After a very long forty-five minutes—trying to wrangle two intoxicated girls alone is no easy feat—I’m back at my house with Avery. As soon as we’re in my room, she’s already pulling off her clothes.“Avery,” I tell her just as she pulls her dress over her head. “Do you want to shower with me?”“I think...maybe we shouldn’t...”“Oh,” she scoffs, “we definitely should.”“I just don’t want things to get more complicated between us. I mean things are still unsettled with Lucas and—” I shake my head. “This puts us right back where we were two weeks ago. Sneaking around.”She stomps her foot. “You came to get me!” “Because you are drunk.” “And? This is not new! I know how to get myself home when I’ve been drinking, Theo. You wanted to fuck me and now you’re having second thoughts while I’m naked in your bedroom? You sure picked a fine time to stop thinking with your dick!” She unsnaps her bra and as her perfect tits spring free, I instantly crave the taste of them.“Avery.” I groan. “You’
A few days later, I’m at the café at the crack of dawn to help my momwhen Lucas walks in and my mouth drops open. He casually waves and I immediately run around the counter. I’m hoping that his being here means he’s forgiven me or at the very least wants to talk, and that’s something.“Lucas.” I stop myself before I hug him in case he isn’t ready for that yet.“Hey, Ave.”“You look good.” I nod at him because he does. I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks and he looks like he’s lost a bit of weight but somehow also gained some muscle. He’s typically clean-shaven but he’s got more of a beard coming in and it’s startling how much more he looks like Theo now.“Been at the gym and running.” I nod. “I heard you moved.”“I did. You should come by and see it.” I hate how awkward things are between us when they’ve never been this way. Is this the new normal between us? “You want some coffee or breakfast?”“Sure.” He smiles. “Whatever. You know I like everything.” I move around the counter
That night, the three of us and Raegan and Wes are at Theo’s house for dinner when Lucas speaks up. “So, how’d Camille and Shawn take it?” Lucas says as he takes a bite of the steak Theo had prepared.Theo and I exchange a glance. “Well...”Lucas’ eyes widen. “Holy shit, they don’t know?” “My mom does!” I say and Lucas’ mouth drops open.“Oh, shiiiiit. Please. You both owe me. Just let me be there when you tell Shawn.” He puts his hands together like he’s praying.Raegan giggles and shoots me a look. “You do kind of owe him.” “You’re absolutely not helping,” Theo interjects as he glares at her. “I’ve helped a lot, thank you very much,” she says with a snap of herfingers. “Besides, this is not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about wedding things.” She points back and forth between her and Wes. “This is the whole reason you’re home,” she says to Lucas as she smacks his arm. “Tuxedos. Tomorrow. All three of you. Ten a.m.”“Yes, I know,” Theo says like he’s heard this a hundred times
Ten Months Later“Mrs. Graham,” I wrap my arms around my wife—as of twenty minutesago—and press a kiss to her neck.She turns around and rubs her hands up my chest before she reaches upon her toes to kiss me. “Mr. Graham.” She scrunches her nose. “You know? I think I’m just going to call you husband instead. Mr. Graham makes me feel like I’m thirteen again.” She giggles.“I don’t care what you call me as long as you’ve got this ring on your finger.” I rub the wedding band I’d just slid on her finger that joined the four-carat oval-cut engagement ring. We’d snuck off to the bridal suite for a moment before we have to join everyone at the reception and I am hoping that I can entice her to let me see what’s under her dress again. “You look so beautiful,” I tell her as I help her take her veil off. “I am the luckiest man in the world.” I cup her face and press my lips to hers.“Theo...we really can’t.” She giggles. “It’s bad enough we started the ceremony twenty minutes late because som
There’s a spike in my heart rate the second Theo Graham enters the room.My skin prickles and although I only notice him out of my periphery as my grandparents stand in front of me going on and on about how proud they are of me for graduating college, he has all of my attention.Tonight is my graduation party and my parents rented out one of their favorite restaurants for the occasion and invited practically the entire town where I’m from in Pennsylvania to celebrate.My back straightens as I follow him with my eyes, and suddenly I’m hyper-aware of everything. How do I look? Is there anything in my teeth? Why are my hands sweaty? Has he noticed me? Fuck, Avery, do not look over there.Despite my instincts telling me not to react, I can’t help it; my eyes are inexplicably drawn to Theo whenever we share a room. It’s been like that for longer than I can remember. He knows how to command attention in any room. He knows how to command my attention anywhere.God, he looks good.At somewher
Six Months Prior: Winter Break 2022I just got home from college this afternoon after my most stressful semesterof school yet and with a hellish week of finals behind me, I came straight to the bar to meet my friends. Our high school senior class was super close. There weren’t any cliques; every friend group just intermixed making us one of the closest graduating classes our school had ever seen. Even four years later, we all go to the same bars when we’re home. The same parties. The same restaurants. The running joke is you couldn’t see a Riverside High School alumni without seeing at least three more in tow.Lucas isn’t home from NYU yet and his older sister, Raegan moved out and is living with her boyfriend across town, which means Theo has the house to himself tonight. Something I haven’t stopped thinking about since Lucas texted me that he won’t be home until early next week. The last time I’d been in Theo’s house when no one was home was this past summer.We’d made out for hour
Present DayI’ve been dreading tonight for weeks. The second her father Shawn told mewhere they were having her graduation party, followed by the invitation that her mother Camille sent over with all of the details, I’ve felt uneasy. I’ve been trying to avoid all things Avery Summers for what feels like three fucking years and yet she’s been able to embed herself into every aspect of my life effortlessly. Her parents still live next door and my son can’t go the length of a conversation without bringing her name up so I’ve been forced to have her name or her face flash through my mind at least once a day and it’s driving me fucking crazy.I tried to tell myself those nights didn’t feel as good as they did. That she didn’t look as good as she did. That I’m not attracted to the girl that I watched grow into a woman. The woman that my son has or had feelings for—I’m uncertain of where he currently stands. I do believe that if there are feelings, they’re not reciprocated on Avery’s side.
