Hey Sunshine (23 page)

“You like me?” he asked again, softer this time.

“You know I do,” I whispered.

“Then show me.”

Something inside me broke then, all the restraint I’d maintained so virtuously since the day I met him. Fisting his shirt in my hand, I pulled him even closer to me, our lips just a breath apart. With my other hand, I wrapped my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and held on. My mouth crashed against his and I wasn’t sure if I tasted him or smelled him so much as I felt him, filling me up and rendering my senses totally and completely into one track – Fox.

If I started out bold, he grew even bolder, wrapping his arms around me and sliding his hands up under my shirt, running those long, capable fingers over my bare back. I pressed closer, reveling in the way I was obviously affecting him, feeling his shoulders tense as I released his shirt and ran my hand along the strong ridge of his collarbone.

Every glide of his tongue against mine, every hot breath in my ear, the low groan that built in the back of his throat and came to fruition when I closed my teeth over his bottom lip – it was all perfectly and unmistakably exactly what I wanted when we first kissed.

I wasn’t sure if it had been days or minutes when he pulled away slightly and looked down at me.

“Avery,” he murmured against my lips.

“Mmmm?” I was floating.

“I like you too.”

* * *

Six or so hours later, Fox and I were back together at the diner to work the lunch shift. After our impromptu make-out session against his front door, I’d gathered my wits about me and we went our separate ways – me to bang on the door at Heather’s house and tell her the minutiae of the morning because, after all, I’d promised her she’d be the first to know, and Fox to take a cold shower.

Or so he'd said. It was still hard for me to tell when he was kidding because his poker face was nearly inscrutable.

“Hi,” I said shyly when he came out of the kitchen to greet me.

“Good morning, Avery.” His voice was extra deep today and a little scratchy, and just intimate enough to remind me of all the places his hands had roamed while his mouth was on mine earlier.

He raised an eyebrow at the stack of books I’d placed on the back counter. “Homework?”

“Sort of,” I replied. “Just trying to get a head start on my graduate program with a few things off the reading list.”

My face flushed when I realized his gaze had focused on my lips before he flicked his eyes upward to meet mine. A small smile played across his mouth when he took in my reddened cheeks.

“Graduate school… NYU, right?”

I nodded. “My application is in, I’m just waiting now.”

“That’s a big move,” he remarked neutrally.

“I know… that’s kind of the idea,” I said. For a moment, nostalgia crept into my thoughts and I considered everything I’d be leaving behind when we moved from Brancher. There were things about this town I would definitely miss, and one of them was standing right in front of me. That is, if he stayed himself.

“And Annabelle? Is she excited?” I thought I heard just a hint of apprehension in his voice but decided I was imagining it.

“I think so,” I said slowly. “She doesn’t totally understand, but she’s always down for an adventure.”

“And you’re ready for an adventure too.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.” My voice was firm. “I’m ready.”

“You’ll get a spot.”

“I’m optimistic about it,” I joked lamely. “You know, that whole ‘all your eggs in one basket’ thing is kind of a bitch.”

Almost daily I waffled back and forth about submitting applications to other schools. I’d even completed a few but never sent them in. There was still time, but the application fees added up quickly and I was short on funds at the moment and many foreseeable moments, if the empty diner was any indication. Besides, my heart was set on NYU.

“They’d be lucky to have you. You’re smart, focused. Not to mention extremely goal oriented and excessively prepared,” he said wryly, gesturing at my stack of books.

I laughed. “Maybe you should’ve written my recommendation letter.”
You and your dimple. If the admissions officer was a living breathing human, they would never be able to resist granting any of your requests.

“I forgot occasionally impulsive,” he said, coming closer.

“Oh?” I murmured as he entered what would definitely be considered my personal space.

“Yes,” he said, leaning forward to brush his nose into the crook of my neck.

My eyes darted around the restaurant quickly and I was relieved to find we were alone. The only occupied table had paid their bill and left while we were talking. I clenched my hands at my sides, resisting the urge to wrap my arms around his waist.

“And beautiful,” he continued, his lips just skimming my cheekbone as we breathed each other in. “I forgot beautiful.”

