Page 84 of Pressure Point

Avery swallowed hard, hoping her words got through to the woman. Her whole body felt like it was ready to burst, nerves rushing through her. For all she knew Liam was still so pissed at her that even with this gesture he wouldn’t hear her out. Maybe she should turn around and gauge his reaction. No, she needed to stay the course. She needed to do this just like she planned with Hazel and Talia. Of course, that plan hadn’t included a stubborn old woman.

“I can’t stand in the way of love,” the lady said. She turned and looked up at Felicity, who was still standing at the podium, a confused look on her face. “I retract my bid. This young lady may proceed.”

“Thank you!” Avery said, pulling her into a hug. The woman reciprocated, patting her on the back.

“Why don’t you come with him when he moves the furniture, and we can have tea while we watch him flex those muscles?” she said, a conspiratorial lilt to her voice.

“I’d like that.”

Feeling triumphant, Avery spun on her heels, wobbling a tad, looking up at Felicity. She nodded, letting a smile take over her face. She’d done it. Well, part of it. Now came the harder portion of the plan.

“Sold!” Felicity said, banging the gavel. “To Avery Houghton, for five hundred dollars!”

The crowd erupted into a loud cheer, filling Avery with a confidence she hadn’t been feeling a moment ago. She’d hated the idea of turning this into a spectacle when her best friend had suggested it, but now that she was in the middle of the moment, maybe it wasn't so bad. At least Liam would know she was serious if she was willing to put up with all this.

Please, Liam, please be willing to hear me out…

A blink of an eye later, Liam was hopping off the stage, landing directly in front of her. It was like her silent plea had beckoned him. Avery couldn’t breathe. He was mere inches from her now, his large frame dwarfing her, a serious expression on his face. All she wanted to do was launch herself at him, throwing her arms around him and never letting go. But before she could move, Liam scooped her up, like a groom does a bride, leaning down so their foreheads were touching.

Avery’s heart leapt at the contact, her skin feeling electric. She was back in Liam’s arms—right where she belonged. All she could hope was that him holding her like this meant that he forgave her.

“You’re wearing Dash’s dress,” he murmured, low enough so only she could hear.

“It’s not his dress. It’s yours. Has been since the moment I put it on that day at the mall.”

Avery heard Liam catch his breath, just as he pulled her closer to his chest. It felt so good to be this close to him, and she never, ever wanted it to end.

“Kiss her!” someone in the crowd shouted. Avery could feel herself start to heat up at the comment. She really hadn’t meant to put on a show.

“Oh, I intend to,” Liam answered, looking out over the crowd, giving them a wink.

Avery giggled, throwing her head back, as Liam whisked off to the side of the stage.

“Heather’s office is available,” Gunnar said, winking at them as Liam strode past his coach. Liam nodded succinctly, continuing his way down the hall to the back room.

He kicked the door shut, walking her over to the desk and placing her on it. Avery's heart felt like it could beat right out of her chest as she looked at him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, locking her eyes with his.

“So am I.”

“What? What do you have to be sorry about?” Avery’s mind whirled—what could he possibly think there was to be sorry for? She was the one who had done him wrong.

“I walked away without listening to you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, no, I get why you did. I knew that the whole other guy thing, coming in second, was a pressure point, and I ignored it. I shouldn’t have let Dash cut in. I know what I said, that I did all this because I wanted him to notice me, but truthfully, it hasn’t been about Dash for a long time.”

Avery paused, trying to keep herself calm. She could hear herself starting to ramble, and she needed to make sure she was coherent about this. She needed to make sure he understood. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she tried to push them back. Crying right now was not going to help anything, and she desperately wanted to make sure that Liam knew how she felt. How she really, truly felt about him.

“I didn’t kiss him, please know that.”

“I do. He told me you pushed him away.”

Avery nodded. “I did. Because he’s not who I want. You are, Liam. You’re who I want.”

Liam stepped closer to her, his hands finding her waist. The heat from his palms seared through the fabric of her dress, and her mind flew to thoughts of them against her bare skin. No one’s touch had ever made her feel this way, and even now, in the middle of a tense moment, the contact was comforting.

“I thought this was about figuring out how to be sexy. To be something I wasn’t. But you showed me that what I really needed was to just own who I am. Awkward and all. You knew that I had it in me the whole time. Even before the makeup and the dress. And the shoes that you hated when I first put them on.”