Page 33 of Under the Influence

"Madden? What the hell?" She gasps, taken aback, holding her manicured hand up to block her face.

I've never seen her like this. No makeup, no three hundred dollar outfit, no arm candy.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, sitting on the opposite end of the tunnel.

"What are you doing here?" She mimics, avoiding eye contact.

Oh, nothing, I think to myself, just stalking a friend and making sure she doesn't get date-raped.

"Why are you here alone? In the middle of the night?"

She pulls the sleeves of her sweatshirt over her hands, "Do you always do that?"

"Do what?" I ask.

"Answer a question with a question?"

I smile, "You started it."

"It's only ten thirty, Madden. That's hardly the middle of the night."

I cock my brow, "I wouldn't want you here in the middle of the day alone."

Her face twists in confusion, "Yeah, well, alone seems to be my new norm."

"No fancy boyfriend to sneak into daddy's big house?" I ask, instantly regretting my tone.

It's no secret that Avery's dad is loaded, and it's also no secret that she's famous on Instagram. Most people will credit Carson and his social status, but I don't see her as Carson's girl.

I see her as Avery Sinclair.

"My fancy boyfriend hasn't really spoken to me in weeks, and daddy's big house is empty, Madden. No family dinners, no friends. My dad comes around every now and then but can barely stand to look at me because I look like my mother. I'm nothing but a reminder of everything he lost. So forgive me if I don't want to go home to my manager counting calories for me so I can make sure I fit in the next outfit for whatever brand I'm promoting."

I look down at her. She's so skinny there's no way she should be watching her diet. Her words nearly pierce me. We don't have money, but I have my mom. When I go home, it's home.

"I'm sorry... I didn't..."

She starts to get up, "It's fine. I better go."

She grabs the keys to her Mercedes off the plastic of the tunnel. The harsh reality flooding into my veins that sometimes someone can seem to have it all on the outside but on the inside, they're empty.

"Avery, wait."

She turns, her eyes finding mine, the first time I've really ever seen them naked. "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said that."

She plops back down. "It's okay. I get it, and I'd hate me too. There's not much to like."

Wrong.

"Why are you here?" I ask again, hoping this time she will just answer me.

"My mom used to bring me here every year on my birthday."

I go still, wanting to wrap her up and show her everything I feel. "It's your birthday?"

"Yeah," she shakes her head. "It's not a big deal."

I scoot closer to her and cast a quick glance out one of the windows to Lainey, who sits on the same bench. Safe, for now.