Chapter 11: 8 | that god-awful son of my boss

She doesn't immediately spot him upon walking into Beans & Bagels on the Sunday morning.

Avery wouldn't have minded to continue on with this day as the one that came before – sat in the corner of their couch, wrapped up in a blanket while staring at a spot on the wall – but as soon as she'd woken up to the excited smile on her mother's lips she had known there were other plans already made.

With the excuse of their near empty refrigerator Sarah had forced her out of the house, more or less leading her by the arm from the upstairs floor to the passenger seat of their Mini Cooper, all while chirping about how some air would do them both good. Avery's still not convinced this is better than spending her day in pajamas feeling sorry for herself but the familiar scent of espresso beans and freshly baked goods hitting her in the face as she's pulled into the coffee shop brings out a small smile on her lips, her mood improving. She really could go for an iced chai.

They're about to walk over to take their place at the back of the line as Sarah stops, sighing. "I forgot my wallet in the car, I'll be right back."

Avery feels her mother's hand slip out of her own, barely having time to open her mouth to respond before she watches the door fall close behind her and she presses her lips together, suddenly feeling out of place on her own. Wrapping her arms around herself, she continues over to the counter, eyeing the selection behind the glass while weighing back on her feet.

Her eyes find him a second later.

He's stood on the other side of the three-people line, by the corner of the counter, waiting for his order to be ready. He lifts his eyes from the screen of his phone as if sensing her gaze on him and as they land on hers she finds herself turning away. Brows dipping together she heaves a breath. Why did she just do that?

She wrenches her hands together, starting over. Stepping away from her spot in the line, she walks over to him, eyes swiftly scouring over the room just in case but it's still early in the morning. Other than the few people in line and the man in his thirties currently placing an order which sounds appropriate for an entire sports team there are only a few tables occupied – a woman with a stroller, an older couple sat across from one another reading a newspaper each and a family of five.

She lifts her hand in a small wave as she comes to stand next to him, "Hi."

His lips twist into a smile and he slides his phone into his back pocket. "Hey."

"Fancy seeing you here this morning."

She runs a hand over the skirt of her pastel green sundress, feeling rather grateful she opted for it instead of the worn out yoga pants she were tempted to dig out of her closet when her mother forced her to get dressed for a breakfast out on the town.

No matter how much she would have liked to cozy up – and hide – in an oversized hoodie and said yoga pants she's much more comfortable out and about in a pretty dress. It doesn't hurt that the spaghetti strap dress at least attempts to improve her otherwise rather sad look – skin dry and blotchy from the tears that have stained it and zits lingering beneath her skin only waiting to blossom at the most unfortunate times.

"Ella has a game so... caffeine's a must."

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever tried spending ninety minutes watching eight year olds play soccer?"

The corners of her mouth twist into a smile, tucking a stray-away hair from her simple braid behind her ear. "No."

"Trust me – caffeine."

She laughs before biting down the corner of her bottom lip. "Noted."

A barista sets a take away cup of coffee down on the counter and Ethan grabs it, tapping the pads of his fingertips against it. Avery's lips pull into an even wider smile as he rubs his other hand through his hair, bringing her attention to it, realizing it seems much more voluminous than she's used to –almost as if he's just rolled out of bed.

The corners of his mouth twitch curiously, nose scrunching up as his eyes catch sight of her smile. "And what mission brings you here?"

"I was brought here by force actually," She says and his brows dip together, amusement lingering in his dark eyes. "I'm supposed to have breakfast with mom. And well, now that I'm here it's not that bad – I'm sort of craving an–"

"Iced chai?"

She gives way for a cross of a snort and a chortled breath. "Mhm,"

Does she really drink that many of them?

She flickers her eyes away from his face to the cup in his hand. "I should probably let you get going."

"Probably," He agrees. "Ella is never going to forgive me if we're late. See you, Waters."

Her fingers seem to lace around his elbow before her next thought even begins to take up space in her mind. "Taylor?"

Turning to face her halfway he stays silent, waiting for her to go ahead and she rolls her lips together, tongue pressing to the roof of her mouth as she ponders over how to best phrase her next words.

"I just wanted to say," She begins before cutting herself off, drawing in a breath through her nose as she starts over. "The other day... Well, thank you – again."

