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“If you were near your phone, you would see I am showing you the running shorts I’m in right now, and I’m not going to change.” Stella’s response was muffled since the phone had fallen. “Are you still there? Everything’s dark.”
“Sorry, yes, I’m here.” Avery fixed the device before going back to work on her place.
“I’m going to hang up. See you in one to three hours, depending on traffic.” Stella hung up in the middle of Avery’s laughter.
“What are you doing tonight?”
Avery smiled as Stella jumped into the conversation without the pleasantries when she answered the phone. “I’m hoping to see my super-hot girlfriend,” she responded, her words echoing in the stairway as she walked up to the apartment after grabbing some junk food from the convenience store on the corner of the street.
They had been talking nonstop for four days. Stella had fit comfortably in her apartment a few days prior, which took away some of Avery’s anxiety. They still hadn’t taken their relationship further than heavy make-out sessions. It was nice setting a foundation, one Avery hoped could weather any earthquake.
She was learning so much about Stella and fell further every day. They talked about everything from their first childhood pet—a turtle for Stella and a goldfish for Avery—to their hopes and dreams as little kids and how they’d changed to today. Stella’s hadn’t wavered at all, which wasn’t surprising.
“Hello, earth to Avery?” the soft Southern voice teased from the phone. Her voice broke up a little in the middle from a spotty connection.
“Sorry, babe. What’s up?” The other end got quiet. Avery pulled the phone from her ear to check if the call had dropped. “Hey, you still there?” Her breathing was deeper when she finally made it to her floor.
Stella cleared her throat. “Yes, sorry, I just really liked hearing you call me babe. I was replaying it with your sexy Minnesota lilt and just zoned out there for a second.”
Laughing, Avery replied, “My sexy accent? You’re the one with that Southern drawl that weakens knees. I’m sure you’ll have people clamoring to get to know you by the night's end. You’ll have a shiny new fan site watching your every movement.” She rambled on about the various ways Stella’s life would change. The bag rustled as she maneuvered it to her other hand so she could get the keys to unlock her front door. It was times like right now she wished she had the super sleek thumbprint lock.
“Quinn had a respectable following with the commercials and basketball career, but this will probably catapult her even higher. Make no mistake, that girl is a star,” Stella teased. There were voices in the background, but Avery couldn’t determine what they were saying.
“Stop flirting and ask her already!” Avery assumed that it was Amy yelling.
“Shut it, I’m getting to it. Some people like a slow buildup,” Stella called back but didn’t move the phone far enough because the sound warbled in her cheap speakers.
“You better just rip the Band-Aid off. Are you calling to tell me now that the show is airing, you’ll be a big star and you’re dumping me for someone better?” Avery thought her voice held enough of a teasing tone, but Stella gasped. She shouldered open the door and stepped inside her apartment.
“No! I was going to see if you wanted to watch the first episode tonight with Quinn, Amy, Ethan, and his girlfriend Keisha.”
“Relax, I was joking.” Avery glanced at the bags in her hands. “I was going to watch it on my computer.” She wasn’t sure where the reluctance came from. Maybe it was seeing her own face on TV or anxiety about how the show would portray her. Part of her wanted to watch the episode alone in the dark.
“You know you can do that here? Well, it will be on a large TV instead of a computer. Shit, our faces will be huge. Umm, I now understand the reluctance. Please come. I need the support and feel you could use some as well.”
“Get your ass over here, Avery Greene!” Quinn hollered into the phone.
“Best not make her mad,” Ethan chimed in.
“Okay, you wore me down. Can I bring anything?” Avery huffed, but she was grinning.
“Just your cute butt—and I wouldn’t say no to whatever junk food you bought,” Stella added.
“How do you know I bought junk food?” Avery glanced down at the bag. The bright orange bag of chips peeked out over the top.
“I know you,” Stella answered like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
“I guess you do. Be there when I can. Keep my seat warm,” she said, lowering her voice.
“And they’re back to flirting.” Avery could hear Amy’s eyes roll through the phone.
For most of her life, Avery had been alone. She’d dealt with things at a young age, helping her mom through the worst of it before having to make hard decisions on what to do. The lighthearted banter and friendly teasing from Stella’s friends gave Avery's stale life a breath of fresh air.
The show had been a means to an end. Who knew it would also be the beginning of something precious?
Avery’s eyes widened when Stella grabbed the collar of her shirt, twirling her so her back hit the closet door near the entrance. Her mouth descended onto Avery’s with hunger. Yes, there were people there, but Stella didn’t care. It had been twenty-four hours since they kissed, and that was far too long to go without feeling Avery’s soft lips.
Stella felt Avery’s fingers tighten around her waist as she brought her closer, subtly grinding against her.