I have long since left my own graduation party in favor of going downtownwith my friends while my parents stayed at the restaurant and entertained theirs. It didn’t escape me that Theo stayed longer than I think he planned and opted to leave when we did to head home. He’d mingled with us and my parents all night. It felt almost like a game; how many times could we lock eyes in a room full of people without making it obvious?A bunch of us are at a club downtown, the time nearing almost one in the morning when I decide now is time to figure out if I’m going to a more private party next. I break away from the group and make my way around the large circular bar in the middle of the club to give myself some space.Me: HiiiiiThe bubbles indicating that he’s typing pop up before disappearing. They pop up again and then disappear again and I giggle at the thought that he doesn’t know what to say.TG: Are you okay? Me: Yep, I’m fine TG: You having fun? Me: Yes! TG: Good, I’m glad.Me: Will
Ten Months Later“Mrs. Graham,” I wrap my arms around my wife—as of twenty minutesago—and press a kiss to her neck.She turns around and rubs her hands up my chest before she reaches upon her toes to kiss me. “Mr. Graham.” She scrunches her nose. “You know? I think I’m just going to call you husband instead. Mr. Graham makes me feel like I’m thirteen again.” She giggles.“I don’t care what you call me as long as you’ve got this ring on your finger.” I rub the wedding band I’d just slid on her finger that joined the four-carat oval-cut engagement ring. We’d snuck off to the bridal suite for a moment before we have to join everyone at the reception and I am hoping that I can entice her to let me see what’s under her dress again. “You look so beautiful,” I tell her as I help her take her veil off. “I am the luckiest man in the world.” I cup her face and press my lips to hers.“Theo...we really can’t.” She giggles. “It’s bad enough we started the ceremony twenty minutes late because som
That night, the three of us and Raegan and Wes are at Theo’s house for dinner when Lucas speaks up. “So, how’d Camille and Shawn take it?” Lucas says as he takes a bite of the steak Theo had prepared.Theo and I exchange a glance. “Well...”Lucas’ eyes widen. “Holy shit, they don’t know?” “My mom does!” I say and Lucas’ mouth drops open.“Oh, shiiiiit. Please. You both owe me. Just let me be there when you tell Shawn.” He puts his hands together like he’s praying.Raegan giggles and shoots me a look. “You do kind of owe him.” “You’re absolutely not helping,” Theo interjects as he glares at her. “I’ve helped a lot, thank you very much,” she says with a snap of herfingers. “Besides, this is not why we’re here. We’re here to talk about wedding things.” She points back and forth between her and Wes. “This is the whole reason you’re home,” she says to Lucas as she smacks his arm. “Tuxedos. Tomorrow. All three of you. Ten a.m.”“Yes, I know,” Theo says like he’s heard this a hundred times
A few days later, I’m at the café at the crack of dawn to help my momwhen Lucas walks in and my mouth drops open. He casually waves and I immediately run around the counter. I’m hoping that his being here means he’s forgiven me or at the very least wants to talk, and that’s something.“Lucas.” I stop myself before I hug him in case he isn’t ready for that yet.“Hey, Ave.”“You look good.” I nod at him because he does. I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks and he looks like he’s lost a bit of weight but somehow also gained some muscle. He’s typically clean-shaven but he’s got more of a beard coming in and it’s startling how much more he looks like Theo now.“Been at the gym and running.” I nod. “I heard you moved.”“I did. You should come by and see it.” I hate how awkward things are between us when they’ve never been this way. Is this the new normal between us? “You want some coffee or breakfast?”“Sure.” He smiles. “Whatever. You know I like everything.” I move around the counter
After a very long forty-five minutes—trying to wrangle two intoxicated girls alone is no easy feat—I’m back at my house with Avery. As soon as we’re in my room, she’s already pulling off her clothes.“Avery,” I tell her just as she pulls her dress over her head. “Do you want to shower with me?”“I think...maybe we shouldn’t...”“Oh,” she scoffs, “we definitely should.”“I just don’t want things to get more complicated between us. I mean things are still unsettled with Lucas and—” I shake my head. “This puts us right back where we were two weeks ago. Sneaking around.”She stomps her foot. “You came to get me!” “Because you are drunk.” “And? This is not new! I know how to get myself home when I’ve been drinking, Theo. You wanted to fuck me and now you’re having second thoughts while I’m naked in your bedroom? You sure picked a fine time to stop thinking with your dick!” She unsnaps her bra and as her perfect tits spring free, I instantly crave the taste of them.“Avery.” I groan. “You’
