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“Surprise!”
Avery jumped in front of Stella, blocking her from the threat inside Stella’s house. She quickly realized it wasn’t a threat at all.
“Damn, you all gave me a heart attack.” Avery held her chest, beaming at Quinn, Amy, Keisha, Ethan, Elizabeth, and Riley. Quinn was holding up an iPad that had Martin’s beaming face on the screen.
“What’s all this for?” Avery turned behind her to look at Stella, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I wanted to have a little celebration for passing your test.” Stella gently pushed her towards the waiting group.
“We’ve got a cake and everything,” Elizabeth said, pointing to a monstrosity on the table.
“That’s not a cake, that’s a car.” Avery walked towards the towering brick that sported the words Congratulations, grad, now get to work along with some balloons. Reading the phrase, Avery laughed, pulling Stella into her side. “Thank you, I love it.” She kissed her temple, enjoying the moment of accomplishment while surrounded by her friends.
By the end of the party, Avery’s stomach hurt. She hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. As she hugged each of her friends goodbye, she felt warmth spread in her chest. For most of her life, she’d been alone, and with the echoes of laughter still ringing in her ear, she realized it wasn’t the case anymore.
“I’m going to have to move soon.”
Holding her heart to try to keep it from jumping out of her chest, Stella hoped Avery wasn’t moving out of state. It had been a low-key worry with the job maybe forcing her to reside in Washington. But she also didn’t want to crush her dreams.
“Why?” Stella finally asked.
“The job requires an office since I’ll be working with sensitive data. Luckily, I get a three-month grace period to figure it out since I start tomorrow. Plus, the bonus I’m getting right away will help with the down payment of rent that’s needed nowadays. I’m surprised renters don’t require the sacrifice of our firstborns,” Avery said as Stella felt strong fingers start working the muscles in her tense shoulders. “What are you thinking? Why the panicked look?”
Stella felt the brush of Avery’s lips against her neck. Words fell from her mind, only able to focus on the path trailing towards her ear.
“Stella, come on. I want to know why you looked so panicked.” Avery nipped at the pulse point in her neck, most likely leaving a mark. Stella didn’t hate the move, not at all.
“I was worried you’d have to move out of state,” she finally admitted when Avery withheld caresses. Saying it out loud sounded hollow to her ears. She hated the slippery foundation they seemed to be on right now. They were diving into the unknown, and the thought of losing Avery to the future was nearly incomprehensible.
“First, I wouldn’t make those decisions without thoroughly discussing things with you. I’m talking about levels of detail that would fill a notebook. There is no way you wouldn’t know at least six months before something major happened. That’s an Avery Greene guarantee.” Avery playfully poked her side.
“You’re right. I think I just let some self-doubt creep in.” Stella turned in her seat, pulling Avery onto her lap. “I’m not letting you go very easily. Seattle can suck it. You belong here.”
“There is nowhere I’d rather be.” Avery wrapped her arms around Stella’s neck. Tingles flew along Stella’s skin as she gently massaged her scalp. “Have you heard back from the producers of that show yet?”
“I did, just now. You’re looking at the newest guest host of late-night TV. ALLGAD is also starting a new survival show that I might be able to squeeze in before the next season of For Love or Money starts up. I think I’m in the middle of my big break. This is my chance.”
“You’re a star.” Avery pulled at her ear. “I wish we could go out to celebrate. Having you gone for months on end in that house for the new season will be the biggest bummer.” Avery’s shoulders fell.
“That reminds me, I talked with Neil yesterday, and they think I’ll just come on-site for some of the big moments and elimination rounds, but I won’t have to stay twenty-four-seven.”
Avery leaned back. “Why?”
Pulling her in for a hug, she responded, “I think they want to save some money. Both in space because they’re going for a smaller house, and if I’m only there part-time, they won't have to pay me as much. Since I don’t need the paycheck, and I’d rather do a few hours here and there, everyone wins.”
“That’s a huge relief. Can’t have you falling in love again with the next set of contestants.” Avery snuggled her head into her chest.
She loved how cuddly Avery was. “You have nothing to worry about,” Stella mumbled into Avery’s hair.
Enormous feelings were ready to burst out. When she was about to express them, Stella’s phone rang, halting any declarations for another time.
“What do you mean you can’t come out?” Amy’s voice sounded tinny over the phone.
Stella was walking a path in her living room. Avery had started her new job today, and she was dying to know how it went. However, she still had to wait—she pulled the phone from her ear as Amy continued talking—three hours.
“I don’t want to. That should be a good enough reason.” Stella pouted. Just a day without Avery was testing her patience.
She walked by one of her guest rooms that doubled up as an office while Amy spouted off more reasons why she thought they all needed to go out tonight. Stopping at the entrance, she pictured Avery sitting at the desk, working away at her computer job. Whatever it was she was doing now. Coding or some such for a startup medical device company. She’d explained it after a half bottle of wine. Stella’s memory was a bit fuzzy, but she remembered being impressed.
