unbuttoned. “I’ll check it out,” he assured me, kissing the end of my nose.
I tiptoed behind him and out of the bedroom. He undid the deadbolt and slowly opened the door.
Whoever was standing there fell into his arms.
“Avery?” I gasped, taking in the vibrant red hair.
“Mhmmmmitsme,” she slurred drunkenly.
Since she seemed to have lost the ability to move her legs, Trace picked her up, and gently laid her down on the couch.
I grabbed a bottle of water before kneeling beside her. She was completely wasted and the dress she’d worn to Nick and Nora’s wedding was ruined. It was covered in grass and mud stains, as was her body.
My eyes widened, zeroing in on something wrapped around her neck. I gasped when I realized what it was.
“Avery! Why is your underwear around your neck?” I bit my lip to hold back laughter. I mean, it wasn’t every day your best friend showed up at your place drunk with underwear around her neck.
“Huh?” She looked at me with bleary eyes and fingered the silky string of fabric around her neck. “Must have taken em’ off.”
“Obviously,” I snorted. “What were you doing?”
“I’m pretty sure it involved beer and sex in a field…by the way, don’t ever try that,” she warned Trace and me, pointing at us with a shaky finger, “it really itches.”
I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter, but quickly sobered. “Wait…who’d you have sex with?”
Last I’d heard, she and Luca weren’t together…unless they’d gotten together tonight.
“The guy I bought the beer from was getting off work and we both wanted to have some fun. I think his name was Austin. Or maybe it was John? Brad? Anyway, he wasn’t very good,” she pouted. “Hey, is that water for me?” She reached for the bottle in my hand.
“Oh yeah, sorry,” I handed it to her.
She slurped at it greedily and when the bottle was empty she let out a very undignified burp.
“I miss Luca,” she began to cry. “I keep trying to forget him, but I can’t Libby,” she slurred my name. “I lub him.” She wrapped her arms awkwardly around my shoulders and sobbed. I’m pretty sure she drooled on my neck too.
I bit my lip and looked up at Trace helplessly. I had no idea what to do with her.
“Uhm,” I patted her back. “I’m sorry?” It came out as a question.
“All I d-d-do is p-push p-p-people away,” she cried.
“That’s not true,” I tried to comfort her. “Um…Avery?”
“Yeah?” She pulled away and looked at me with shimmery green eyes. I wrinkled my nose. “I hate to tell you this, but you smell really bad?”
We looked at each other and neither of us could contain our laughter.
I pulled a strand of grass from her hair and glanced up at Trace, who was still standing by the couch with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Can you help me get her in the bathtub?”
“Yeah,” Avery looked up at Trace with wide eyes, “help me, Tracey-poo.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll carry her, but I’m not stripping her. You’re on your own with that part.”
“Good, I didn’t want your help for that,” I smiled at him. I stood and pointed a finger at Avery. “Don’t grope my boyfriend.”
“Not making any promises,” her giggle ended in a hiccup, “he has a nice ass.”
I rolled my eyes. Only Avery.
I pushed open the bathroom door and flicked on the light, yawning. I yanked the shower curtain open and started a bubble bath.
Trace came into the bathroom with a half-asleep Avery in his arms. “For someone that looks so little, she’s kinda heavy.”
“It’s the boobs,” Avery mumbled into his shoulder, “they must weigh fifty pounds.”
Trace chuckled and sat her on the edge of the tub.
“Thank you,” I told him, kissing his stubbled cheek.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” he pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “She’ll be more comfortable in our bed and from the looks of it, she’s going to have a killer headache in the morning. So,