Chapter 33 Avery
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Avery
I was up before the sun and in my studio.
I’d never felt this inspired before. But with all of the secret kisses and nights together with Levi and Mateo, my muse was running at full battery.
Between all the wild thoughts about those two, though, were cracks of worry in the foundation. I was all too aware of the fact that I’d missed family dinner last night and never received a text from my mother. All too aware that I hadn’t heard a single thing from her since our blowout.
That weighed heavily on me, like it was my fault. It wasn’t, and I knew that, but it still felt like it.
Then there was Levi.
Two more weeks.
We had two more weeks with him before he had to go back to Minnesota. A little ball of dread was forming between my shoulders.
I didn’t want him to go, but I’d never be the person to ask him to stay.
His career was there. His life was there.
I couldn’t ask him to change it all to be with me and Mateo.
That would be selfish. And as someone who had walked away from all my big dreams of traveling the world and being that sort of artist, I’d never do that to someone I lov—liked.
I leaned back on my stool and stared at the canvas. The background was coming together, but the figures at the center were still missing. Cacti bloomed around them, the sunset dripping with magentas, oranges, and golden hues.
This was going to be one of those pieces. One that stuck with me. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to let it go.
So who was going to go in the middle?
An idea started to scratch at the corners of my brain, but was interrupted.
Footsteps outside my studio room had my head turning, but there were only two people it could possibly be—really only one, given how early it was.
Evie’s head poked into the doorway, but her eyes were covered, because she knew this room was off-limits to everyone.
“Morning,” I chuckled.
“Morning. Come join me for coffee?”
I was already springing up from my stool. “Yep.” I didn’t bother to take off the apron I wore while painting. It was a beige canvas fabric once upon a time, but now it was covered in bright colors. I had a habit of wiping my brush off on it when I was deep into a project.
I followed Evie out of the room and let the door shut behind me. She uncovered her eyes and smiled, pure sunshine in a pretty dress.
“Hey,” I said, giving her a hug. I noticed flour on her nose and wiped it away before releasing her. “How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know,” she said. “Working way too early, per usual.”
“But you’re closed on Mondays,” I said. “I’m surprised you’re here.”
“I’m prepping for something later this week. And I wanted to catch up. You’ve been so busy with Mateo and Levi, I feel like I’ve barely seen you.”
She had a point. “Sorry about that,” I said. “It’s been a wild time. I’d love to catch up.”
We left my gallery and crossed the empty street to her bakery.
Evie unlocked the door. “I think June will come over too. She’s starting to get ready for mum season, so I saw her lights on early too.”
“Oh god.”
Mum season in Texas was a big deal. Every September, our little town celebrated the annoying, but cherished, game known as football by creating corsages quite literally the size of Texas.
Given that June owned her own flower shop, mum season was one of the biggest events of the year for her—even more than Valentine’s Day in a lot of ways, which was saying something.
“At least she’s prepping early this year,” I said.
“She needs to. Homecoming will be big this year. And you already know all the boy moms are gonna be up her ass for the best mum they can get.”
“They terrify me,” I said as we stepped through her shop’s door.
“Me too. Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” We rounded the bar and I hopped up, seating myself on the counter as she fixed each of us a cup. “What’s on your mind?”
She wrinkled her nose. “That easy to tell?”
“Sure is.”
She finished making my cup and handed it to me. I took a sip, humming as she finished hers too and leaned against the counter across from me. Her expression wavered.
“When are you telling Dallas and Austin about Levi and Mateo?” she asked.
Yikes. My stomach did a slow flip. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if we should. Levi leaves in two weeks.”
“Fuck. I thought he was staying.”
I shook my head as we took a sip of our lifelines. “He hasn’t said otherwise. I don’t know. I hope he stays. I want him to stay. Mateo does too. The three of us are just . . . not talking about it.”
In fact, it was almost a taboo topic at this point. We were exploring the physical side of our relationship together, and occasionally comments about the future would make it through. Things like I wish we could stay like this forever or It would be fun to wake up next to each other every morning.
It was hard not to imagine a future where both of them were in it. When we were together, the three of us just clicked. There were things about each of us that complimented the other.
Like how Levi was quiet when he woke up. He needed a full hour to himself before he said much. He looked cute and grumpy at the same time, and Mateo and I loved it.
