Austin hands around cups of beer to celebrate Avery's score and they drink them with gusto before resuming the game.
They all acquire a few spares and strikes, the girls sharing another pitcher of beer to celebrate while he and Austin switch to water.
After the fourth game, Nikki and Austin can't seem to keep their hands off each other.
"Looks like they're having a good time," Logan jokes to Avery, waggling his brows.
She laughs and smacks him lightly on the arm. He grabs her hand at its removal and he places it gently between his two significantly larger ones.
"I don't think your ride is going back with you tonight. You want me to take you?"
She glances in Nikki's direction, finds her in a close embrace with Austin, and nods her head.
"Sure, that would be great, thanks. I'm having fun. More fun than I've had in a while and I'm not ready for the night to end."
"Well, I'm your guy. I'm not ready for it to end either," Logan says as he stands, tugging her by the hand he still has in his grasp. "Come on. I'll take you home."
***
FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND LOGAN, Avery hopes to catch another hint of his masculine scent, a heady mix of cologne, pine, and something else that is uniquely his own.
They exchange out their shoes and pay for their games, Logan picking up the tab for her and Nikki too, even after a bit of failed protesting.
Taking hold of her hand once again, Logan escorts her to his car. Avery slides past him where he stands holding the door, obviously offering her the chance to brush against him. It takes all her strength to avoid doing so. Avery takes a moment after he closes the door to pull herself together. She needs to remain unaffected; being close to him makes her want things she shouldn't because she is far too familiar with the outcome - it's the same every time. Friendship; that's all Avery can offer, for his sake.
Logan enters the car and turns on his phone so that an Avenged Sevenfold song blasts through the speakers. A bit unexpected, but it instantly thrills her that they have a similar interest in music.
"I love this band!" Avery shouts exuberantly.
"Really? I've seen them live twice. Great show."
"I am so jealous," she says dreamily.
Avery looks over at Logan as he pulls out of the parking lot, heading toward her apartment.
"I had a really fun time tonight. I haven't laughed so much in…. well, ever."
"I had a great time, too. We need to get together like this more often," he says before glancing in her direction and seeing the shock on her face.
She can feel her eyebrows reaching toward her hairline and her jaw continuing to drop.
"By together," he adds, "I meant as friends, and as a group if you want."
Logan turns back to the road, obviously nervous that he has overstepped their friendly boundary.
"It's ok, Logan. I know what you meant. I'm just not used to having friends to hang out with, that's all. You took me by surprise."
"Well don't be surprised, you're a lot of fun. And I guess if Nikki and Austin don't make things awkward, we'll be seeing more of each other."
“I didn’t get to speak to him much, but what does Austin do?”
“He’s in construction. Does pretty well for himself, especially since we’ve had the recent population boom.”
Huh, construction? I’ll have to keep that in mind.
The apartment complex comes into view and Avery feels dismayed at the thought of their night ending. She feels a strong connection to Logan like they are kindred spirits.
Wanting to continue conversing with him, Avery decides to take a leap.