July 2010
Leaving the bakery where she worked, Avery made it to her car and got inside. Letting her head rest against the steering wheel as she took several deep breaths feeling nothing but exhaustion.
Today was the Fourth of July and it felt like the bakery where she worked had been busier than usual. People wanting baked goods for their get together and Avery had never made so many cupcakes or pastries or cookies in her entire life.
Feeling like if she never saw another one then she’d be fine with that.
Just like she wanted to get home, shower because she was sure she smelled too much like chocolate chip cupcakes, and warm up the leftover pizza from last night while she Skyped with Cordelia who was off in Tulsa celebrating the holiday with her family.
Everyone was off celebrating America’s independence but her. Ethan having gone to some party in the hills at some fancy mansion because of course he would. He made friends with people, rich or poor.
So at least when Avery got home she’d be alone. Ethan wouldn’t have to see her looking horrible and make some joking quip.
Which normally Avery loved his jokes but tonight she was sure she’d snap at him if he joked. That was how exhausted and tired she was.
How done with the day she was.
Lifting her head Avery finally started her car. Pulling out of her parking space and heading back to her apartment. Counting down in her head how long she had until she could be in the comfort of her own home.
In clothes that were more comfortable than what she was required to wear at the bakery.
Avery had just gotten out of the bathroom when she heard her cell phone ringing from where she had left it in the kitchen and she took off running for it. Afraid that maybe it was Cordelia calling and she’d miss it.
They after all did have plans to Skype and she could be calling to give her a time for sure or even just to make sure she was okay.
It could also be someone in her family calling. Maybe to tell her they missed her at this year’s celebration since it was the second of many she missed. Until she fixed stuff with her parents or well her mom. Her dad still sometimes called or texted to see how she was doing.
Avery suspected he did it while her mom wasn’t there so she kept that secret to herself. Afraid if she told someone they’d let it slip in front of her mom and the last thing she wanted was to cause any more trouble for her parents.
But while her dad still tried Avery knew her mom never would again. Her mom would just pretend she didn’t exist and try to cut her from as many family events as much as she could.
Though Avery knew Zac had stood firm on his support of her even when he went back home to Tulsa. Had let her know he had even made his mom aware of that and she had never been more proud to hear him taking a stand especially when she knew their mom probably threw their shared religion in his face.
Making it to the living room Avery’s phone had began to ring for a second time since she had missed the first call and when she picked it up, it wasn’t Cordelia’s name on the i.d. It was Ethan’s so Avery hit to talk.
“E?” Avery questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Please tell me you aren’t calling to ask me to bring you condoms because you forgot to bring them again,” she said with a sigh.
Her mind bringing up an incident from just last month when Ethan had went to the same person’s house for a one on one get together with the woman.
Apparently he hadn’t known sex was even a question with said woman so he had left all his condoms at home. Making an emergency call to Avery and she had never felt more embarrassed in all her life to have to run condoms to him.
Even more so when he had answered the front door in the buff. Avery having seen him naked for the first time since they had sex in 2008 and it was something she hadn’t wanted to see but at the same time she had checked him out.
Let her eyes wonder and she knew that he knew it too. If the smirk he had given her then was any indication.
“No,” Ethan slurred sounding indignant. “No sex for me tonight but I do need a drive back home. My ride here bailed because he is getting sex and left with some sexy male porn star. So I was hoping you could come and pick me up please,” he spoke and Avery was surprised she was able to understand him in all his slurring.
Knowing it was apparent he was trashed and come tomorrow he’d feel like shit.
Served him right for having fun while she was stuck at work.
Heaving a sigh Avery knew she should tell him no. Was even about to open her mouth and say so but then Ethan spoke up again.
“Please.”
It was just one word but it was all she needed to know she couldn’t say no. She couldn’t leave him hanging in his drunken state because knowing him he’d try to walk home and that was the last thing that needed to happen.
If he did that he’d wind up passed out on the side of the road somewhere.
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes or so,” Avery relented as she hung up on him before he could say anything else.
After hanging up the phone Avery sent a text to Cordelia.
Hey, have to run an errand may be late for our Skype session. Just call me when you are ready and I’ll answer if I can. If not I’ll return the call or text you to let you know I am free.
Hitting send Avery put her cell back on the table, deciding to leave it here because the pajamas pants she had on didn’t have any pockets and as she looked down at the clothes she had on she knew Ethan better be thanking his lucky stars that she had agreed.
She was already wearing her flannel pajama pants and an old band t-shirt that she had once stolen from Paisley. Knowing she didn’t look like she should be going out but she’d do it for Ethan.
