by Jessica Yeh
Avery refused to accept her apology, offering her a warm smile. “Call me sappy, but—”
“Sappy butt,” Kadence interjected with an airy giggle, still having enough energy left in her for one last joke.
“Okay. I’ll let you have this just once because you’re the maid of honor and I know you’ve been busy.”
“Okay, go on. What were you gonna say?”
“That I think I have a pretty good date. And she’s been wonderful so far, despite what she may think.”
“Yeah? Well, mine is better.” Kadence shot forward with a peck to her cheek before dashing off.
***
The reception concluded with cutting the cake, which took a momentary turn, verging on the edge of a food fight when Melody slapped a sheet of fondant onto Jordan’s cheek. The sticky substance got caught in his beard as she cackled madly. When he made to retaliate, Melody ducked, causing the handful of cake to go into his mother’s face instead. It was ridiculous. And it was fantastic. All in all, it was a perfect evening and after the grand exit, Avery lingered behind to help with cleaning up and tearing down.
“Avery? What are you still doing here?”
“Emma waited for Danny.” Avery shrugged.
“Oh, right. You carpooled.” Kadence rubbed at the corner of her eye. “Sorry, I’m a little slow right now.”
“Em’s driving Danny home. I was hoping that—”
“Yeah. I can give you a ride.”
“I wanted to ask if you’d let me drive you home.” Avery chewed her lip nervously. “I’ll take an Uber to my place afterwards.”
Kadence blinked.
“I…umm, I know you’ve had a long day and you’ve been up since before dawn,” Avery explained, her speech increasing in speed. “And I also know that you always want to drive, which I understand your reasons why, but I would just feel better if I knew that–”
“Okay.” She took Avery’s hands in her own. “Thank you.”
Avery leaned in, brushing their noses together before connecting their lips. It had been hovering for the entire span of the wedding. She relaxed, easing into the kiss that both of them had spent the night craving.
“Stay tonight?”
“I’d love to.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
THEY SLEPT SOUNDLY, AT least, until an irritating buzz drew her out of her peaceful slumber. Avery reluctantly withdrew from where her arms had been wrapped around the beautiful woman under the sheets. She propped herself up against the headboard, placing a kiss on Kadence’s temple and a whispered apology before answering.
“Hello?” Her voice was still a bit groggy and Kadence moved beside her, reaching out to link their hands.
“You have twenty minutes to get here,” Melody threatened on the other side of the line.
Avery rubbed her eyes. “What? Why?”
“Twenty minutes. Come alone.” Melody disconnected the call abruptly.
She blinked dumbfounded at her phone.
“Who was that?” Kadence rested her head on Avery’s thigh. Avery’s fingers stroked through her hair.
“Your sister.”
“What did she want?”
“My life, possibly.” Avery was only half joking. “She told me to head to her place.”
“Okay. When does she need you to come?”
“Well, now, actually.” Avery rubbed at the back of her neck. “She said I had twenty minutes or else.”
“Or else what?” Kadence snorted, unfazed by her sister’s threat.
“I don’t know. The or else was implied.”
Kadence chuckled. “You’re both so dramatic,” she teased, propping herself up onto her knees so she was at eye level with the upright blonde. Avery watched her with curiosity until Kadence leaned in, nose brushing against hers.
“Good morning, Avery,” she whispered.
“Good morning, Kadence.” Avery parroted before catching her lips. It was languid and lazy, and Avery didn’t want the moment to end. But Kadence pushed against her shoulder with a light shove.
“You better get going.”
Always the responsible one. “I might not make it back. When you see canned spaghetti, think of me.” She threw an arm on her forehead with an exasperated gasp.
Green eyes rolled at her. “You better come back to me,” Kadence said firmly before ushering her toward the bathroom with another peck to the cheek.
Avery readied within minutes, changed into a spare set of clothes she had kept at Kadence’s place before borrowing Kadence’s car to make it to the newly married woman’s place.
