The Avery Shaw Experiment - By Kelly Oram Page 0,22
got past her anxiety, she would get so excited. It killed me every time.
On Friday night, the second week of the Avery Shaw Experiment and our first official date—meaning she’d given in and let me actually call it a date—I had the ultimate Post Shower Avery test planned. Tonight we would see just how much a new look and a few new friends had helped her.
“A party?”
I waited until I had her locked in my car to tell her where we were going, because I knew she was going to freak.
“A college party?”
Actually, her mom probably would have freaked too. And mine.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds. A few friends of mine who graduated last year went in together on a house, and they’re having some friends over.”
“So it’s a party.”
“Yeah.” I laughed. “It’s a party. And most likely, it will be a little bit like the ones you see in the movies. I’m sure there will be lots of people drinking and making out, but I’m promising you right now that you don’t have to do either of those things, and, for you, I will not partake of such activities either.”
Come to think of it, this was going to be a new experience for me too. We’d see if a party was even still fun when you couldn’t get drunk or make out with hot girls.
“Grayson, I know I said you could pick what we do, but I don’t think I can do this one.”
“Yes, you can. I’ll be right by your side all night. It’ll be an adventure. And if you really truly can’t deal, then we can leave. Owen is taking Pam and Chloe in his car just in case this is a bust and we have to go early.”
Avery glanced up hopefully, so I smiled a huge silly smile, showing off all my teeth. “See? I already planned on the possibility of it being too much for you.”
Avery’s knuckles, as she gripped the sides of her seat, got a little less white.
I reached over and patted her hand. “Aves, you have to trust me a little. The point is to push you out of you comfort zone, but I know you, okay? I won’t overdo it. And I trust you too. If you say it’s too much, then it’s too much, and we’ll leave. But just give it a try first, please?”
Avery stared out the front window in silence. After a minute she nodded her head. I think it was more to convince herself than it was an actual answer to my question.
When we pulled up to the house, the party was already in full swing. Dozens of cars lined the street, and you could hear the music blasting from a block away. People spilled out of the house onto the front lawn, falling all over themselves in fits of laughter.
I had to drag Avery from the car. When she finally started walking, she stumbled. “Is it the heels?” I asked, pulling her to my side. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear high heels before, but they look hot. Plus it’s kind of nice having you at shoulder height for a change instead of all the way down at my chest, shorty.”
“Ha, ha,” she said, but there was only nervousness in her voice. “It’s not the heels. I practiced walking in them for over an hour. I’m just shaking too hard to walk.”
I pulled her tight against me and kissed her temple. Her hair smelled fruity. She was one of those girls who always smelled good enough to eat. It drove me crazy.
“You’ll be fine. Just hang on to me. I won’t make you let go all night if you don’t want to.”
She took me up on my offer. Slowly, she slipped her arm around my waist and then clung to me like she was super glued there. I tensed beneath her touch and had to fight back shivers.
“Feel free to hang on to other parts of me too.” My voice came out thick because it had been stuck in my throat. “My butt’s feeling pretty left out, and I don’t spend so much time working out my abs and chest just to never get felt up.”
I laughed when Avery gasped and turned as red as the dress she had on. The super-hot, super-tight, amazing spaghetti-strap pencil dress that she’d been instructed to borrow tonight. Thanks to Chloe’s petite Asian frame, Avery fit quite nicely into Chloe’s clothes. Avery’s ample chest was the