Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

AVERY

“Why are you going through my stuff, Bennett?”

I froze.

For one horrifying second, I considered pretending I didn’t hear him.

Then slowly, I turned around, still holding his student ID in my hand.

Callum was propped against the headboard, one arm behind his head, his hair sticking up in every direction. He looked really comfortable for someone who had just ruined my entire morning.

His eyes dropped to the ID in my hand, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a coy smirk

“You could've just asked for my name,” he drawled, his voice rough with sleep. “You didn't have to conduct a background check.”

I stared at him. “You're Callum Hayes.”

“Very observant.”

I threw the ID onto the bed. “What the hell were you thinking?”

His eyebrows lifted. “About?”

“About this!”

I gestured between us so wildly that I nearly smacked myself in the face. He looked at me for a second before shrugging. “I thought we were having a good time.”

My mouth dropped open. “You—”

I stopped myself and took a deep breath. This was exactly what I didn't need.

Of all the guys at that party, of all the strangers I could've gone home with, it had to be him.

Callum Hayes.

My brother's biggest problem. The guy Mason couldn't stand, I had just spent the night with him. I fucked him.

“I can't believe this,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.

Callum watched me, clearly entertained. “You're acting like I dragged you in here.”

“You didn't.”

“Good.” His mouth twitched. “Just checking.”

I glared at him and he smiled.

God, I hated that smile. “You're unbelievable.”

“And yet,” he murmured, reaching for his student ID, “you were pretty enthusiastic last night.”

Heat rushed straight into my face. “Don't.”

“What?”

“Don't talk about last night.”

“Why?” His expression was pure amusement. “Embarrassed?”

“No.”

“Regretting it?”

I opened my mouth and closed it almost immediately. That was the problem.

I wasn't sure what I was feeling, except that panic was currently winning.

Callum seemed to read the silence differently because his smile widened. “Thought so.”

“Don't flatter yourself.” I grabbed my bag from beside the door. “It was a mistake.”

He shrugged. “Whatever you say, Bennett.”

I looked at him and genuinely, he didn't seem bothered.

This was probably normal for him. A party, a girl, a night together, then move on. No consequences. No overthinking.

Meanwhile, I was standing there wondering how I was ever going to look my brother in the eye again.

“This never happened.”

“Never happened.”

“Good,” I said firmly. “Then we're agreed.”

“Agreed.”

I nodded, mostly to convince myself. Then I turned toward the door.

“Bennett.”

I stopped but didn't look back.

“You were amazing last night. ”

I let out a groan, rolled my eyes, walked out and slammed the door so hard I hoped it would fall off its hinges.

~~~~

By the time I got home, my headache had gone from annoying to downright murderous.

I pulled my car into the driveway and stared at the house through the windshield.

Please don't let Mason be home.

My parents were usually at work by this hour, so I wasn't worried about them. Mason, however, was unpredictable. He could be out with the team, asleep until noon, or sitting in the living room doing absolutely nothing simply because the universe hated me.

I grabbed my bag and quietly opened the front door.

The house was silent. I exhaled.

Thank God.

I slipped inside and had barely taken two steps toward the stairs when—

“Where the hell have you been?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I turned and Mason was sitting in the living room.

Great.

Just fucking great.

He looked exhausted, dressed in gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt, his phone resting in one hand. His expression wasn't angry.

He looked worried.

“Mason.”

“Where have you been?”

I tightened my grip around my bag. “I was with Sienna.”

His eyes narrowed. “All night?”

“Yes.”

He stood up slowly. “I called you.”

I swallowed and blurted out the first response that came to mind. “My phone died.”

“I called Sienna too.”

My stomach dropped. “And?”

“Her phone was off.”

“Oh.”

He took a few steps toward me, studying my face. “Your location was off too.”

I forced a laugh. “I know. We weren't exactly planning on staying out.”

“That doesn't explain why neither of you answered your phones.”

“We lost track of time.”

“At a party?”

“Yes.”

He stared at me, I stared back and the silence stretched. Then Mason rubbed a hand over his face. “I didn't know where you were.”

His voice had softened.

“I called around. I checked with some of the guys. Nobody knew where you'd gone.”

Guilt twisted in my stomach. “I’m sorry.”

“You scared the shit out of me, Ave.”

“I know.”

He looked at me for another moment before his eyes dropped to my clothes. My stomach flipped.

I suddenly became painfully aware of the fact that I had changed nothing about my appearance since last night. My dress was slightly wrinkled, my hair was a disaster, and I was probably wearing the world's most obvious expression of guilt.

Mason's eyebrows pulled together. “You okay?”

“Yes.”

“You look weird.”

“I have a headache.”

“That isn't what I asked.”

I forced a smile. “I'm fine, Mason.”

He didn't look convinced but I moved toward the stairs before he could ask another question. “I'm going to bed.”

“Wait.”

I stopped.

He looked at me carefully. “What exactly happened last night?”

My heart slammed against my ribs. I tightened my fingers around the strap of my bag and forced myself to meet his eyes.

“Sienna got drunk,” I said, praying my voice sounded casual. “Then she decided she was absolutely not going home alone, so we ended up crashing at one of her friend's places.”

Mason frowned. “Whose place?”

I hesitated for half a second.

“Maddie’s.”

The lie came out before I could think better of it and Mason's expression remained suspicious. “Maddie who?”

I smiled. “Maddie from the book club.”

It was a terrible lie, I knew it but thankfully, Mason didn't know just how terrible it was.

He sighed and shook his head. “Next time, call me.”

“I will.”

“I'm serious, Avery.”

“I know.”

He stepped aside, finally letting me pass. I hurried upstairs and I didn't stop until my bedroom door was closed behind me.

I leaned against it, shut my eyes, and released the breath I'd been holding.

I was home.

Mason didn't know.

Everything was fine.

Everything was—

My phone buzzed in my hand and I looked down to see a message from Sienna.

Sienna: Girl, where the hell did you disappear to last night?

My blood ran cold.