"What are non-friends for?"

She bites her lip down to quell the grin threatening to overtake her smile. She lets her eyes wander over his face for a split second – the slightly puckered lips, the red tinted cheeks, the hair that seems to be even more all over the place thanks to him continuing to rub his hand through it and his brows slightly dipped together as he focuses his gaze on her. She presses her lips together before allowing her lips to pull into a smile again, her hand dropping from his arm to run down the skirt of her dress.

"Maybe we could do that again sometime," She says, feeling both relieved and nauseous as the words leave her lips. "Hang out?"

"Hang out?"

"Or something," She flickers her gaze away for a beat, glancing towards the old couple sat reading their newspapers before she lets her eyes travel back to meet his. "I mean, I know we're not friends," She goes silent. No backing out now. "But I thought... Maybe. If you want to."

His face pulls into a puzzled expression but it soon smooths out, the skin around his eyes creasing as he regards her. "You and me?"

She shrugs, casting her eyes to the floor as she draws the sole of her ballerina against the dark wooden boards. "I mean... yeah."

"I thi–" Ethan's cut off by the sound of his phone ringing and a silent sigh escapes his lips as he moves his coffee cup from one hand to the other, sliding the device out of his pocket. His eyes flickers to the screen as he declines the call. "Shit, I have to go. Here."

Rather dumbfounded, Avery simply stares at his phone as he presses it into her palm. Out of the corner of her eye she sees the left corner of his mouth lift with a smile and he nudges her elbow with his own. "Put your number in."

"Oh," She flickers her eyes up to him before glancing back down at the screen, dragging her bottom lip against her teeth as she types the digits. "Right. There you go."

The phone goes off again as he balances it upon the coffee cup but he swiftly silences it with the finger securing it in it's place as he shoots her a somewhat hurried smile. "I really have to–"

"Go."

Out of the corner of her eye she sees her mother return, walking in through the doors that very moment.

"See you, Waters."

"Bye Taylor."

She looks his way as he pushes the door open with his back, shooting her one last glance before letting it fall close behind him. He disappears out of view soon afterwards and Avery turns around, finding her mother stood by the counter, eyeing the chalkboard menu spelling out the breakfast specials.

Sarah turns to look at Avery as they've placed their order, taking a step to the side to not be in the way of the next costumer. "Who was that?"

"Oh," Avery takes her iced chai from the barista with a smile. "Ethan. He's Anna's son."

"He did look quite familiar, maybe that's it."

"Could be," Avery lifts the glass to her lips, taking a sip through the straw. "Or you could've seen him around the field."

Her mother takes her cappuccino with a smile before beckoning Avery to follow her across the room towards a table, both knowing they'll have to wait a moment longer for their food. "He's on the team?"

"Mhm," Avery taps her fingers against the glass in her hand, the ice cubes clinking against the glass inside it. "Quarterback. The Montagues."

"Well, then that's probably where–" Sarah cuts herself off as she lowers herself into one of the armchairs at the wooden table. "Did you say Montagues? As in Ace East?"

♡♡♡

Ethan texts her the very same night.

They're in the midst of watching 'Mamma Mia!' – curled up in a corner each of the couch, blankets wrapped over their pajama clad legs and a bowl of Cheetos being passed between them – as her phone buzzes against the couch cushion.

Sarah shoots her a worried glance but instantly relaxes when Avery's lips crack into a smile upon seeing the notif on the lit up screen.

Taking the phone into her hands, Avery adds the unknown number to her contacts – changing her mind midway through typing his last name and deletes it all to put 'that god-awful son of my boss' as his handle instead. Better safe than sorry.

With a row of men performing 'Lay All Your Love On Me' in their swim trunks-and fins in the background she opens the text, doing her best to suppress the sensation of something fluttering from the bottom of her stomach up into her chest.

'that god-awful son of my boss'

so, am i mistaken or did you kind of admit you don't entirely despise me today?

