Page 24 of Pressure Point

“Captain Marvel,” Liam answered, looking over at Avery. The corner of her mouth was caught between her teeth, and it sent a jolt of lust straight to his dick. He squirmed in his seat, trying not to let it show that such a simple move from her rendered him useless. Oh fuck, he was going to have to sit in that uncomfortable looking desk chair all night just to stop himself from thinking all sorts of dirty thoughts about her. “Which I’m sorry to tell you doesn’t have any hotties in it. Unless you also play for the team that likes Brie Larson.”

“Do you, umm, play for that team?” she asked, looking nervous.

“What team?” he questioned.

“The Brie Larson one.”

“Wait, you think…” Dash began, but then trailed off into a laugh.

“You think I’m gay?”

“Err, well…are you?”

Her question hit him like a ton of bricks. He heard Gunnar mutter something under his breath but couldn’t quite make out what it was. He blinked a couple of times, trying to make sense of this. Whatever small glimmer of hope he’d thought there could potentially be was gone.

So much for needing that condom…

* * *

Oh shit.

Avery couldn’t tell if it was confusion, anger, or disgust on Liam’s face. Maybe it was a combination of all three. But either way, that had been the very wrong question.

Dash sputtered out a laugh, and Gunnar’s eyes went wide on the other side of Liam. Fuck, had she just outed him in front of his roommate and coach? Avery’s stomach felt like it could drop. What the hell had she been thinking asking such a question? And in public?

“You don’t have to answer. It doesn’t matter,” she spat out, trying to cover her tracks.

Well done, Avery. Way to ask him possibly the most personal question ever…in a bar, in front of people…

“That is my cue,” Dash said, slowly backing away from them. “Hasta luego amigos!”

Avery watched as Dash made about as quick of an exit as one could from where they were standing, the room suddenly feeling like it was closing in on her. She was pretty sure she could not have been any more embarrassed if she tried. Just add this to the shame she was still feeling from the other day in her office with Cowboy, and pretty soon she wasn’t going to be able to look any of these guys in the eye.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to imply anything. Not that there is anything wrong with whatever your preference is, I just…I should just stop, that’s what.”

Gunnar was doing his best not to burst into laughter, which was only making her feel even more stupid as she stood here. Liam just continued to blink too, like he couldn’t find the words to respond. She wished he would say something, anything, so that she could know just how upset he was. No, she didn’t want to know. What she needed was to get out of there. There was no way she could face him telling her that she’d ruined their friendship with that question. She needed to leave.

Acting on some weird instinct, Avery turned on her heel and pushed her way past the group of people entering the bar. She walked as fast as her little legs would carry her through the lobby and down the first hallway she found, following signs out to the pool. Finding a chaise lounge, she sat down on the end, steadying herself as it almost flipped from the uneven weight, and sighed.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she replayed the conversation in her head. Could she have been any more indiscreet? Sure, she’d been wondering about the answer since Hazel had brought it up the other day, turning it over and over in her mind. But that didn’t mean she needed to just blurt it out. Especially not in public like that. She wouldn’t blame Liam if he hated her and never talked to her again. All she could do was pray that she hadn’t lost the amazing friend she knew he was becoming.

A few moments later, she heard the door to the pool area open, but she didn’t bother to look that way. While she knew it could be anyone walking through that door, she had a feeling it was Liam, and her stomach rolled at the thought. She didn’t want anyone to see the tears she was still fighting back, but especially not Liam.

“Hey,” he said, sitting down on the lounger next to her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just—”

“I’m not offended, love. But if what you’re looking for is a gay buddy like in the movies, then you have the wrong Daley. Connor is back in Dundalk. Although, I don’t think he’d really be as much fun as you hope for. He’s kinda an arse.” He let out a laugh, shaking his head.

“Why are you laughing?” She was so confused. At least he wasn’t offended.

“I’m picturing Connor’s face as I tell him this. It will give him a right laugh, it will. I’m not sure I want to know, but what made you think that?”

“Because you’re willing to help me with Operation: Sexy Beast, and Hazel said she didn’t know any guy who would do such a thing unless he was getting laid or was gay. And since you didn’t ask for sexual favors in return…ipso facto, that’s where I landed.”

She lay all the way down on the lounger, sucking in a deep breath. Why couldn’t she just be normal? It wasn’t bad enough that she’d made an idiot of herself in front of Liam, but at this point she was pretty sure he’d come to accept that side of her. But Dash and Gunnar? Well, she was going to be digging herself out of that hole for a very long time.

“So, is being a nice guy not a thing in America?”