Page 70 of Down & Dirty: Rage

Avery mentioning Ash’s road name had Lyric pulling in a big breath. Before she could stop it, her expression went soft with the memory of what had happened only a couple ofhours prior. She quickly spun on her stool so Avery wouldn’t notice.

She hated not being able to tell her closest friend, but Avery also had a big mouth. Her losing her virginity to Ash would be ahugedeal among the sisterhood. And in her case, possibly the brotherhood, too.

Hell, Avery would want to go out and celebrate Lyric’s loss of virginity, even if it was to a doorknob.

Except it wasn’t. It was to Ash, a club brother, and that would make it an even bigger deal.

Avery grabbed her arm and spun her back around. Her eyes narrowed on Lyric. “What’s that about?”

Holy crap,she was busted. “What do you mean?”

“That reaction. You’re hiding something from me, your very bestest friend and sister by choice, aren’t you? What is it?”

“Nothing.”

Shit.Avery knew her better than anyone. Of course she’d know when Lyric was avoiding a person or a subject.

She kept her face as blank as possible as Avery searched it.

Her club sister’s eyes narrowed even more, to the point they were slits. “I stopped in this morning before heading to the pawn shop and Trish said you were late. You’reneverlate.”

Act casual and perfect your zombie stare.“I forgot to set my alarm.” She added a one shoulder shrug for good measure.

“Bullshit.” Avery circled a hand in front of Lyric and shook her head. “No. There’s a different aura about you today. I can’t put my finger on it.”

“You’re imagining things.”

“No, bitch. I know you almost as good as I know myself.”She continued to stare at Lyric with a finger pressed to her lips. “Did you meet someone and not tell me?”

“No.”

“Is he hot?”

“Stop.”

“Does he give good dick? Because you look like someone who got good dick.”

“Avery.”

Her mouth dropped open and her green eyes went wide. “Holy shit! Did you finally lose your virginity? You hold out, you!”

“Shush! No one knows that I hadn’t yet,” Lyric hissed at her best friend.

“Hadn’t? Yet?” Avery squealed.

“Haven’t,” she quickly corrected.

“No, you saidhadn’t. Past tense. I know you’ve been waiting for Rage?—”

“I told you that when I was like fifteen. That was almost ten years ago, Ree.”

“Yes,” Avery drew out and tipped her head to the side. “And that’s why you remained a virgin all this time. You were holding out for your dream man.”

“Did you seriously call Ashton a dream man? Most people look at him as a nightmare.”

“Not you. Do you think I’m so blind that I can’t see you tracking his every move whenever you’re in the same room? Hell, whenever you’re within a mile.”

“I don’t think you’re blind; I think you’re seeing things. More like having hallucinations.”