***
Melody managed to open the door right as Avery lifted her fist to knock against the door, resulting in an incredibly awkward situation where her knuckles made contact with the older blonde’s sternum instead. Her eyes widened in alarm.
“Fuck, Melody. I didn’t mean to…” Avery flubbed with cherry red cheeks and burning ears.
“Get inside.” The unaffected woman rolled her eyes, stepping aside for Avery to enter an apartment full of boxes and shipping supplies.
The second the door closed, she was pulled forward as a set of arms wrapped around her neck, squeezing tightly.
Her brain turned fuzzy. Melody Cooper, or rather Melody Hanson, was hugging her. You must still be dreaming, Bennett. She squeezed her eyes shut, but when they reopened, she was still staring at cardboard containers. Definitely not dreaming.
When Melody let go, her eyes returned to their dangerous, sharp form. “If you tell anyone what just happened, I will end you.”
Avery saluted with a nod. “Fully noted.”
“Good,” the woman replied gruffly, stepping to place some distance between them again.
“Melody?”
“What?”
“Umm, what was that for?”
The woman gestured down the hall, at the unwrapped canvas leaning against the wall. Avery hadn’t noticed it when she walked in.
“Oh.”
“And for everything else,” Melody added a moment later. “Kae’s happier than I’ve seen her in years.”
Avery blushed, comprehending the massive weight of the implication. It was a big deal. Not only for Melody to thank her personally, but for everything Kadence and Avery had become. The pink in her cheeks deepened to a scarlet flush.
“I was worried about Kae being the only Cooper left, but the reality of it doesn’t feel as daunting anymore. I think she’s ready for a new chapter in her life and you better make sure it’s a damn good one to read.” Melody tilted her chin to the couch.
Avery shuffled off her shoes, leaving them neatly by the door. She could imagine how Kadence would be laughing at her sudden change in character as she attempted to impress her sister.
“You know, there was a point in time when I hated you.”
“Oh, trust me. I know.” Avery frowned. “But now…?” She nudged Melody in the side.
“Don’t push it.”
Avery held up her hands in defense. “Okay, okay.”
The slightest uptick of Melody’s lips eased her doubts, though she may not have spoken it out loud.
“In all seriousness, I hated me, too, back then,” Avery said levelly. “I was in a bad place and I know that’s no excuse. But I’m glad Kadence gave me a second chance.”
Melody nodded. “She’s a good person. Sometimes too good of a person.”
“I’d attest to that.” Avery chuckled. “Like you said, she’s too good for me.” She recalled their first confrontation along the muddy hiking trail.
Melody’s lips pressed into a thin, restrained smile, but it was genuine enough for Avery to consider it a win.
“Yeah,” Melody agreed with a hum. She looked around the apartment in its scattered state, releasing a sigh. Avery saw the bittersweet feelings swirling in her eyes. She truly was Kadence’s sister, both of them having incredibly expressive eyes that spoke the most telling thoughts when their voices failed to do so out loud.
“I promise.
” Avery held up a hand in pledge. “I promise to take care of her for you. I know I’m not perfect. But I do care about her. I lo—” she caught herself just as Melody’s eyes darted up.
Avery swallowed. “I just mean I’ll do my best not to mess up. I want to treat her right. Kadence deserves it.”
Melody nodded in approval. “She does.”
A pause fell between them, a lull in the conversation. In her eyes, Avery saw Melody turning the next words she wanted to say.
“You, too.”
Avery found herself speechless as the two simple words tumbled from Melody’s lips. Thankfully, Melody appeared unfazed by her having gone quiet and instead shrugged. “You should get back.”
Avery tilted her head in confusion, still not fully recovered from the heartfelt words that Melody so sparingly used.
“You were at her place this morning, weren’t you?”
Avery bit her lip, unable to deny the accusation.
“Get to cuddling with my sister,” Melody said. “I have a hubby to attend to. It’s honeymoon time.”
That did not end as badly as Avery had thought.
