Page 66 of Avel

A growl rumbled from Avel’s chest as he paced his room. He had cabin fever. He wanted off Prodigy but still had business to complete before he could leave.

Avel shook his head, and his fingers flexed. Perhaps, if he found some heads to break, he’d feel better after releasing his anger.

He couldn’t stay in his room a second longer. Avel stormed out and headed to the Enchanted Captain again. He’d get wasted and plan his exit from the station. Once his business was done, he was out of here. There was no point in sticking around. He was a fool to think he’d be able to offer Holly anything she desired.

An image of her entered his head, but he pushed it away. She’d made her choice. She’d rejected his offer, and by doing so, had rejected him. Holly had assumed the worst. Avel couldn’t believe that she’d compared his offer to anything that asshole Eric could offer her.

He stomped into the bar, and several customers dodged out of his way. It was busier than the morning as workers on Prodigy came in to wind down and relax.

Avel didn’t think he’d ever feel relaxed again. He ordered two shots of whiskey and downed them.

“Keep lining them up,” he growled at Olid.

“Whiskey for breakfast and dinner.” Olid filled the shot glasses. “Is there something on your mind?”

“Nothing this won’t cure.” He downed them again and tapped the empty glasses with his finger. “I’m planning to do this until I can’t stand.”

Olid hummed under his breath before refilling the glasses. “Don’t make a mess of my bar. You can drink yourself into oblivion, but if things get out of hand, I’m cutting you off.”

“I can handle myself.” Avel grabbed a glass. His gaze went to Olid, and he sighed. “I won’t let it get messy.” He considered Olid a buddy and wouldn’t let him down.

A hand landed on Avel’s shoulder, and he flinched.

“Fancy seeing you here again.” Iska slid into the seat next to him.

Avel grunted. “You too.”

“I wasn’t planning to drop by, but I saw you come in. You look a little... tense.”

Avel nudged a full shot glass toward Iska. “I went to see Holly after we talked this morning.”

A smile passed across Iska’s face. “She didn’t love your idea?”

“She flat out rejected me.” Avel hitched a shoulder. “She yelled at me. She walked away. Holly’s not interested.”

“In you or your ridiculous offer?”

Avel glared at him out of the corner of his eye. “What’s so ridiculous about my offer?”

Iska shrugged. “I tried to tell you this morning before you strode off so sure of yourself. You don’t buy a female. You can’t offer her something that comes with conditions.”

“Even if those conditions help her?”

“Absolutely. You pull that move and you end up like this.” He gestured at Avel. “She’s not something you negotiate for.”

Avel bared his teeth. He hated to think Iska was right, but he had treated Holly like she was a business transaction.

“It makes sense why she slapped you down,” Iska said. “It wasn’t cool to suggest she doesn’t see this ex of hers, even if he’s a massive tool.”

“He is. She even admitted that herself.”

“Yet, she still turned you down,” Iska said. “That’s saying something. Your woman has principles.”

Avel nodded. It was one of the things he loved about her. She had standards and stuck to them. Of course, she’d never be swayed by his dumb offer.

“What’s your next move?” Iska asked.

“Finish my business here and get the hell out.”