章 18: Chapter 18
The next time he saw her, it was a few days after the day they had coffee and raspberry cookies at Reynolds. She was chatting away with a small group of girls.
He didn't know how to go near her, considering what a chicken he was when he faced girls. Hence, he was overjoyed when the group dispersed and she was on her own. He hurried to her before someone could rush to flirt with her. "Hey, Avery."
She was just about to take out her cell phone when she saw him. She beamed. "Damon, you're an angel! Your plan worked."
"It did?" Her beautiful smile was contagious, he smiled along with her.
She nodded and proceeded to ramble about what she did based on his suggestion the other day. "You should have seen Gabe throw a tantrum and act up. It was kinda cute."
He had to admit that part of the reason why he suggested that exact plan was to make a fool out of Gabe. The guy was such an asshole that he needed to be humiliated at least once in a while and what better way was there than to make his sister beg him to do something silly? Of course, the most important part was that Avery no longer needed to go to France. He was probably more relieved than he should be.
She flashed yet another smile. "Thank you so much. It was easier than I thought. I owe him now but it was worth it."
"Anything I can help you with?" He offered, since she looked like she was in a rush to finish up something.
"You would?" She looked at him in surprise.
"I don't have much to do. Take it as me doing something useful during my free time." He hoped she would not turn him down. Luckily, she didn't.
"Actually, yes. I need to buy at least a ton of flowers and deliver them to about a hundred different girls with different messages." She exaggerated.
He chuckled, immediately comprehending the situation. Gabe had probably used the chance to send her on an errand that was too tiresome for him. He hated the douche but he had to thank him for this opportunity. "That sounds fun."
"Yeah. How hard can it possibly be?" She grumbled. She didn't have much time so they headed towards a flower shop and bought an assortment of flowers. The trunk of his car was bigger than hers so he had sent his family chauffeur away and driven her to the shop. When the flowers were all arranged in the trunk in thirteen bouquets—yup, Gabe was fooling around with thirteen girls at the same time—they leaned against the side as she started to scribble on the cards she had bought separately. Some of the messages were too embarrassing for her to say out to the florists.
She tapped the back of her pen against her chin. "I don't remember whether [I miss what we did in the picnic] is for Charlotte or Talia."
"Send it to both." He winked, giving her a screwed up idea. "Worst case scenario, Charlotte or Talia will know that her boyfriend spent some romantic time with another girl and ditch his ass. Can't say he doesn't deserve it."
"You're right."
"Do you do this often? Send flowers and notes on behalf of your brother?" He asked.
She discarded a card she had ruined with a mixed up message.
"Not really. He only sends me on such errands when he is trying to piss me off. He knows I hate it when he acts like a tyrannical asshole who does nothing but wreck innocent girls' hearts." She huffed in irritation and decided to duplicate the same [I miss you ~Gabe] message over and over until all the bouquets had one stuck between the petals. There were too many messages and although Gabe had given her a list, she didn't think he had the time to check with each girl and know what she received.
"Now I know why he doesn't let guys get close to you." He commented as he helped her sort the addresses in order from the closest to the farthest.
"Huh? Why?" She asked.
"If I were such a jerk, I would not let men near my sister either. He probably thinks that everyone is like him—that they will only want to play around with his sister and later break her heart." He wanted to punch him even more after pointing it out. Luckily, he didn't have a sister and Avery was Gabe's sister so she wasn't at any risk of getting played by that fool.
Avery smiled at his tone. He sounded protective. She couldn't help asking, "Do you think he's right?"
"If the guy in question is me, he is wrong." He looked into her eyes. "I've always been determined to be a different man from what my dad is. I want to settle down with one woman and love her with all my heart. If I can't give her that, then I will not get into a relationship."
He was indirectly letting her know that he would never disappoint her if they got together but he knew it was too soon to even say such things. It might just come off as bluff.
"That's so sweet. Your future girlfriend is lucky." She smiled as she looked back at him.
"It can be you, you know." He mumbled.
"What?"
"I said, your future boyfriend is luckier."
She stood before him awkwardly for a while before she shut the trunk and circled to the passenger door. "Let's send the red roses to Rose. At least I'm certain of this one."
He nodded and hopped into the driver's seat. Rose didn't live too far away and thank goodness, her parents were not home. She opened the door at the first ring. She was a beautiful girl, no wonder Gabe liked her.
" Hey, aren't you…" She looked surprised to see Avery behind a bouquet that almost covered her face.
"Gabe's sister, yes. He said that he misses you and looks forward to seeing you in his bed." She delivered the message accurately. She had not forgotten this one because she had a good impression of Rose.
"Thank you." The girl blushed when she took the bouquet. "Would you like to come in for some coffee? It's a bit cold outside."
"We're good, thanks for offering." Avery declined and pulled Damon along. A step or two later, she turned and waved to Rose who was still at the doorstep. "Tout à l'heure! I have a dozen other bouquets to deliver. I can't even remember the messages clearly."
Rose froze at the door.
"You did that on purpose." Damon jabbed her when they were far enough.
She didn't deny it, rolling her eyes. "Someone has to warn the innocent girls of what they're getting themselves into. Rose is a good girl. She doesn't deserve to be led on by an asshole who will eventually break her heart when she falls too deep."
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