She presses her lips together with her smile, leaning her chin on her knee which she has pulled to her chest as she types a text of her own – wondering if maybe she should wait a while before replying to not seem like she's been waiting around for him to be in touch. Then again, are there such a thing as rules regarding texting between two non-friends? She presses her thumb to 'send', not being in the mood to dive into the whole ordeal of calculating minutes – it's nicer to actually be able to hold a conversation without hours of waiting in between anyways.

you're not mistaken

It seems she made the right call when his response comes only a few beats later.

good

hypothetical question: if i were to have changed your name to 'annoying intern at mom's job' on my phone would you be offended?

not at all. yours is 'that god-awful son of my boss' by the way

your phone autocorrected handsome to awful

you should get that fixed

what are you up to?

watching a movie

you?

same

which one?

i'll tell you mine if you tell me yours

mamma mia

your turn

... tangled

Ella's choice

sure it was.

♡♡♡

Avery grimaces, setting the cup in her hand down in the sink before heaving herself up in a seat at the kitchen counter. There's nothing quite as the taste of water in the morning. Ugh.

Sarah walks into the kitchen a moment later, riffling through a few envelopes as she glances her daughter's way. "How'd your run go?"

"It was okay."

Avery releases her hair from her ponytail, shooting her hair tie across the room and watches it bounce against one of the kitchen stools before falling to the floor. She leans the back of her head against the cupboard behind her. The run went okay but her mind was rather clouded, overtaken by the reminder and strange grief of her cancelled Orlando trip. To think that only a few days ago she had imagined she would be sat at a breakfast table in a hotel with her father and his family – maybe feeling like it's her family too – about right now seems like such a far away thought.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Sarah asks, throwing the envelopes out before refilling her cup of coffee from the French press stood on the table. "I'll book you a ticket right now."

Avery shakes her head, wrapping her arms around herself. "It'll be nice to have a few days to just be."

Considering her daughter, Sarah's lips twitch in slight concern before she nods. "Yeah. Okay."

Her mother is not the first to offer her another trip in exchange for the one that didn't happen. Luke called early Saturday morning to try and convince her to come to the house in Colorado and while she'd love to see his family – not to speak of what she'd give to see him – or how lovely, and surely fun, it would be to tag along her mother to Manhattan she can't seem to muster up the energy to be excited about packing up a bag and leave.

The thought of staying put in Acebridge is much more welcoming. It's as though her mind has made the decision that if she's not going to Orlando, then she's not going anywhere. But she likes the thought of spending a few days off in the town – maybe bike down to the beach, or spend an afternoon browsing stores. And maybe, just maybe, feel a little sorry for herself about the duration of her previous plans. At least she'll have plenty of time to lounge around their backyard while making her way through some of the paperbacks on her shelf still waiting to be read.

Plans change, and that's fine.

She swallows back the disappointment rising in her throat, trying to convince herself that even if it doesn't come close to how she had imagined this week would go, it's not all that bad.

♡♡♡

Having waved her mom off at the airport coach, Avery has barely made it back into their house as she hears a familiar voice call from somewhere inside it.

"Okay!" It chimes. "I got us pizza, too many pints of ice cream to count – strawberry and salted caramel of course – and those weird gummy candies you like!"

Stopping in her tracks, her mouth falls open – it's shape similar to an 'o' as her eyes widen, her hand pulling the door close behind her. Not even a second later a suntanned blonde boy appears in the hallway, just having stepped out of the kitchen.

"Luke?!"

He beams. "One and only."

"Oh my god!" Avery drops her bag to the floor and breaks into a sprint, throwing her arms around his neck, smile widening as he wraps his close around her too. "I am so happy to see you."

A chortled breath escapes his lips. "That's a relief."

She pushes him lightly in the chest as she steps out of the hug, knowing the disbelief is pooling her eyes. "What are you doing here?!"

"I know it's not what you imagined for this week," He begins. "And I know you said you didn't feel like getting on a plane to come to the house but I figured I could come here. You and I are going to do the best we can with all of this," He determinedly puts his hands on her shoulders and a soft laugh escapes her lips as he levels his eyes with hers, gaze growing serious. "Starting with the most important part."

"You're going to say pizza aren't you?"

"Yeah I totally am," Their lips pull into mirroring smiles. "Let's get to it before it goes cold."

. . .

just wanted to say thank you so so so much for the amazing support regarding WQ so far! all your kind words truly mean the world and there is no better feeling than to read them and have my lips pull into the biggest smile, so thank you!