***
When she returned to Kadence’s apartment, she placed the keys on the counter, making sure to slip back into the bedroom as quietly as possible. She found Kadence, who had since fallen back asleep, with her face buried under the covers and just her nose and closed eyes peeking from the edge of the blanket.
Avery padded to the bed, wrapping herself around the human heater.
“Mmm, hi,” Kadence mumbled with a lazy smile as she shuffled closer to press into Avery’s chest. “That was fast.”
Avery nodded. “You told me to come to you. And here I am.”
Kadence giggled into her neck as they both settled into one another comfortably, releasing a contented sigh. For a moment, Avery felt her heart about to burst, loving the feeling of Kadence next to her. Loving Kadence next to her.
She reached out to trace her thumb along the bottom of Kadence’s pouty bottom lip.
“What are you doing?” Kadence whispered, eyes still closed.
“Nothing.” She trailed back the other direction, applying the slightest bit of weight from her hand, causing her lips to follow her movements. “Go to sleep.”
Kadence parted her lips, catching Avery’s thumb, nibbling it playfully before releasing it with a smile. Green eyes exploded in brilliant forest hues of magnificent trees and grassy meadows.
“Can I paint you?” Avery found herself blurting as she drowned in the ethereal woman by her side. Kadence grinned, rolling onto her side to prop herself on her elbow, lips hovering as she waited for Avery to close the distance.
After admittedly too much procrastinating (kissing) they finally set up a tarp and Avery helped Kadence position herself into a comfortable, yet artistic pose. Avery gazed at the woman, studying her form. Everything from the joint of her wrist to the angle of her jawline all the way up to the sparkle in her emerald eyes. Everything about Kadence was perfect.
Chapter Twenty-nine
KADENCE LOVED WATCHING AVERY work, brows stitched as she concentrated, paint-stained T-shirt hanging from her shoulders, and pallet in hand. She was so enraptured in her element, that she didn’t even notice her own stomach grumbling. But Kadence heard it loud and clear amongst their comfortable silence.
“Do you wanna take a break and eat something?”
No response. An absorbed Avery’s tongue poked between her lips as she continued with broad brush strokes and a steady hand. Her amber eyes tracked the lines she was creating.
“Avery?” Kadence tried again, attempting to lure the concentrating blonde to the present so she could attend to her stomach’s needs. “You want some lunch?”
Silence again. She chuckled. Maybe a pet name.
“Want me to make you canned spaghetti, babe?”
Still nothing. She shook her head, walking to Avery whose eyes were glued to the canvas. She placed a hand on Avery’s shoulder and the artist jolted, pallet clattering onto the ground, skirting down her lap in the process. The brush went flying. Kadence fought off laughter as Avery flailed.
“Fuck!”
“Sorry.” Kadence hid a giggle behind her hand, squatting to pick up the fallen brush and pallet, placing them on the table to Avery’s side. “I was just trying to get your attention. You were in the zone.”
“You scared the shit outta me.”
“Oh, really?” Kadence leaned to gaze around at Avery’s backside. “Let’s see it then.”
“What?” A wrinkle formed between Avery’s brows.
“The shit I scared out of you.” Kadence grinned.
Avery groaned. “You’re disgusting, Cooper.”
“Thank you.” Kadence laughed, puffing out her chest with pride.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Fine, I don’t. But you still made me look like an idiot.” Avery crossed her arms, wiping at the acrylic residue.
“Yeah?” Kadence grabbed the tattered cloth to her side, assisting the artist in cleaning up the mess streaked across her legs. “Who do you have to impress?”
“Oh, you know…” Avery mused with a sly grin. “Just some girl that I’m friends with.”
“Just friends, hmm?” Kadence took a step closer.
“Well, we do kiss sometimes.” Avery leaned in.
“And how’s that working for you?”
“Good.” Avery’s mouth was millimeters away. Kadence could feel the breath from her lips intermingling with her own.
“Just good?”
Avery pulled back. “What do you mean?”
