Off Broadway by Janna Watts Read Free Book Online Page A

world. But just last week, you told me that your pussy was like the Vagina Dentata and you swore off men for the next year.”
    “So I’m a nympho,” Avery said. She dropped her head into her hands. “I can’t even last a week.”
    Rich squeezed her shoulder. “You’re not. You’re spectacular. But even you know that mixing business and sex never ends well. I know how much cabaret means to you. And this guy seems like he’s good for you. A good partner. You said he brought out the best in your show, right?”
    A tear slid down Avery’s cheek. Rich brushed it away and wrapped her in a hug.
    “Yes. He’s really talented him and I like him. I like him too much. I feel like I’ve found a creative life partner, you know? I mean, even when we disagree, we resolve it in such a good way. We talk about it and it’s this really healthy communication. I’ve never had that before. I just wish I could have it in my personal life too.” Avery pressed her face into Rich’s chest and released a sob. All the emotions from the night pooled out of her onto Rich’s T-shirt.
    The tears finally subsided and she pulled away from Rich. “I’m sorry. I got snot on your shirt.”
    Rich laughed. “Aww, honey. I hate to see you like this.”
    “Maybe it could work.” Brandon had been quiet for so long, Avery almost forgot he was there.
    “What?”
    “Maybe it cou ld work with the two of you,” Brandon said again. “Maybe he could be that guy in your personal life too.”
    Avery shook her head. “I don’t have a very good track record for that kind of stuff.”
    Brandon shrugged. “No one does really until they meet the right person. Isn’t that what we all do? We keep failing until the right one comes along?”
    Avery offered a shaky smile. “Did you fail before you met Rich?”
    Brandon laughed. “Fuck yeah, didn’t he tell you? For the two years before I met him, my life was a series of hook-ups with whatever nearby guy I found on Grindr. I probably would still be in that place if he hadn’t made a move on me his first night on the job.”
    Rich raised an eyebrow. “I made a move on you? I made the first move? Really? Because if I’m not mistaken, during break you asked if I wanted to see your huge cock.”
    Brandon’s smile split his face. “Yeah, that was pretty slick. But I never would have offered if you hadn’t been checking me out all night with those baby blues.”
    Rich opened his mouth, but snapped it closed when Brandon looked at him pointedly. “It’s because I could see your nipple ring through your shirt. It was really distracting.”
    Brandon leaned over and gave Rich a long, open-mouthed kiss. “I know,” he whispered when he pulled away.
    Avery cleared her throat. “This is starting to get awkward. I’m gonna go.”
    Rich turned to her. “Are you going to be all right?”
    She nodded. “Of course. I have the new glass dildo at home I’ve haven’t tried yet.”
    Brandon shook his head. “This collection of yours is starting to reach epic proportion.”
    Avery raised a shoulder. “Yeah, I guess. But you can’t really blame me. None of my toys have ever asked ‘whose pussy is this?’”
    Rich stood up and grabbed her hand. He pulled her into a tight hug. “Don’t worry about the piano player,” he whispered. “It’ll blow over. You’ll figure it out.”
    She nodded, gave Brandon a kiss on the cheek and headed for the door. She hoped Rich was right. Otherwise, she’d just ruined the best working relationship she’d ever had.

-7-
     
    The minute Avery walked into the rehearsal space on Monday, she knew it had not blown over.
    “You didn’t return my calls,” Dan snapped at her before she’d even put her bag down. “I wanted to talk about the show, and you didn’t return my calls.”
    Avery’s shoulders slumped. She’d messed everything up.
    “I was trying not to work yesterday. I thought we could use a break.”
    His eyes narrowed. “What were you doing? Or should I