To save him from passing out on the side of the road.
“Thank you for picking me up Avie,” Ethan slurred as he sat beside her in the car just minutes after she had drove off from the place where she had picked him up at. “You’re a true lifesaver.”
“Of course I am,” Avery rolled her eyes before reaching out to turn the radio up in her car. Needing something to fill it besides silence because she half expected Ethan to be too drunk to want to talk much.
Even if he did want to talk she also expected that he wouldn’t make much sense. May even talk out of his head.
“You are,” Ethan spoke over the radio. “Just like you are pretty.”
Rolling her eyes again Avery turned her head briefly to look at him, “And you are just drunk.”
“Maybe so but you’ll still be pretty tomorrow Avery and I won’t be drunk then,” Ethan retorted and even though he was drunk he sounded sincere. “You’re so goddamn pretty.”
Shaking her head Avery fell silent as she continued driving. Almost glad when Ethan fell silent too and the sound of music filled her car.
Who’s gonna tell you when it’s too late
Who’s gonna tell you things aren’t so great
You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong, but bye
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?
Who’s gonna pick you up when you fall
Who’s gonna hang it up when you call
Who’s gonna pay attention to your dreams
Who’s gonna plug their ears when you scream
You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong, but bye
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?
Who’s gonna hold you down when you shake
Who’s gonna come around when you break
You can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong, but bye
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?
Hoo-ooh, you know you can’t go on thinking nothing’s wrong
Who’s gonna drive you home tonight?
When they made it back to their apartment Avery cut the car off but before she could get out Ethan reached for her hand. Effectively stopping her from leaving so she turned to look at him expectantly.
“Yes?” she questioned wondering what was so urgent that he couldn’t wait to tell her until they got inside.
“You’re pretty,” Ethan offered again his words still slurring and Avery knew he was still drunk. Was just saying what he said because of the alcohol in his system.
Heaving a sigh she leaned back against her seat, “Why are you doing this tonight E?” she asked him as they locked eyes and while his eyes were glassy from the alcohol there was something else in them.
Something that made her squirm in her seat and she wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t like it or because she did.
“Because I’m infatuated with you Avery,” Ethan answered leaving Avery shocked he could say such a big word while that gone with alcohol. “So fucking infatuated that I think of having sex with you again. You know when I fucked Joanie last month I thought of you.”
Closing her eyes at his words she swallowed hard. Not sure why his words didn’t shock her as much as they should have.
Maybe deep down she had suspected it since New Years when he made the comment about the pretty girl he wanted to kiss. Using a line that he had used on her once.
“Kiss me Avery,” Ethan spoke and it wasn’t a question at all. “Please because I know you won’t have sex with me again so kiss me and I’ll shut up about you being pretty.”
Opening her eyes Avery shook her head as she looked back at Ethan. “I can’t,” she stated knowing she couldn’t kiss him. “I have Cordelia,” she told him almost like that was the only reason when it wasn’t.
The biggest reason was because she was a lesbian. She wouldn’t like the kiss and Ethan deserved someone who would like the kiss.
“And we both know you aren’t in love with her,” Ethan countered before pouting slowly as he inched closer to her. “Just one kiss Avery.”
Avery swallowed hard before sighing again, “Just one?” she asked watching as Ethan nodded his head.
The nod being all she needed to move to close the gap between them. Her lips connecting with his and the moment that happened it was like her body was on fire.
Like somehow there was a life to her again and maybe that was why when his tongue slid against her lips wanting entrance she allowed it.
Tasting the alcohol on him as their tongues brushed together. A shiver running down her spine as his hand went to rest on her cheek and once again she felt as if her body was on fire. Just his touch alone as well as his kiss was making her feel things she hadn’t felt in so long.
Not with her girlfriend which was probably why they had so little sex.
Avery hating to admit that if he wanted to she’d let Ethan have sex with her out here in her car. But no..no..no. That wasn’t going to happen again.
She didn’t like penis and she shouldn’t even be kissing him like this.
Pulling away from the kiss Avery just looked back at Ethan who only gave her a wink and a smirk before slipping effortlessly out of her car.
Avery staying behind as she rested her forehead against the steering wheel. Needing to get her thoughts in order before heading inside.
Knowing that when she went inside she was going to have to get ahold of Cordelia and cancel the Skype date. There was no way she could face her girlfriend after what she had allowed Ethan to do.
She couldn’t face her with the knowledge that she had liked what Ethan had done.