The bar is so loud and it’s been a while since I’ve been in a place like this.It’s also huge and I have no idea where they are. I’ve watched that video she sent me at least ten times on my way over here and each time I get angrier for torturing myself by watching it. I should just delete it.Don’t you fucking dare.The way she gasps my name the second she goes over the edge and shoots the sexiest wink to the camera, almost has me coming in my pants every time. There are two large bars both positioned in the center of the room and I walk around one and then the other before I see her in that sexy gold dress. I get closer and fuck she looks gorgeous, like she’s been out in the sun since the week I’ve seen her making her even more bronzed than usual. Her lips are painted red and quirked up in a smile towards some fucking asshole standing next to her.Fuck that.He leans down to whisper something in her ear, his hand resting at the small of her back, and I instantly feel the aggression r
I should have known Rory coming down to help me move wouldn’t come without a hundred questions and tequila shots.“I still can’t believe I didn’t realize it. Like...it was a shame that nobody had hooked up with Daddy Graham after all this time. What is the actual point of having a friend with a hot dad?” She sucks the lime into her mouth. We’d spent the last two days moving and had actually put a decent dent in my apartment. I have a couch, my bed is set up, and I have WiFi so everything else can wait as far as I’m concerned. My mom left about an hour ago after neurotically organizing my kitchen, and we’d opened a bottle of wine and then switched to tequila right after.I’m lying flat on my back on my couch with my eyes closed, with an eye mask resting beneath my eyes in hopes it will get rid of the dark circles brought on by staying up all night packing and crying all week. “How pissed is he?”Rory, who’s sitting on the floor in front of me, takes a bite of the sausage pizza we order
It’s been a little over a week since Raegan’s engagement party and I’vebeen fucking miserable. It’s not bad enough to have gone through the worst breakup of my life, but the man still lives next door. I’m supposed to move out next week, so I’m grateful I’ll eventually have a reprieve from staring out my bedroom window in hopes I get just the smallest glimpse of him. I haven’t talked to Lucas, but I did talk to Raegan after she showed up at my house and forced me to talk to her since I’d been avoiding her calls. I wasn’t sure how she felt about it and I’ll be honest, she scares me a little bit. She told me to give it time and that she still wanted me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.I’m not sure if that’s only because she still actually wants me to be in it or if it’s also to punish me a little bit by forcing me into a room with Theo and Lucas.Fuck me.While I’m definitely upset and wallowing in the misery of not seeing the man I’d quickly fallen for over the past month, a part of
I make it back to the party and it seems like nothing is out of the ordinary. It’s nearing midnight so the festivities are winding down but people are sitting around talking and a few people feeling their drinks are still on the dance floor. I am grateful that I don’t see Avery’s parents so that’s two less people I have to deal with right now. I don’t see Raegan or Lucas either for that matter, so I’m sure they are somewhere together. I go out onto the patio where I see Bryan and Wes each holding a drink while my brother smokes a cigar. I make my way over to them and Bryan gives me a look.“You got caught?”“Lucas came down and...he’s with Rae,” Wes adds as he gives me a sad look that isn’t judgmental or with any hint of I told you this would happen.“I’m sorry this happened tonight. We were trying to wait until after the wedding to tell anyone,” I tell him because I’m sure this is not what Wes wants to be dealing with on the night of their engagement party.“Clearly, you weren’t tryi
My knee is bouncing nonstop as I chew on my thumbnail nervously when Ihear a knock on the door. I rush to it, not knowing who it is when I fling it open without looking. I breathe a sigh of relief when it’s Theo and he pushes his way inside. “Hey, what happened?” I ask immediately as I take in his defeated expression. He drops to the bed and his head falls into his hands and I immediately fear the worst. Though I’m not exactly sure what the worst-case scenario is here. He shakes his head and looks up at me with sad eyes and I already know what he’s going to say. “I’ll talk to him.”He shakes his head. “Come here, baby.”“No,” I tell him as I turn towards the door, prepared to find Lucas and make him understand my side of this as well. I feel Theo’s hand on my elbow and he pulls me towards his chest. He wraps his arms around me as I succumb to the tears I’d been avoiding every time I thought about this outcome.He lifts my chin to meet his eyes. “Please don’t cry. I hate seeing you up