Mateo was chatty. And I was somewhere between. But that meant I could be quiet with Levi or I could be talkative with Mateo.
I didn’t like cooking. Levi’s idea of cooking was attempting to bake high-protein muffins. Between the three of us, Mateo was by far the best at it, and he was already talking about meal prepping. Meal prepping for the three of us like we were some married trio that had been together for a decade.
“Maybe he’ll stay,” Evie said softly. “I’ve got to say, I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time. You’ve got a glow again. And I think Austin and Dallas are noticing. Dallas dropped by the other day and asked me if you were seeing anyone.”
My mouth dropped. “What?”
“Yeah. I lied to him of course, so you’re welcome. I’m always keeping all of y’all’s secrets like I’m a human confessional.” Evie sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I just think they should know why you’re happy.”
“And you know why that would cause issues,” I said.
“I just want to enjoy my time with Levi and Mateo. I don’t want my brothers getting involved.
Ever since Kevin, they constantly overstep.
But because that guy was their friend, I just know they would react poorly to Mateo and Levi.
Not even just one of their friends, but two.
And I don’t think Mateo or Levi deserve that. ”
“They knew that going in, though, sweetheart. And keeping secrets from family is never a good idea.”
I made a sour face. “I think more secrets might be a good thing.”
Evie shook her head, clearly disagreeing. But that was the thing about our friendship. Sometimes we disagreed with one other, but at the end of the day, I knew she’d still support me.
“Maybe after Levi leaves,” I said. “We can tell them. And at least he’ll escape whatever stupid shit my brothers will pull.”
“Or maybe they’ll be happy for you,” Evie said. “June and I are thrilled. A little jealous, maybe, but thrilled.”
I grinned and took another sip of coffee. “I’m honestly so in—” I cut myself off, shocked by the words that had almost spilled out.
Her brows shot all the way up. “What was that, Avery Anne Whynot?”
“Oh god, not the full name.”
“Yes, the full name. What was the end of that sentence?”
I covered my face, peeking at her through spread fingers. “I’m in love. I’m so in love. It’s ridiculous and it makes no sense and I know my heart is going to get stomped on, but I’m so in love with both of them.”
“Oh my god, you’ve lost it.” She shook her head at me, but she was beaming. “June owes me ten bucks, by the way. Speak of the devil.”
The door to the bakery chimed and I turned around right as June walked in. She raised a brow the moment she saw us.
“You owe me money,” Evie said triumphantly.
“It’s been like three weeks!” June exclaimed.
“I told you!” Evie announced. “Told you! I fucking called it.”
“Y’all are bitches,” I mumbled, chuckling as Evie fixed up another cup of coffee for our best friend.
June gave me a side hug, resting her head on my shoulder before joining us in our little coffee circle. “Don’t get us wrong, we’re happy for you. You seem happy, too. I’m just a little worried.”
“I’m just going to soak up every moment I can,” I said. “That’s all I’m focusing on right now. That, and the fact that we have kinky times planned this week and I’m excited.”
“What kind of kinky times?” Evie asked. “I want to know everything.”
“No details left behind,” June said. “And while we chat, the two of you can come over to my shop and help me organize my shipment of ribbons by color and size.”
“Damn. I knew we were gonna end up doing this,” I laughed.
“Mum season prep is the most serious time of the year.” June drained half of her cup, which made me wonder how much caffeine she’d already had today. “Let’s go, girls.”
Evie and I groaned, but begrudgingly joined her. There was no getting out of mum season, no matter who you were. The closer we got to September, even a couple months out, the more I’d be cursing all of football culture in Texas.
The sunrise was starting to light up our little town. We walked down the sidewalk together until we got to June’s flower shop. The moment we stepped through the back door, we were met with stacks of a billion boxes.
“June,” Evie said with wide eyes. “This is too much.”
“This isn’t half of it.” She grimaced as she leaned against one of the boxes. “Avery, tell us about your mind-blowing sex life. I’ll grab the box cutters so we can open these bad boys up.”
I rolled my shoulders and cracked my knuckles. “You got me for an hour, then I have to go run my own business.”
“Same,” Evie said. “Avery, start talking.”