger. Not once had she ever asked me to do anything. Avery, you will take riding lessons. Avery, you will be in advanced calculus this year. Avery, you will wear the gray suit and black heels. The thin ones.

  “Kinda hard not to. She has one of those voices.”

  I settled back against Seth’s chest and closed my eyes. I wanted to call her back and tell her to go to hell, but I knew I wouldn’t. It was a tiring obsession, the quest to win my mother’s approval. I was an adult and it shouldn’t matter anymore, but every time she told me to jump, I simply asked how high.

  Seth brushed my hair back and traced his fingers over my temples. “I start my job tonight anyway, if you need to go.”

  I’d totally forgotten about that. “I won’t see you at all tonight? Or tomorrow?”

  His fingers stilled.

  As illogical as it was, tears burned the back of my eyes. I shifted so that I was on my back looking up at him.

  I hated this. I hated her intrusion on our perfect morning.

  “Will you come over when you get out?” I asked.

  He looked down at me, hesitation in his eyes. “It’ll be late and I’ll smell like bar sweat.”

  “I like waking up with you,” I said.

  “I said anything, so yes, I’ll come by after work.” He kissed my forehead, my nose, then moved to my lips.

  We were only three minutes late to CS.

  And I had all day to dread seeing my parents that evening. I thought about ignoring my mother’s recommendation that I see her stylist before dinner, but it would only add fuel to her fire. I just wanted to go, smile when prompted, and leave as soon as I could.

  I was still mad as hell at both of them for what they tried to do.

  I left to see Trinity at four thirty. At seven, I stepped into the foyer of my parents’ home, filled to the brim with attitude. If she wanted me there, it would be on my terms.

  “That’s not the gray suit.” Her gaze ran down over the fitted black cocktail dress I’d picked out instead. The neckline plunged below what she deemed decent and the slit in the side hit midthigh. I felt confident and sexy in it.

  “I was tired of looking like a fifty-year-old aunt.” I slid my jacket off my shoulders and handed it to her. She liked to pretend we were just a normal family when we had donors come over. For whatever reason, greeting them at the door and taking their coats, which she then handed off to David, fell among her “domestic duties.”

  Mother’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell have you done to your hair?”

  “Had some length taken off and did some fun highlights. I think the caramel and lighter blond streaks really make my eyes pop. At least that’s what Trinity said.” I smiled.

  The best part was that she’d paid for it.

  “Avery, is that you?” My dad’s voice boomed through the foyer, and with a shrug, I pushed past Mother and headed into the front parlor, where it looked like everyone was gathering for drinks.

  This time the gathering was more intimate, with only a dozen of my father’s best supporters. The ones who donated huge sums of money and whom my father would then grant favors to after he won the seat as mayor.

  “Dad,” I said coolly. I started past him to the bar, but his hand on my arm stopped me.

  “Not the time or place,” he said under his breath. “Tonight is about showing a united front. I’ve invited Grant and his father. I expect you to smile and be supportive.”

  I glared at his hand. “Of course. It’s not like I’d do something crazy, like bribe an ex-boyfriend or anything, right? That’s your MO.” With that I yanked free and he had to let me go, unless he wanted to make a scene.

  “Cranberry and vodka,” I told the bartender. If my mother expected me to sip white wine all evening, she was in for another surprise.

  “You look beautiful,” a familiar voice said.

  “Not in the mood, Grant.” I grabbed my glass and slid a five into the tip jar.

  “I’m actually being sincere. That dress looks great on you, but there’s something else.”

  “The hair?” I asked, waving my hand toward my head.

  “Nope, but I like it. It fits you in some weird way.” His gaze moved over my face, and more than once I thought he was going to say something. If my father sent him over to try to get back together again, I was going to scream.

  “I’m not getting back with you, Grant. And you can tell my father to stop trying unless he wants a scene.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to say. I know we’re over. Hell, we were never really on in the first place.” He must have seen something in my eyes, because he held up his hand. “Don’t deny it, Ave. You know it’s true. There wasn’t any chemistry between us. We’ve been friends since we were like five, and it was always there that we would end up together. I think we both went along with it because it was the easiest thing to do.”

  Hearing him say it, admit what I knew, was actually a relief. “I know.”

  “I am sorry about Krista. I was desperate for a connection and felt something with her, and I should have talked to you about all this instead of letting you find us like that. I never wanted to hurt you.”

  Finally, he was telling me the truth. I saw it all over his face. And instead of anger, I felt . . . free.

  “I should have said something too. I guess I never really thought there was anything else for me, you know. I never knew what it was that was missing until I met . . .” I glanced around the room. Was I really talking about my current boyfriend with my ex-boyfriend?

  “He makes you glow,” he said quietly. There was a sadness in his eyes. “I never did that for you.”

  “What?” My glass froze halfway to my mouth.

  “The new guy. That’s what’s changed about you. I’ve never seen you look so . . . happy. No, confident. Your mom must have shit a brick when you walked in tonight. Let me guess, gray suit, right?”

  I laughed. “Yes. And she’s the one who insisted I visit her hairdresser, so she paid for this, which makes it even better.”

  “You never would have found this part of yourself with me. We were too . . .”

  “Like our parents?” I asked.

  “Exactly.”

  I looked up at Grant. Somehow he seemed different to me too.

  “I hope one day you can forgive me,” he said. “I know I probably don’t deserve it, but before all this we were friends, and maybe we can get back there someday.”

  “I don’t hate you.” And I didn’t. He was human. He’d screwed up, but so had I by accepting good enough instead of great.

  “You surprised the hell out of me. When you trashed my truck. I was willing to accept what you did, hell, I deserved what you did to it.”

  “Why did you press charges then? The video?”

  He met my gaze, then it faltered.

  Shit. Grant didn’t do it after all.

  “My father made you do it?”

  Grant sighed. “He said that with the video, there was no way he could push it under the rug a
nd that he couldn’t make an exception, not with his one-strike platform. I’m sorry about that too, Ave. I didn’t want to.”

  It helped knowing that Grant had not planned on pressing charges. He wasn’t the dick I thought he was.

  “Thank you for telling me. And it’s okay. Because if none of this had happened, I would never have met Seth.”

  “To finding your happiness.” Grant lifted his scotch on the rocks and I held up my glass. The soft click felt like the end of something and also the beginning. “And not taking your mother’s fashion advice anymore.”

  We both laughed.

  From across the room I saw my father nod in approval in our direction. He probably thought we were making up. Let him think he won.

  My mother came into the room and clapped her hands. Her hair was perfect. Her dress was perfect. She barely spared a glance for my father. “Dinner is served. Please follow me.”

  Grant held out his arm, and I tucked my hand into the groove of his elbow. At least I wouldn’t be alone for the rest of the night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Seth

  Friday night and the place was packed.

  Jimmy had me running into the storeroom for beer pretty much all night. It was midnight and there were no signs of anyone slowing down. Trial by fire was damned true.

  A shoving match broke out between two drunk-off-their-ass guys, and I put down the rag I’d been holding. “Time to earn my keep again,” I shouted over my shoulder.

  Sylvia gave me a thumbs-up. This was the third scuffle I’d broken up tonight.

  “Okay, guys, settle down or you’re outta here,” I yelled when I was next to the two idiots throwing punches so far off their target it would be funny if they weren’t serious.

  One guy turned and aimed his drunk fist at me. I grabbed it and spun him around, twisting it behind his back. “Okay, man, time to head home.”

  His slurred rant hailed down on me as I led him out the door.

  When the cool night air met us, he stopped struggling. I let him go and stepped back. “You need to keep your temper in check, or you won’t be welcome back here, you got it?”