Chapter 2.
Two weeks later, and things had been strange. He'd called her on the phone for chats, he'd dropped in on her, weekly, to see her. She had been looking for a suitable therapist to help her with her problems. He felt that she had withdrawn a little from him, but he sensed this was her trying to keep a healthy distance. They still loved each other after all, and it was proving very difficult for both of them. Feelings as strong as this, you couldn't just switch off. It was going to take time for them both to adjust.
He hadn't wanted to open up to Gunnar, Zoey or Scarlett about what had happened between them, but at the same time, he didn't want them to take sides, or think badly of Juliette so he had told them that she had had her reasons and that there had been miscommunications that had led to her mistake. This, along with the fact that Juliette and Avery had remained on good terms meant that they all were able to overlook what had happened and start a fresh. The fact that Gunnar and Zoey would be working with her professionally had also meant that they wanted a quick and happy resolution of the situation. Avery had forgiven them for not telling of the indiscretion sooner, he could see their problem, and he really needed their friendship right now. Scarlett had surprised him the most, as she had been urging him to forgive Juliette from the start.
So, now Gunnar, Zoey, Scarlett and Avery were sitting in The Bluebird. A couple of Zoey's girlfriends from church had also joined them and they were all chatting, getting along. It was nice.
It was Deacon's night at The Bluebird, and everyone was looking forward to see him play as usual. The friends all sat around, having laughs and drinking. Avery was a little distant, but was talking to Zoey's friends out of politeness. He was mid conversation when he suddenly noticed Zoey and Gunnar exchange looks and his friends grew quiet. He turned to see Juliette walk in the door. She was on her own. She spotted Avery at the table and quickly looked away, as Deacon came over to greet her with a friendly hug. She sat at the table at the opposite end of the room to Avery. She avoided his eyes. Avery thought she probably felt a little awkward, especially as he was with lots of people and she was alone.
"I'm just going to go and say hi to Juliette," he said to the others. He quickly walked over to her and she stood up when she saw him and gave him a shy smile.
"Hey you," she said, as he gave her a quick hug.
"Hey, do you want to come over and join us?" he said, tentatively.
She looked over at the table and thought better of it. "Nah, I'm good over here thanks."
He shrugged. "Ok, if you're sure. But you know where we are if you change your mind." He smiled, but he could sense something was wrong.
She put on her best fake smile and told him she was fine and to go back to his friends, and he reluctantly complied.
Deacon's set started up and Juliette got herself a drink. She drank a double, downed it and then ordered another, straight up. The barman looked hesitant, but he gave it to her when she asked again, a little less friendly. When she turned and walked to the table, Avery caught her eye. She smiled again and walked back to the table.
One of Zoey's friends had taken a liking to Avery and was talking incessantly to him. He continued being polite but he really wasn't interested in what she was saying. He actually just wanted to go and talk to Juliette and see what was wrong but he had felt that he wasn't wanted there and that he should back off a bit. He tried to enjoy the night and as the drink flowed he relaxed a bit and got into Deacon's set and chatted to the friendly girl some more. It was his turn to get the drinks, so he went up to the bar. He watched Juliette walk back to her seat, with yet another drink.
"How many of those has she had?" he asked the barman.
"I've lost count, to be honest," he said, as he made a face. "They're doubles too," he added quietly.
Avery looked over at Juliette, who was staring straight ahead to the stage area. Apparently she was transfixed by Deacon's song. Avery got the drinks that he had gone up for and took them to his friends.
"Guys, do you mind if I go and talk to Juliette?" he asked, apologetically.
"No, not at all," Gunnar replied. The others didn't mind either so he excused himself and made his way over to her table.
"Do you mind if I sit with you?" he asked, smiling warmly at her.
"If you want to." He could see straight away she had had way too many. He sat down.
"You having fun over there?" she said, looking down at her hands, nursing her glass.
"Well, if I'm being honest, not really," he said truthfully.
She looked up and looked into his eyes. He could see her beautiful sorrow filled eyes and his heart broke a little more.
"One of those girls seems to be enjoying your company," she said softly, slurring a little as she spoke.
"I was just being polite." He made a face.
She grinned and looked away. His heart melted. He loved it when he made her laugh.
"I need another drink, you want one?" she asked trying to stand up, but it seemed the effect of the alcohol was already taking its toll.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Avery said. Taking the glass from her and sitting her down again.
"You don't need to babysit me anymore. I'm no longer your problem," she said, forlornly.
"I still care about you Juliette, you're gonna make yourself ill. You want that?"
She shook her head. She looked down again, avoiding his gaze.
"Will you let me take you home?" he said, carefully.
She looked up into his eyes. There was so much love between them still, he could feel it, it took his breath away and tied his stomach in knots. Every day he thought it over. Had he made the right decision?
"Okay," she said finally.
He didn't say goodbye to his friends. In that moment, he had forgotten they were even there. Instead he concentrated on getting Juliette to the car and got her in the back seat. He located a bottle of water and got her to drink it and sat in the back with her.
"Bo, can you take us back home please?" He noticed straight away his slip of the tongue. It wasn't his home, however much it felt like it. The truth was, she felt like home, and that's what made everything so hard.
"You don't have to come back, Bo will be around," she said, her eyes closed, with her head back on the seat.
"It's not Bo's job to nurse you in this state," he said, firmly.
"It's not yours either," she grumbled.
"Don't argue. I'm coming home with you, whether you like it or not. This is what friends do. They look out for each other. That's what I'm doing," he said. He was unsure whether he was trying to convince her or himself.
"Fine," she said, sighing.
She kicked off her shoes and slouched further into her seat, causing her skirt to ride up. She was oblivious. Avery couldn't help but look over her slender legs. He missed every part of her so much. He wanted to put his hand on her thigh and give it an affectionate rub, like he had done a thousand times before. But he couldn't. Then he knew he would want more still, and it wasn't fair to either of them. He knew in the back of his mind that he probably shouldn't be taking her back home either. Bo probably would have got it covered. He wondered how many times she had got drunk since they broke up. He looked at her and felt so guilty.
They were soon at her house. Avery thanked Bo and told him he would get her inside. He carried her in, and tossed her shoes down in the hall. She was sleepy, but her hands grasped his neck. He felt her stroke the back of his neck and she sighed. He took her straight to bed and lay her down. She opened her eyes a little and squinted in the half light.
"I feel terrible," she said. He could tell that by looking at her.
"Should I get a bucket?" he said, worried. She nodded.
He fetched a bucket and sat with her, on the edge of the bed.
"Can you help me get ready for bed? I'm so uncomfortable," she said, wriggling around in the bed.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," he said, hesitantly.
"Come on Avery, its nothing you haven't seen before," she said, mild irritation tainting her voice.
"Ok," he said, maybe a little too easily.
He located some bed wear for her and then took a deep breath. She pulled herself up to sitting and he pulled off her top and helped her into her vest top. It was so difficult being this close to her. She grumbled at him for leaving her bra on and he rolled his eyes. He managed to get the lacy red bra off without removing the top completely and felt quite pleased with himself. He must have been smiling because she looked at him through squinted eyes again.
"You've done that before, huh?" she giggled and he couldn't help but grin.
"Only for you," he said, letting out a little chuckle.
"You've certainly never been this shy around me before," she said. She lay back down as he pulled down her skirt, revealing matching lacy red knickers. He quickly pulled on her shorts and she helped pull them up by lifting up her bottom. He then tucked her into bed and kissed her on the forehead.
"Goodnight," he said, wishing he could stay.
"You going?" she said, she sounded sad again.
"Yes, but only to the sofa." He patted her hand and she smiled contentedly as he left the room.