Free Relentless (Relentless Soul Book 1) by Rachel Ryan, Eve Cassidy Page B

back at Ava to see Jeremy take her hand and walk her toward her bus.
    I flop down onto one of the plush leather couches on our bus and Luke sits down beside me. Hunter heads to the bar fridge in the small kitchenette and comes back with a beer for each of us. He places one on the small coffee table, stating "Got one for Stone, but it might be warm by the time he's finished with Ava."
    Feeling the anger rise in my chest I warn "Don't fucking speak that way about her Hunter. She isn't like that."
    "Hey, chill, Dude. I was joking. I know she isn't like that. Stone on the other hand…"
    I don't even want to think about what could be happening between them at the moment so I take a large mouthful of beer and try to block that image from my mind. A few seconds later I hear someone on the stairs of the bus and see Jeremy heading toward us with a huge grin on his face. Fuck, he looks so happy. I need to snap out of it and start feeling happy for him instead of feeling sorry for myself.
    Jeremy sits down on an armchair to my left and grabs the beer off the table. We all watch him waiting for him to say something. He downs half of his beer then looks over at Hunter "What the fuck happened with you and Tori. You disappeared for ten minutes and when you came back it looked like she'd just crawled out of bed." Glancing at Hunter I see the lopsided grin spread across his face. "Who needs a bed?"
    Jeremy chuckles and glances at me shaking his head "And you, you sly dog."
    I look down at my beer and shrug my shoulders "It was only a kiss."
    "Yeah, okay. Emma seems pretty keen, though."
    Shrugging again, I try to discourage this direction of the conversation. "I'm not interested. She's a nice girl but……"
    Luke joins the conversation "What about you and Ava? Things were getting pretty heavy with you and her, Stone. She sure is fine."
    Jeremy smiles to himself as he stares down at the floor. "She sure is. There's something about this one." He glances up at me. "I really like her."
    I stare into Jeremy's eyes and realize that he seems to be telling the truth. Maybe he does really like her. "I'm really happy for you, Bro." After saying this I realize I really do mean it. I do want my friend to be happy, and if Ava makes him happy…"By the way, I think the feeling is mutual."
    His eyes snap up to mine "Do you think so?"
    Pushing down the jealousy again I reply "Sure, didn't you see the way she was watching you all night?"
    Jeremy smiles again looking very proud of himself. "I hope you're right, Dude."
    ***
    The next morning I wake before the sun's up. I try to go back to sleep, but my stupid brain just keeps replaying the events of last night over and over again. Throwing the blanket off me I decide a run might help to clear my head a little. I search through the drawer below my bed, trying to make as little noise as possible, and pull on some black shorts and a grey t-shirt. After locating my running shoes, I pull them on and head outside. I have no idea where I'm going, but it will be nice to see a bit of San Francisco. Jogging at a medium pace I head north. About five minutes later I spot a familiar figure fifteen meters ahead of me. Is that…? "Hey! Ava?"
    She stops suddenly and turns around at the sound of my voice "Hey Brody?"
    Speeding up until I reach her side, I frown at her slightly "What the hell are you doing out here by yourself? Don't you realize how dangerous is it out here for a girl on her own?"
    She stares at me with a blank expression on her face. "Well?" I say, waiting for her reply.
    She puts her hands on her curvy hips and her eyebrows draw together.
    "Excuse me! I am not a girl. I am a grown woman and if I want to run around San Francisco, I do not need your permission."
    Rolling my eyes I let out a sigh
    "I didn't say you need my permission, I just want you to be careful."
    Inching closer to me she holds her head high
    "Why do you care? You've hardly spoken to me at all since we left L.A!"
    I run a hand through my