“You should try one of those online dating apps. If you aren’t looking for anything serious, you could even sign up with the ones designed for casual hookups.”
“I’ll pass.” Avery cringed just thinking about it. The thought of having sex with someone she barely knew didn’t appeal to her in the least.
“Come on, Aves.” Alex signaled their waitress to bring another round. “You’ve got to learn to loosen up a little. You’re an adult; you’re single…and as long as you’re smart about it and take precautions, there’s nothing wrong with having a casual sexual relationship.”
“Says the woman who has nothingbutcasual relationships.”More like a running list of one-offs.“You’re lecturing me about my lack of a social life when you’re the one too scared to settle down.”
Avery regretted the sharp words as soon as they flew from her mouth.
“I’m sorry.” She attempted to smooth things over. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No, you’re right.” Alex cut her off. “After what I went through with Evan, I can’t seem to let myself get close to anyone. Not yet anyway.”
The vulnerability shimmering behind her tough-as-nails sister broke Avery’s heart. It also made her want to hunt down that lying, cheating bastard, Evan, and beat his skanky side pieces’ asses.
“You will.” She tried to sound reassuring.
“I know.” Alex smiled with a confidence Avery wasn’t sure her sister possessed. “And so will you.Ifyou ever let yourself have a little fun, that is.”
She knew what the other woman was doing. Alex hadn’t really talked about what went down with her ex, other than the fact that she’d caught him in a pack of lies.
It was clear she still didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, tonight’s conversation was apparently going to revolve around Avery’s non-existent personal life.
“Look, Aves.” Alex’s expression softened. “I don’t mean to get all up in your business. I’m just saying you could use a little excitement in your life. That’s all.”
Avery snorted. “And you think Ronald the accountant is the man to give it to me?”
Not only no, but hell no.
She’d spotted Ronald Schwimmer the second he’d walked through the door. He worked for one of the local loan companies she was contracted with just down the street from where they were, and the guy was not her type. At. All.
He’d asked her out a few times over the past two months, but thankfully the persistent fellow finally took the hint after she continued turning him down.
Ronald was nice enough, she supposed. But despite his tall stature and fit runner’s build, he wasn’t attractive in the least. Not that Avery judged a man solely on his outward appearance, but there had to be some semblance of attraction there.
When she looked at Ronald, she felt…nothing.
No electricity. No lightning bolt. Nada.
I want lightning. Or at the very least, a small spark.
Giving the man in question a second glance, Alex scrunched her face and shook her head. “Okay, you’re right. Good call on the accountant.”
Avery chuckled. “Thank you.”
“But still…” Her relentless sister continued pushing. “You spend all day, every day staring at a computer. And your nights aren’t any better.”
This made Avery frown. “How do you know what I do at night?”
“Please.” Alex rolled her pretty brown eyes. “You go home, feed your cat, eat some takeout, and spend the rest of the night with your nose stuck in those romance novels you’re so obsessed with.” When Avery opened her mouth to deny her sister’s claim, Alex arched one of her perfectly plucked brows. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“That’s not fair, and you know it.”
Okay, so maybe shedidspend her days in front of a computer, but only because it was her job. At twenty-eight, Avery was the youngest leading financial software designer in the country. So yeah, computers were kind of her thing.
As for the other…
“Lots of women enjoy getting lost in an enthralling story.”