Maybe Just One More

Chapter 18. Babysitting

The fire in the fireplace flickered, and a dim lamp was on above my head, which was the only light on in the entire house. My back was against the arm of the couch. I had my phone scrolling through the same book I had been a few hours before. 

Austin had gone to bed around nine o'clock. Avery had left five hours earlier, and I hadn't heard from him since. Austin told me that Avery was upset with Jay and their mom. After Austin told me that, I knew it had nothing to do with Mason or me. 

My phone vibrated on the stand above my head. I reached over the top of my head for my phone. I chuckled at the name that flashed across my screen. 

"Hello?" I asked and chuckled again.

"What are you laughing about?" Avery asked.

"I was going to change your contact name, and I forgot, but it suits you today," I told him. I twirled my hair around my finger and smiled.

"What is it?"

"Jerk," I snorted and broke into a fit of giggles.

"Haha," he said sarcastically. "So, since your laughing, I assume I'm forgiven?"

"Aren't you always?" I rolled my eyes. 

"Sometimes I have to put some effort into it," he said. 

"An apology couldn't hurt," I suggested.

"I'm sorry for being a jerk," he said.

"I feel better now," I said and smirked.

"You love hearing me say that word, don't you?"

"Considering everyone says that you don't ever say that word, yes, I love it," I said and laughed.

"Cute," he said.

"Are you on your way home?" I asked.

"That is why I was calling," he said. "I'm not going to be on my way back for at least another hour or two. If you want, just go to bed."

"Can I sleep in your room?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said softly.

"Okay, I'm going to finish this chapter first," I said and yawned.

"What are you reading?" he asked. 

"Fallen by Lauren Kate, Claire told me to check it out. It's really good so far," I said. 

"I've read that," he said.

I scoffed. "Oh, really?" 

He laughed. "What you don't believe me? Jocks can't read or what?"

"Most of them don't," I said. "My brother was just giving me shit for reading and enjoying reading."

"Your brother would be failing English class if it wasn't for Claire and me. Your brother is illiterate. He gives you shit for it because you're good at it, and he's pissed off that he isn't," Avery said.

"Wow," I said. "I didn't even know that."

"It's true," Avery said. "He gives me shit for reading too. I tell him he's just mad because he can't read, and he gets pissed off." Avery chuckled. 

I smiled. "That kind of makes me feel better. So, if you really read it, what's it about?"

"You know that one chick has to go to that school and she finds out one of the boys is an angel, and she dies and is reborn every time she falls in love with him. I've read that entire series," he said.