Realizing the misconstrued implication, she clarified. “Why not make it more?” Emerald eyes dropped to rose petal lips.
“Kadence?”
“Don’t you wanna be more than friends?” Kadence couldn’t believe she was doing this. Here. Now. So spontaneously and wildly. She never would have thought she would ever get to this point again. And definitely not without a plan or a grand gesture to accompany it. But this was Avery. And everything with Avery was wild, spontaneous, and full of color. There’s no turning back now. “Girlfriends, Avery.”
“Are you…?” A grin spread across Avery’s features. It only served to make her even more endearing. “Kadence Cooper, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?” she inquired with a light-hearted arrogance.
“I might be.” Kadence stole Avery’s hat off her head and placed it on her own, snapback spun backwards.
Avery laughed, kissing her.
Finally. “So, is that a yes?” Kadence smiled when they broke apart. “Are you my girlfriend now?”
A playful glimmer flashed behind amber eyes before she responded with a mischievous grin. “I might be.”
Kadence rolled her eyes before grabbing Avery’s collar and pulling her to her lips, finding it too difficult to properly kiss her girlfriend because neither of them could stop smiling. If someone were to ask if she was in love with Avery Bennett, she would have one response. She might be.
***
Kadence left the yoga studio a few days later and was surprised to find a woman with damp golden curls waiting outside her apartment. “Avery?” She squinted into the pouring rain at her soggy girlfriend. “What are you doing outside? Are you trying to catch a cold?” She unlocked the door, ushering Avery inside.
“No. But I wouldn’t mind catching something else.” She snaked her hands around Kadence’s waist, pulling her close.
It was a bit awkward with her bag slung on her shoulder, but being in Avery’s hold felt safe, and Kadence was not about to deprive herself of that. Even if it meant that the water from Avery’s soaked attire was seeping into her own.
“Oh, yeah?” Kadence bit her lip lustfully as she concentrated her attention on Avery’s amber eyes, and not her transparent T-shirt. “So, then what are you trying to catch?”
“Your eye.”
Kadence chuckled unexpected at the response, unra
veling herself as she set her things down, motioning for Avery to follow. They moved down the hall where Kadence retrieved two towels from the closet, wrapping one around Avery’s soaking shoulders before cloaking herself.
Avery toweled off her hair as Kadence gestured for her to remove her wet clothing and set them in the hamper. She did the same as well until they were standing in nothing but their undergarments. They crawled under the sheets to warm themselves, tangling their legs and hooking their ankles.
“Okay. You’ve got my eye,” Kadence said, recalling their previous conversation. “What next?”
“Well.” Avery paused. “I was thinking…maybe I could take you out on a real date?”
“We could make it official?” She scooted closer. “Kiss? We could go dancing? Or kiss? Or maybe if you want, we could stay in watch a movie and I’ll cook? Kiss a little?” She grinned.
“Or if that’s not to your fancy, we could paint something together. I don’t know. Did I mention kissing as an option? Because that’s definitely a possibility.” Avery was now close enough to brush her nose against Kadence’s.
Kadence chuckled, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “You’re such a dork. I can’t believe that’s how you got girls to fall for you.” She rolled her eyes, but indulged Avery’s pursed lips, peppering feather-light kisses on them.
“To be fair they didn’t fall for me.” Avery shrugged, rolling onto her elbows so she was lying with her chest on Kadence’s, the comforting weight blanketing her with warmth. “They just…fell into bed with me.”
Kadence snorted. “Fell into bed with you.” She rolled her eyes as she raised a brow incredulously between their almost naked bodies.
Avery laughed. “Okay. I see your point.”
Kadence loved the way her husky breath beat against her skin. “For the record, I fell in both ways.”
“Both ways?” Avery asked teasingly. “You’re bi now. I’ll have to update my records.”
Kadence poked her side in retaliation. Avery squeaked, squirming on top of her. Kadence took advantage of the moment, quickly reversing their positions.