“I think you secretly enjoy it.” Avery winked.
I sat back and thought about it. Messing with Luke could be fun, sometimes.
“I do,” I conceded. “Although not when he gets angry.”
Avery raised a brow. “Do you think Luke enjoys it?”
I was silent for a long time.
“Um, I don’t think so, no,” I said at last, biting my lip. “Maybe I should stop antagonising him so much.” I thought back to earlier that day, when he’d fallen and hit his head. It had been funny at the time—hilarious, in fact—but he’d genuinely hurt himself. And I had started the whole thing by playing what I thought was a harmless prank, changing his computer settings with Jamie’s help.
A wave of guilt washed over me.
“That’s it,” I decided. “Tomorrow, I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m going to channel my inner Avery Jenkins and be so nice to him he won’t know what to make of it.”
Avery laughed. “Please call me with an update afterwards, I beg you.”
“I will,” I promised.
“Babe,” she called, standing up, her attention caught by the tall, gorgeous man striding through the groups of patrons to our sofa.
“Hope you don’t mind me crashing your girls’ night.” Ethan glanced over at me, before dropping a kiss on Avery’s upturned mouth and pulling her into his side for a hug.
“Nope, I don’t mind at all,” I assured him.
I was telling the truth. Ethan may have been my boss, but he was also a friend, and I was very fond of him. He treated my best friend like a queen, and I was so happy that they’d found each other.
He smiled at me. “Good. I brought a friend.”
Turning his head towards the bar, he waved. My stomach sank as I followed his line of sight. Almost afraid to look, I peeked out from behind my fingers. Surely Luke couldn’t be at the bar? Fate wouldn’t, couldn’t be that cruel. I’d said I was going to try to be nice to him, but I wasn’t prepared to see him at that point in time.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Alex there. He grinned and waved back when he saw us watching him, two dimples appearing in his cheeks.
Returning his grin, I watched in amusement as he flirted up a storm with the pretty brunette bartender, flustering her so much that she spilled his drink. I could see him wave away her apologies with an easy laugh.
“You know, you could have another date with him, if you wanted,” Ethan said in a low tone. “I know he finds you attractive.”
“Huh?” I flushed. “No. I mean, he’s pretty much a Hemsworth on the sexiness scale, but I don’t like him in that way. He’s very charming, but I’m not attracted to him. At all.”
I didn’t miss the meaningful glance exchanged between Ethan and Avery.
“What? Stop doing that thing where you speak to each other without words.” I looked between them, eyes narrowed.
“You’re being paranoid,” Avery said softly.
They exchanged another loaded look, and then Ethan turned his full attention to me.
“Liv, I want you to be prepared.” He eyed me with caution. “Luke may turn up here at some point.”
“Uh, thanks for warning me,” I mumbled.
“He’s got a date. With Ashley.”
They both stared at me, gauging my reaction.
“Our receptionist Ashley?”
Ethan nodded.