Free Inked by Everly Drummond Page B

taken him to a specialist, thinking that something might be wrong with him, but the doctor had assured her that Parker was perfectly healthy and sent her home with a list of activities to do to try and improve his socializing skills. Thus far, they’d been ineffective. No matter what she tried, Parker still chose to keep to himself. Avery sighed and sunk back in to the passenger seat of her sister’s minivan, allowing her own gaze to wander out the window.
    Sheets of heavy rain pounded hard against the windshield as they pulled into the parking lot of Chuck E. Cheese. People rushed towards the relative dryness of the awning covered sidewalk with their children in tow and Avery found herself scanning the rows of cars and crowds of people for any sign of Brody, but he was nowhere to be seen. It was the sound of her sister’s voice that drew her attention back to the present.
    “Hmm?”
    Chloe looked at Avery and shook her head in frustration. “I think you’ve got it bad for this guy.”
    “He’s only a friend,” Avery repeated for the tenth time.
    Without any advanced warning, Chloe jerked the minivan to the left, beating out a blonde soccer mom for one of the few available parking spots.
    “You drive like a maniac,” Avery teased, and unclasped her seatbelt in final preparation for the mad dash to the restaurant.
    “You grab the presents from the back and I’ll get the kids.”
    The women looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Within seconds they were running full out towards the crowded entrance, Avery laden down with brightly colored gift bags and Chloe dragging three soaking wet kids behind her. The awning provided very little cover from the torrential rains, but it was enough to keep them out of the direct path of the downpour.
    She looked around one last time for any sign of Brody before following her sister through the front door and into the chaos that awaited them. When Chloe turned to speak to her, Avery could barely hear her over the cacophony of screaming children.
    “Yeah, you’re right. You’re not smitten in the least. In fact, you always walk around with a dazed look on your face.”
    The last thing she needed was for Chloe to start hounding her with questions about Brody, so she quickly changed the subject. “Where’s Scott? I thought he was meeting us here.”
    “He’ll be here as soon as he finishes work.”
    “Since when did Scott work on a Saturday?”
    “Since he found out that Parker’s birthday party was being held at Chuck E. Cheese,” Chloe laughed.
    Avery waited in the lobby with the kids while Chloe went in search of the hostess. A minute later she was standing on the opposite side of the dining room and frantically waiving her hand in the air, motioning for them to join her.
    “Okay, follow me.” Avery waited until Parker and his cousins were holding hands before attempting to lead them through the overcrowded restaurant. Leaning down, she kissed Parker on the cheek and whispered, “You ready to go, little man?”
    Parker looked up at Avery and smiled. Even he couldn’t resist the lure of video games and an oversized talking mouse.
    I wasn’t until they neared the table that Avery saw her sister talking to a well built man with dark, rain slicked hair and tight fitting jeans. Avery didn’t need to see his face to know exactly who it was. Oh God, he’s already here. She quickened her pace, almost dragging the kids behind her as she maneuvered through the dining room. Her sister was already curious enough about Brody’s identity, and she had a knack for sweet talking answers out of people, so the two of them talking without a buffer could only lead to disaster.
    Avery approached the table cautiously, craning her neck in the hopes of overhearing the discussion, but the screams of children a t play drowned out all sounds.
    “There you are,” Chloe said, grinning up at Avery. “I was just introducing myself to your friend.”
    Avery anxiously glanced from Chloe