“Maybe you should make a note,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly as the scruff of his jaw brushed my cheek. “I– I have a pencil you could borrow.”

He laughed softly, not retreating an inch. “I’ll do that, sunshine.” He touched his mouth to mine, gently at first to see how I’d respond, and then more firmly after I slipped my arms up and around his neck.

I forgot completely that I was standing in broad daylight, behind the counter at my parents’ diner in a ridiculously small town that thrived on gossip, and I kissed Fox back.

Chapter 16

I was still kissing Fox, my body pressed fairly obscenely against his for the middle of the day, when I heard the door chime that signaled someone entering the diner, and I jumped back so fast I nearly knocked over an entire tray of coffee mugs.

Fox stayed exactly where he was, with one hip propped against the counter and an amused look on his face, while I straightened my apron and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand like I was seven years old.

“Well, hello there, Avery, Fox,” Joy greeted us, looking entirely too pleased with her luck at coming across the two of us in a compromising position. Pleased and not at all surprised.

“Joy, hi,” I said, still tugging pointlessly on my apron, which almost exactly matched the flaming red color of my cheeks. “Didn’t expect you this early!”

“I can see that, darlin’,” she drawled. “Don’t mind me, I have some paperwork to finish up in the office before I start my shift, so I’ll just head on back.”

“Okay,” I said, and Fox nodded, his eyes still on me.

“Oh, and Avery?” Joy called over her shoulder as she walked. “If you wanna keep kissing that boy, why don’t y’all go into the kitchen? More privacy, less of an audience in there.”

Fox half-snorted into his coffee, and I felt like my face was going to melt off. I snuck a glance at Fox and saw his dimple peeking around the mug.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I asked.

His green eyes shot sparks of amusement over his cup, but he didn’t answer. I slid closer, reaching to take the coffee out of his hands. He let me have the mug, and I set it aside, feeling the warmth radiate not only from the ceramic but from his body next to mine.

The door chime jangled again, but I didn’t look over. Only when I saw Fox’s eyes dart toward the entrance and his posture change did I wonder who had just come in.

“Hi, Avery,” a familiar voice said behind me.

Chase. I turned slowly, hoping my facial expression wouldn’t give away the conflicting thoughts running though my brain. “Hi.”

He looked the same as he always did, the same as when I saw him a few nights before, half naked at the redhead’s house. The same as when he admitted he’d lied and cheated. Handsome, but not trustworthy. Strong, but not loyal. Confident, but not relaxed.

“Hey, Fox,” he said, nodding to him. Fox said nothing, merely returned his gaze evenly and without emotion, but Chase didn’t notice.

“What’s up?” I said, trying and failing to sound casual.

“Um, can we talk?” he asked. He glanced at Fox again. “Somewhere in private?”

I couldn’t look at Fox, but I wanted to. “I’m not really sure what’s left to say.” Actually, I could think of about a million things I’d like to say to Chase, but it would be a colossal waste of effort and breath, and I preferred to use my time productively.

Chase had the decency to look uncomfortable. “Look, babe, I know you’re pissed, okay? I’m sorry you had to find out that way.”

Whenever I was with Chase lately, that brain-exploding feeling wasn’t far behind. “What way would’ve been preferable? After you convinced me to get back together with you? Or maybe after we slept together?” Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw Fox stiffen when I said that, but I couldn’t be sure.

Chase shook his head. “It was just a few times. She doesn’t mean anything to me, I promise.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel
better
?” I asked incredulously. “The fact that you were willing to throw away whatever we were starting for someone you don’t even care about?”

“I told you I was sorry! I was bored, you were working a lot, you didn’t have time for me anyway,” Chase said, trying a new tactic.

“That’s your opinion, but whatever. We weren’t getting along very well, things weren’t clicking, and I valued our friendship. So I decided to break things off, because that’s what you do when you respect someone.” I could’ve left it at that, but the words popped right out of my mouth. “You don’t go fuck redheaded barflies because you’re
bored
.”

