Part 20 (1/2)

Avery: Ha. I was studying and caught the first act.

Me: Judging the compet.i.tion?

Avery: Of course.

Me: That's my girl.

Avery: Your girl?

Me: What? The memo went out. Did you not get it?

Avery: Um, no, and we might need to discuss that since I don't date.

Me: You didn't date, then you met me. Big difference.

Avery: Wow, I'm not sure if I should be impressed by your giant ego or disgusted.

Me: Just admit it, you love it.

Avery: No comment.

”Gag,” Markus says from behind me, and I look back at him, grinning.

”Shut it,” I demand before meeting Chase's gaze. ”I'm gonna go get my seat. Thanks, though.”

He smirks. ”Of course, enjoy. And please remember this is family establishment.” He gives me a knowing look and I laugh.

”Yeah, sure, with you as the manager? I'm sure you've defiled this whole place.”

He shrugs. ”I haven't made it to the couch, though,” he says with a wink and I shake my head.

Chase and I had some fun when we were younger. I think my mom used to call us lady-killers, and she was dead-on. But right now, there is only one lady I want to have a chance at.

Taking my spot in the front, I lean on the table, checking out the scene before pulling out my phone.

”Why are you getting a job? I thought your dad just gave you all that money,” Markus says as he sits next to me.

”He did,” I say simply as I text Jude and Jayden in a group message. ”But I want to get Jude and Jayden off my back.”

”Oh, true. You gonna be able to handle it?”

”Yeah. I'll figure it out.”

”Cool,” he says as I look around. More people have shown up, and the place is pretty packed. That excites me. I want this to go well for Avery; I want her to succeed. Leaning back in my chair, my phones dings with a text message.

Me: I got a job.

Jude: Good.

Jayden: Awesome. Where at?

Leave it to Jayden to want to know where. Jude doesn't care as long as I have a job.

Me: The coffee shop. Chase Miller owns it.

Jude: No s.h.i.+t. Cool.

Jayden: So you're a barista?

Me: Yeah.

Jayden: Man, are you sure? You have to think a lot when you do that.

Jude: No s.h.i.+t, and we all know you don't know how to think without your momma doing it for you.

Me: f.u.c.k off.

Rolling my eyes, I turn my phone on silent just as another text comes through.

Avery: Texting your girlfriend?

I laugh.

Me: Stalker.

Avery: Oh...deflecting. Maybe I pegged you wrong. You are a player?

Me: Ha, I'm single and ready to mingle.

Me: But should I be on the lookout for your boyfriend? Don't want to get into a fight for ogling while you're onstage.

”Why did you invite me if you are gonna text her the whole time when she's behind that wall?” I look up to see Markus looking bored and little frustrated. ”No girls are checking me out here.”

”Aw, do you want a slice of crybaby pie to go along with that whine of yours?”

When he flips me off, I grin and then my phone vibrates. Looking down, I see another text from Avery.

Avery: Single also...which means one thing...

Me: We can hook up as much as we want.

Avery: Um. Well. Yeah, but I was going with the fact that I answer to no one.

Me: That too, but the hooking up part is funner.

Avery: Funner is not a word.

Me: It is to me.

Avery: Okay, well you have lots of funner and I'm gonna go put on a show.