September 2010
Opening her eyes when she woke the next morning, the smell of coffee brewing wafting into the room Avery blinked several times as she looked around the room. Realizing that she wasn’t in her room, she wasn’t in her own bed.
The reality of last night coming back to her as she sat up in the bed. Not surprised that Paisley was already up, after all she had smelt the coffee that was being made. Knew it had to be her who was making it. She highly doubted Sloan was home.
If she had gotten back from her trip Avery was sure she’d have known it by now. There would be yelling and screaming and Avery would have been kicked out.
For now, the morning actually seemed calm and despite the paranoid thoughts she had while she drifted off last night in Paisley’s arms she slept good. She slept better than she had in a long time really.
It almost felt like coming home in a sense, which was fucked up since she knew Paisley was engaged to someone else.
There was no way Paisley could still be her home. Not after everything, not with the lurking presence of the fiancee who wasn’t here but in a way was very much here. The proverbial elephant in the room.
Getting out of bed Avery stood up as she searched the room for her clothes, putting her bra and panties back on in a hurry before grabbing for the shirt she had taken off Paisley last night and putting it on.
Only second guessing herself in her choice after she had done it. But she just didn’t feel like putting the dress back on yet.
Almost felt cheap in the fact that once she left here today she’d be having to wear the dress again. Knowing whatever cab driver picked her up would probably be judging her so hard. Because who in their right mind wore fancy dresses at early hours of the day?
That or maybe she was just paranoid that all day she’d have a sign that everyone else but her could see that said I had slutty sex with an engaged ex last night.
Shaking her head Avery left the bedroom as she made her way towards the kitchen, following the smell of the coffee since she didn’t really know her way around this place.
The home Paisley shared with another woman.
The moment she made it to the kitchen, Paisley who was at the stove turned her head to face her. Avery not missing it when she looked her over. The way the other woman bit her lip after she had.
It was enough that Avery felt her cheeks get hot.
“I made coffee,” Paisley told her as she looked away, a matching blush soon appearing on her cheek. “I know you can’t survive mornings without it.”
“I can’t survive life without it,” Avery retorted which got her a laugh from Paisley. A tiny smile forming on her lips as she walked farther into the kitchen. Not surprised to find a mug next to the coffee pot.
Paisley saving her from having to rummage through cabinets until she found the mugs. It was a lifesaver and Paisley was truly the best with all the little things she did.
“I’m surprised your cooking though,” Avery said as she poured her coffee and walked to the table that was in the room. “You always were kind of shit at it before. I think that’s why we had so much take out.”
Paisley once again turned her head, this time glaring at Avery playfully. “I’ll have you know my cooking has improved slightly,” she muttered with a shake of her head. “But I’m just fixing scrambled eggs. You think you can stomach those Avie?”
“I’ll try,” Avery quipped playfully as she took a sip of her coffee. Her brain feeling a tiny bit more rejuvenated just from one tiny sip.
Things falling silent between the both of them as Paisley fixed breakfast. Neither of them speaking again until after Paisley had finished fixing the eggs. Bringing two plates to the table with her and again Avery was feeling like this girl was a lifesaver.
Just like she was thinking how right his felt. How it still felt like coming home after a long journey away.
“I have clothes you can wear home if you don’t want to wear the dress,” Paisley said in between bites of her eggs. Being the first to break the silence. “The pants may be a bit short on you but the shirts would definitely fit you.”
Avery smirked as she swallowed the food she had in her mouth, “Is this just an excuse to see me in more of your clothes?” she asked curiously with a raised eyebrow.
“Maybe,” Paisley answered with a cheeky smile that made Avery’s smirk grow. “You just look really hot in my clothes. I’ve always thought so.”
“I’ll consider it then,” Avery told her with a nod of her head.
In the end Avery knew she’d probably choose to wear Paisley’s clothes. It’d make her feel less cheap that way more than likely. Even if she suspected that she’d get questioning from Ethan over wearing clothes that weren’t hers.
After saying that things fell silent once more. Avery surprised that somehow the silence didn’t bother her. Though, maybe it should have or maybe her paranoid thoughts from last night were starting to creep back inside.
But no, she wasn’t going to entertain them. Not right now.
Right now she just wanted to finish her food and coffee then get dressed into some clothes and go home.
Though Avery also hoped they’d set up a time to see each other again before she left. She wasn’t sure she could just leave and never see Paisley again, especially after last night and today. Just like Paisley had equated her to a drug, Paisley was the same for her.
She’d always need a hit off the woman to get by it seemed.
“So when can I see you again?” Avery asked after she was dressed, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. “I..I’m not sure I can leave here and not see you again Pai,” Avery said as she turned to look at Paisley who was sitting on her bed.
Her face unreadable in ways that Avery didn’t like. She liked being able to see an expression that would let her know either way what Paisley would say.
Paisley finally let out a small sigh as she moved from the bed, walking to where Avery stood. “I’ll figure something out,” she told her before leaning in to kiss her and like someone desperately in love Avery kissed Paisley back.
Her arm sliding around Paisley’s waist as she brought her a bit closer to her. The kiss being enough to reassure Avery that Paisley would indeed figure something out.
She’d find a way to see Avery again.
When they pulled away Paisley let her hands go to rest on Avery’s cheeks. “Can you say it again?” she asked and her words confused Avery.
“Say what again?” Avery questioned with a whisper as she let her forehead rest against Paisley’s.
“That you love me,” Paisley answered and her words surprised Avery, especially since Paisley hadn’t said it back to her last night. “Tell me you love me.”
“I love you.”
After Avery said those three words Paisley closed the tiny distance between them, Avery’s eyes falling shut as she returned the kiss. Not seeing the harm in one more kiss before she went home.
Then again she could kiss Paisley all day and be okay.
Arriving home a little after two in the afternoon Avery chewed on her lip, stopping in her tracks as she watched Ethan come out of the kitchen after she had the door shut.
Avery giving him an innocent smile as he looked her over. A part of her knowing that he’d know the clothes weren’t hers. She could only pray that he somehow didn’t see just from looking at her that she had sex just hours before coming home.
The kiss that she and Paisley had shared after Paisley had asked her to say she loved her, leading to Avery eating Paisley out as she stood in the middle of the bedroom one of her legs thrown so effortlessly over Avery’s shoulder and Avery swore even now she could feel the ghost of her fingertips as they went through her hair.
“The walk of shame is definitely a look you’re getting used too lately it seems,” Ethan spoke finally making Avery blush. “I take it you did things I would do?” he asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Avery half wondering if he was trying to come across like a stern parent. If so, well, he was close.
“I’m pretty sure I did,” Avery said as she nodded her head, keeping her innocent smile despite the fact that her blush got deeper.
“Do you regret it?” Ethan asked and that question surprised her. “Because you should never regret the things you do.”
“I don’t regret it,” Avery told him, her words being part true anyway. She didn’t regret the sex. She just regretted that Paisley was in a relationship with someone else.
A relationship that involved a damn engagement ring.
“Good,” Ethan smiled as he uncrossed his arms and walked to where she was, pulling her into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, you know. Getting out there and getting your groove back. I think it’s what you need after Cordelia. I also think it will help you deal and maybe move on from Paisley too.”
Avery kept silent as she returned Ethan’s hug, hating her conscience for telling her that if Ethan knew what happened last night he wouldn’t be so happy with her.
He’d judge her and tell her that being underneath Paisley wasn’t helping her move on. Especially if Paisley was just using her.
It was a fact Avery was afraid of though she wanted to deny it. It was hard too though when her conscience kept on reminding her how Paisley still hadn’t said she loved her.
Despite her wanting to hear Avery say those words today.