Chase’s eyes widened. “You’re right. But listen–”

“I don’t have to listen to you anymore, Chase. It’s one of the perks of us being broken up, along with you being free to sleep with the entire town if you so choose. Oh by the way, your new girlfriend was aggressively hitting on Fox at the bar just a few nights ago, and she never brings food to share at a potluck. Have fun.”

“Avery–”

“Nope.” I turned and walked to the end of the counter and started methodically lining up ketchup bottles for refilling.

“I thought we were friends, Fox.” Chase’s voice was verging on whiny.

“We are,” Fox said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“What did you tell her?” he wanted to know.

My head snapped up and I focused on Fox. His guard slipped for just a second and I saw a flash of uncertainty cross his face. “Nothing.”

“You must’ve told her something,” Chase continued as though I wasn’t standing right there. “Thanks a lot, man.”

“The only person you have to blame for this is yourself, Chase.” Fox’s voice had an edge to it that I hadn’t heard before.

Chase looked over at me to gauge my reaction.

I sighed. “Just go home, okay? We’re done here.”

“Babe, please–”

“She wants you to go.” Fox’s voice was like ice.

“All right, all right, I’m leaving. See you around, Avery.”

Chase walked out, and I turned to Fox.

“I don’t believe this! You knew? You knew and you didn’t tell me?” This new development was more upsetting than Chase’s betrayal, and that illustrated how much I’d grown to trust Fox.

Fox’s expression was guarded. “I didn’t know for sure, I just suspected, based on a few offhand comments he’d made.”

“Your suspicions are more accurate than most people’s rock-solid proof,” I countered.

“I– it was too complicated. I couldn’t let how I was starting to feel for you influence my objectiveness about a situation where I didn’t have all the facts.”

“This wasn’t a fucking Supreme Court case, Fox. You should’ve told me,” I cried. His choice of words – the part about his feelings – wasn’t lost on me, but I couldn’t focus on that now.

“It would’ve been biased, coming from me.”

“It would’ve been the truth and something I needed to know.”

“I’m sorry, Avery.” He did look sorry, but I was too hurt to care.

I shook my head sadly. “Tell Joy I left early.”

* * *

For the second time that day, I found myself on Heather’s doorstep. After she saw the look on my face and let me in, she went right into the kitchen and came back with a plate of cookies and a bottle of wine.

I grabbed a cookie and took a big bite. “I’ll pass on the wine, thanks. I have to pick up Annabelle in a little while.”

“What happened? This morning you were practically floating through the door. Now you’re slumped on the couch like a pretty blond potato.” Heather selected a cookie for herself.

“Ugh,” I managed.

“I hope you’re referring to something other than these cookies, because they are clearly delicious.”

“Fox knew about Chase and the redhead. Like, he knew before I did.”

“Uh oh,” Heather muttered. She reached for the wine bottle and poured a glass. “You sure you don’t want some?”

“While day-drinking is always an attractive solution, I think this is bigger than that, unfortunately.” I set my cookie down. “Maybe if you had mimosas.”

She started to get up and I laughed.

“Okay, what exactly did he say? He said he knew about Chase’s cheating and didn’t tell you?”

“No,” I admitted. “He said he'd had suspicions but didn’t want to tell me because it would be biased coming from him based on his feelings for me.”

Heather stared at me. “He said that? His feelings for you?”

I grinned in spite of myself before quickly remembering I was angry. “Yes.”

“And the problem is what?”

“What do you mean? He knew that Chase was fooling around on me and didn’t say anything! Clearly that is
the
problem!”

“Avery, listen to yourself. You could give two shits about Chase’s lying ass. Yeah, sure, it stung a little and caught you off guard. But the real thing that’s hurting your feelings is the fact that
Fox
might’ve lied to you, not Chase.”

“So?” I said irritably.

“So get some perspective! You said yourself that Fox essentially overthinks everything he says and does, right?”

“Yeah,” I admitted.

“Don’t you think he’d have a very good reason for not voicing theories that weren’t confirmed? Like the fact that he wouldn’t want to upset you unnecessarily? Or influence any of your decisions with his own agenda?” she pressed.

“You think he had an agenda?” I asked hopefully.