Almost Everything

Chapter Four - War of Hearts

Halfway into the party, I'm blind from the camera flashes, deaf from the music, and totally buzzed from the champagne. I'm posing for pictures with the hired photographer, posing for camera phones with the crew, or posing in the makeshift photo booth the production company had set up for the party.

I want a great picture of the three of us together, so I pull the boys into the photo booth with me. For the first pose, I want a nice one, so we all plaster our best smiles on our faces and push our heads together.

"Cuddling," Brad demands the next one.

Jackson turns to face me. I wrap one arm around his neck and smile at him. Brad is behind me with his arm around my waist and I bring my other arm around his waist. The flash goes off as Jackson and I grin at each other.

"Funny," Brad shouts directions for the next one.

"PROPS." Jackson laughs.

Each of us hurried to pick up the cardboard with numbers on them. We pout at the camera like we would for a real mug shot.

In our last one, both boys kiss my cheek as I'm looking upwards with a giant grin.

The next thing I know, I'm out on the dance floor with a bunch of the crew. My body is numb from head to toe, but I keep drinking. I will not feel great in the morning, but I don't care. Glancing back at my table, Jackson and Brad are laughing and having a great time with each other.

Something that neither of them has with Ezra. My heart swells watching them together.

I dance my way to the table and beg them to join me on the dance floor. Together they shake their heads no in a dramatic fashion, so I start moving my hips in a seductive pattern and when that fails, I shake the tatas at them.

Still, they shake their heads no, so I flick them off and join my crew back on the dance floor. A couple of minutes later, an arm snakes around my waist, and lips kiss my ear.

"I can't believe you thought losing your virginity to that guy was horrible." Brad points ahead of us.

I'm scanning the area that Brad is pointing to and my stomach drops when I see him. Jackson is leaning over the cutest bartender and running his fingers across her jawline and lips. The little tramp is eating it up and loving all the attention he is giving her. I don't know her, but I didn't like her.

Snapping my head to look at Brad, I don't mean to glare at him. "I didn't say losing it to Jackson was horrible, I said the act of it was horrible. First times are always traumatic. I guess time has made him better." I hear the edge in my voice.

"Are you upset about his macking?" He asks me and I shove him away from me.

Brad's eyes soften and I know he sees right through me.

"Oh, Avery..." He says low and lets the last syllable trail off his tongue.

I don't need or want his pity. Shaking my head, I give him a warning glance. "Don't. I'm okay. Jax is my best friend, and I would never jeopardize that with sex, even if there is a very strong urge brewing. What I'm confused about is us?" I say pointing between him and me.

"Us?" He slurs with a smile. "What are you thinking for us?"

I shake my head at him and see the pool as an invitation to get out of this awkward conversation. Running towards the huge pool, I jump in with my dress and shoes on. When I surface, there is a crowd of people gathering above me.

Brad pushes through them and starts laughing at me. I watch as he taps one of our cameraman's shoulders and hands him his empty beer bottle. He quickly empties his pockets on the tabletop next to him while he loosens his tie. His suit coat is next and then he tucks his knees to his chest as he cannonballs next to me.