Camera Shy (Lessons in Love, #1)(69)

“That you were involved with someone.”

I blow out a deep breath. “Am I?”

“Aren’t you?” Lennox is quick to reply. “I mean, this sex coach thing is real cute and all, but it’s obvious you guys like each other. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is that the last time I got involved with a woman who wasn’t over her ex… Need I elaborate?”

“I just spent all day with her and I can confirm—Avery is Nora’s antithesis.”

I shrug even though she can’t see me. “She’s only here for the summer.”

“She lives like five hours away, Finn, and she’s a consultant, which she can do from anywhere. By the way, your girl is a total baller. You won’t believe how much she spent on me in Sephora today. She didn’t even flinch when they read the total at checkout. I nearly had a heart attack.”

“Lennox,” I scold.

“What?”

“Don’t take advantage of Avery like that.”

“She insisted!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“How about this. In a year and a half when you get the first chunk of your trust fund, you can afford to pay her back with interest for me. Deal?”

“You need my inheritance for that?” The first chunk of my inheritance is a little less than four million dollars. What the fuck did they buy at Sephora?

“I mean… You’d need a hell of a lot more money than you’re making now.”

“Thanks for that,” I grumble. Not emasculating at all.

“But worry not, I talked you up all afternoon.”

“Do I need talking up?” I ask absentmindedly. My exit is coming up and it’s easy to miss in the dark. It’s the last stop before the final two-hour stretch home. With a quarter tank left, I’m not risking it.

“I think she really likes you. But you need to be careful, Finn.”

“I told you we’re not actually dating.” I flick on my blinker. “But out of curiosity, why?”

“Because it’s weird. She dated her ex for four years. He dumped her on her birthday seconds after he gave her an engagement ring. That happened a few weeks ago. She should be a hot mess, but she’s fine. When Charlie and I broke up, I couldn’t eat, sleep, or get out of my pajamas for ages. I was devastated. It’s bizarre. Avery shouldn’t be okay.”

“Maybe she knows she dodged a bullet,” I say, turning on my exit and pulling into the truck stop right off the highway.

“Or maybe she’s not dealing with it yet. And maybe sleeping with you is a way for her to postpone the inevitable meltdown that’s coming.”

I pull into the only free pump with a green diesel handle. “What’s your point, Lennox?”

“Talk to her. Don’t be the rebound guy this time, Finn.”

Her words rub me the wrong way. I know my cousin means no harm, but it was always my weak spot with Nora. No matter how much I loved her, no matter how hot our chemistry was, we were doomed. Maybe because I started as her rebound guy.

“Avery needs a friend right now. That’s all. I need a friend.”

“You know what your problem is?”

“My meddlesome cousin?”

“You think that loving a woman means letting her get away with whatever she wants. You’re not a dick if you set some boundaries and stand up for what you need from a relationship.”

I shut off the truck and pick up my phone, bringing my conversation with Lennox with me. “Except Avery and I aren’t in a relationship. She’s preparing herself for when she wants to get back into the dating game again. I’m basically her practice field.” I insert my debit card and want to gag at the cost of diesel fuel per gallon. When the fuck did this jump a whole dollar? Gas prices keep creeping up and it’s half the reason I only see my mom about once every two months now. I used to make the drive every weekend just to check on her. I normally spend the night, but this time it felt like three is a crowd. Mom’s happy and her new man seems obsessed with keeping her that way. There was no need to linger.

“Well, if Avery is practicing how to date again, maybe you should too. Ask her how she feels about her ex, and you. Ask her what she wants. Tell her what you want.”

I ignore the sign that clearly says don’t leave the pump unattended. Heading into the gas station, I respond, “I’ve known her for a couple of weeks. It’s a little early to talk about feelings, Lennox.”

“How long did it take before you knew you loved Nora?”

Less than a week. “Doesn’t that mean I should do things differently moving forward?”

“Yes. So, tell her what you want.”

Maybe it’s sound advice, but that would require me to know what the hell I want. Finding out about Morgan and Nora stung. I won’t admit it to a soul in the world, but it drives me crazy that she ran back to him after she spent years telling me I showed her what real love felt like. There was no way she could go back to a man who didn’t make her feel the way I did. It was all lip service. It’s not that I’m jealous. It’s just tough to face all the bullshit. The reality is Nora didn’t just treat me like garbage… I let her.

Avery’s been nothing but honest and vulnerable with me. Maybe we should talk. Maybe this could be more than casual. I enjoy spending time with her. She’s so easy to talk to. This game of good sex doesn’t really feel like a game. If it is, I think I’m winning every time.