AN: OKAY SO, new to this fandom but I love the show so I'm gonna start posting a lot of fics ( mostly Juliette based ) with a bunch of different ships, some crack, some angst, some fluff. Feel free to request whatever the answer will almost always be yes and if you want me to continue a story please leave a review otherwise I'll just leave them as one shots. Enjoy the read! Xx
It'd been years since their divorce. Cadence was almost eight and while it was hard, Avery and Juliette were trying to be friends. He'd gotten over the anxiety her presence used to cause for the most part and she'd gotten a whole lot better at hiding her true feelings.
His fling with Layla had lasted longer than anyone had expected, but she was easy and simple so he'd kept her around regardless of the fact they'd never really been in love, or at least he hadn't. But after almost two years the young singer decided she was tired of being a second choice. Of watching him slowly but surely drop some of the walls he put up against his ex wife until he fell into the habit of making himself available whenever she needed something, whether it be a producer or advice at four in the morning. After her there had been a few others, all brief, none that meant anything. Because as much as wanted to live in denial, there was only one woman that'd ever have his heart.
It was the same for Juliette. She'd dated Noah for a while, hoping that she could find happiness in him the way she thought Avery had in Layla, and for a while she thought she may have even loved him, but then all Avery need do was smile at her the right way and she'd be reminded there was no one else for her. Eventually she broke up with him using some line about how he deserved better and like the nice guy he was, he didn't hold it against her. After that Juliette accepted she was never gonna love again and didn't even bother trying, instead just picking up a guy for the night when the need was there. Not that she'd tell Avery that
The country star encouraged her ex to tell her about his love life though, trying to prove herself the supportive friend and live down her reputation for jealousy, even if it meant crying herself to sleep. He'd been uncomfortable about it at first but in the last year he'd started asking her for girl advice, awkward as it was.
Preparing for a date with the pretty brunette he'd met at the blue bird, Avery couldn't help but be nervous, the last few dates he'd gone on had been disastrous and his confidence was a little shot as a result. Questioning every little choice he was making down to the was he'd have his hair and what he wanted to wear, he eventually gave up and made his way to Juliette's with Cadence and half his wardrobe
"Hey" Avery greeted quickly as she opened the door, looking overwhelmed with an arm full of clothes and their daughter at his side.
"Uh, hey..what's with all the clothes?" Juliette replied, her eyes narrowed and an eyebrow quirked in confusion.
"I can't decide what to wear." He sighed in explanation, continuing before she could comment when he saw a smirk start to curl her lips. "I know, I know, I'm being ridiculous but I've been trying to get ready for an hour already. You mind giving me a hand?
"Sure, I guess." The blonde shrugged. She'd never say no to anything he asked, even if the idea of helping him get ready to go see another woman made her skin crawl. "Hey baby, you wanna go play in your room for a while and I'll come find you when I'm done helping daddy?" She smiled addressing her daughter, letting out a small chuckle as she bounced off down the hall.
"Thanks for doing this." Truly grateful as he moved to the living room where she led him, dumping his stuff on the couch before stepping back, placing his hands on his hips as he considered his options. "So, I was thinking the black shirt with these pants and maybe my leather jacket? Or maybe the jeans. Should I wear the boots? I don't wanna come off like a tool or somethin" Avery went on picking up each article of clothing as he mentioned them.
"Well first off, what you need to do is relax." Juliette laughed, finding his worry as endearing as ever. Wondering for a moment if she'd ever made him so nervous before doing her best to reassure him. "She already agreed to go out with you remember? emYou don't need to try so hard to impress her
"Yeah well, the last three agreed to the same but that didn't stop the dates from being awful" He grumbled
"If you were as nervous then as you are now I can see why" She smirked, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Here, try this" the blonde suggested, pulling a violet shirt and a pair of dark jeans from the pile before handing him his boots. "Go on, go change" She insisted, shooing him toward her bedroom.
"It felt a little strange changing in her room, like it was crossing one of those invisible lines he'd drawn when they separated but he wasn't about to insult her while she was helping him so he went in as he was bid. He tried not to be too nosey but he couldn't help looking around a little, smiling when he noticed a picture of the two of them with Cadence after she was born sitting on her night stand. The sight of it stirred a familiar feeling within him, one he had a lot of practice pushing back down.
"Alright, how do I look?" Avery asked, still jittery as he stepped out of her room a few minutes later.
Beautiful "Great, you look..great" It was times like these it really hurt to love him. If she could live in denial like him she would, but without drugs or alcohol to help it wasn't possible. She was doomed to spend the rest of her days in love with this man while she watched him go out with every other woman. "So, uh, what time are ya meetin' her?" Juliette asked, clearing her throat as she tore her gaze from him
"About 20 minutes ago" He answered, looking down at his watch.
"Well ya better get going" She smirked, ushering him out the door.
"Yeah, I'll see ya" He replied, kissing her on the cheek absentmindedly as he moved to leave, apologising awkwardly.
Shaking her head to cut off his rambling, she tried to ignore the pang in her chest at how domestic it all felt. "I'll see ya when you come and pick up Cadence."