Fight Me(54)

“Yes, I’m still coming. I just need to ask you a question.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Ummm, okay, so if you wanted to seduce Maddox, what exactly would you wear?” I ask, my voice very small. I can’t even make eye contact with her for fear that I’ll die of embarrassment.

“Well, every guy has different tastes and likes. I’m assuming you’re talking about lingerie, right?” Avery waits while I shake my head up and down.

“Okay, well Maddox likes black lace so I tend to wear black lace matching bra and panty sets. I also have this black corset thingy that makes him lose his mind every time I wear it. It comes in very handy when I need to get him to agree easily to something,” she adds with a gleam in her eyes.

“Okay. That helps. Thanks for the suggestions, Avery. I’ll see you tonight,” I say as I turn towards the door.

“Wait. Where are you going?” she asks as she turns me back around to face her. “First off, let’s pretend that you’re not asking me this with the sole purpose of seducing my brother. Let’s go with the name Jeff. And Jeff is not my brother, okay?” she asks with a laugh. “Maddox?” she yells up the stairs.

Maddox appears a few moments later and descends the stairs. “What’s up, babe?”

“I’m making a trip to the mall with Erin. Can you watch Brooklyn for a bit while I run out?”

“You’re going now? The bachelor and bachelorette parties are in a few hours,” he comments as he checks the time on his watch.

“I know. I’ll be back in plenty of time. We’re running to the lingerie store at the mall in St. Charles,” Avery says as she grabs her coat.

“Really?” he asks, eyebrows raises with a wolfish grin spread wide across his handsome face. “Do you want my credit card?”

“I already have your checkbook, love.” Avery leans in and kisses Maddox passionately before turning towards me. “We’ll be back shortly. Love you, babe.”

“Take your time. Browse around and make sure you check everything out thoroughly. If you can’t decide between a few things, just get them all. You can model them later,” he says with a big smile. “Love you too,” he mumbles as he leans in and gives Avery another very passionate kiss that promises dirty things later tonight. And with that we’re out the door and heading towards the mall in St. Charles to purchase something sexy for my man…Jeff.

The thirty minute ride to St. Charles goes quickly when you’re listening to Avery talk about next week’s big wedding. In the past, I hated getting into wedding conversations with bride-to-be’s. I never cared about their choice of flowers or dresses, the venues or the menu. But when Avery is filling me in on every detail of her big day, I can’t help but feel the excitement right along with her. I’m truly excited and happy for her and Maddox.

“Which reminds me, I have a question for you. Will you help be my personal assistant next Saturday? I realize now that I can’t do everything myself, and I need to relinquish some control over certain aspects of the wedding.”

“What kind of things?” I ask.

“Well, help me make sure that the guys are ready and where they’re supposed to be. Pin a few boutonnieres and corsages. Make sure everything is set up and ready to go before the guests arrive at the church.”

“I’d be honored to do that for you. Anything I can do to help you!”

“Really? Okay, thank you soooo much! I know it’s a small wedding, but I’m terrified that something major is going to go wrong or that I’m forgetting a major detail. If I have someone I know and trust looking over some of those details, I know I’ll be able to settle down and relax a little that day.”

Avery trusts me? That thought brings a smile to my face. We haven’t known each other very long, but in the short amount of time I’ve known her, I’ve come to think of her as a good friend. A sister. Heck, maybe someday we will be sisters.

WOOOOOO! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Erin. Jake and I aren’t even close to wedding bells so let’s hold the horse and back it up a bit.

When we pull into the packed mall parking lot, Avery is fortunate enough that someone is backing out of an up-fronty near the entrance closest to the lingerie store. She’s practically pulling me along behind her as we make our way inside.

It doesn’t take but a few minutes before we’re walking through the open doors of the store. Everywhere I look are bras and panties; negligees and teddies. There are so many styles to choose from that my brain in on total overload as I scan the variety of undergarments.