Chapter 4.
Juliette's meeting had finished and she checked her phone as she left the room. Avery had text her about 20 minutes before.
I'm waiting in the car.
She text him back.
I'm on my way out now.
She made her way to the car. She could just make out the back of his head sitting in the driver's seat. As she joined him in the car she asked "So what did Rayna want with you?"
He hesitated. "Well…as I am no longer needed for Scarlett's album, she asked me if I would consider producing yours. And any other artist she might take on," he held his breath.
"That's great!" said Juliette, genuinely pleased for him. "Did you accept?"
"No, I haven't yet. I'm not sure about it," he said, giving her a sideways glance.
"Why?" she said, her voice tinged with slight annoyance.
"Come on, think about it. Do we really want to work together? I mean things are complicated enough as it is between us." He said, wishing he could have put that better, but it was too late.
"Well, I could find another producer to work with." She said sulkily. "Or if you want to forget the whole friendship thing then that's fine. I don't want to get in the way of your career. And I certainly don't want to be a burden."
"I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't mean it like that." He took a deep breath.
"Listen, you know how important it is to me that I am here for you. So, I was just thinking that it might be too much for us to be working together as well. Y'know, I don't know about you, but it's hard isn't it? We are still finding our feet with our new…" he searched for the word "…dynamic."
She looked up at him again, this time, her look had softened. "Sorry. I get what you are saying." She looked out of the window glumly. "I just kind of like the idea of working with you, that's all. There's no one else I trust more than you, with my music. Plus, I think you're amazingly talented."
Now it was his turn to gaze out of the window. He couldn't help the fierce glow of pride that he felt when she spoke about him like that. He was so touched that she thought so highly of him.
"Thanks, Juliette. That means so much coming from you." They looked at each other and each gave an awkward smile, as they both looked away again.
"I tell you what, how about I think about it for a while. First things first, we need to get some lunch and get you to your first therapy session," he said, taking charge.
They stopped off for a quick bite to eat from a restaurant round the corner from the private clinic that she was attending for her therapy. She wasn't her usual chatty self, but Avery didn't mind. They were both just as happy sitting in each other's presence. They had never had problems with awkward silences. Juliette flicked through her phone and would say the odd word now and again and Avery read the newspaper, and would answer her. They smiled at each other, Avery made a joke. It was comfortable. Juliette was quiet because she was about to take one of the biggest steps forward in her life. Avery understood that she just needed to be with him and mentally prepare herself. He brought a sense of calm to her that no one else could. He reached forward and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Are you ready? It's time." He said, with a small, understanding smile.