AVERY SUTTON.

she knew he didn't date, and she understood why. never in a million years would she be able to imagine the grief and heartache he'd had to endure. but that didn't mean avery didn't still worry about him or want to encourage him to let loose a little more. " okay, chill, lee. who said anything about dating? taking it from zero to 50 million at the mere prospect of interest. honestly, i think that might be a new record for you. " she teased, playfully nudging his shoulder. she always did her best to gently encourage leon to step outside of his comfort zone, but she respected his boundaries and knew when to stop pushing. " hmm, you think? " avery glanced back over at the person before giving an easy shrug. " i mean, i did wear the jeans that make my ass look great, so it's entirely possible. " another grin spread across her features as she raised her brows, taking another swig from her beer.

" hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is indeed a man. classic man . . . just being disappointing. " she teased with a grin, nose crinkling as she took a swig from the sweaty beer bottle in her hand. " oh no, it's definitely you he's checking out. it makes sense. you're hot as fuck. but don't worry, i'm a really good bodyguard. what i lack in height, i make up for in stealth and general badassery. " though she was still pretty new to boxing and self-defense classes, she'd picked up a few moves that could come in handy if they ever needed them.

"Oh gosh." Turning her head to see who Avery was talking about, she couldn't help but roll her eyes as she tossed more fries into her mouth. "Charlie's just mad I kissed Alex in the eighth grade instead of him. Still trying to get in my pants. He's harmless," she says, shaking her head. He was in Colorado for one year with his family's military placement and apparently reappeared out of the blue a few days ago. "At this rate, I'm just gonna be the fun unmarried aunt who gets to return the kid after a day or two. He's all yours, though."

that answer didn't completely satisfy her. in fact, it shifted her playful demeanor almost instantly, shooting a glare charlie's way. " fair warning, if he tries anything with me around, there's no promise i won't fucking knee him in the nuts. he needs to get a fucking life. " it was funny how fiercely protective avery was when it came to other women. but when it came to extending that same care to herself, she often dropped the ball. " you and me both. honestly, it doesn't sound all that bad. should we cheers to being the fun, unmarried aunts? " though at the next comment, the photojournalist couldn't help but snort. " i don't fucking want him. "

“I have a perfect display that I think you’d like.” She said and showed you over to the newest arrangements she had just made. “What about this one.”? She asked with a nod as she pointed to that one before looking over at you and waited for your response.

an elated expression immediately fell onto her features as bright hues took in the sight of the flowers that genevive recommended, " you've done it once again, gen. a fucking . . . FLOWER magician. "

seeing romeo had found avery and not just padded off without direction made all of kurt's worries turn to gratitude. it made him so happy in fact, he knew he wouldn't be able to contain his smile into anything nonchalant and cool. "i still can't accept y'all might be in kahoots, but it gets harder and harder every time you're around to deny it," kurt shook his head, though his amusement chimed through his tone. "anyway, how do you know i didn't send him off to go fetch you? maybe i do got some dinner for you and wanted to make sure you'd come. sometimes i don't think my texts go through," kurt spoke with a knowing look, a sly grin. though he liked to tease her for her here and not here way of life, it was never his way of asking for more of her.

though she'd never admit this out loud, she was honestly pretty grateful that romeo and kurt had found her when they did. the thoughts in her head had gotten pretty loud, and avery came to the lake to escape from them. she had trouble reaching out and asking for help when things got dark. her instinct was always to isolate, to disappear until the storm eventually passed. but the happiness that settled into her at the sight of kurt, his fishing rod, and a delighted romeo who couldn't stop licking her face might've just been the distraction she needed. whenever she spent time with kurt, she caught little glimpses of a normal life. she felt normal rather than like the deeply fucked up and traumatized person she actually was. " it's only because i feed him treats when you're not looking. " she chirped with a grin, glancing back at the dog and slipping into a baby voice. " i bribed you for your love, didn't i, rome? "

sebastian's brow rises quizzically, blue eyes glued to avery almost challengingly in response. in the past few years ever since him and avery have been back in contact after her sudden departure all those moons ago— the chef often felt like he was walking on eggshells. from those long-distance calls and congratulatory texts to the few times the two had seen eschother face to face; there was always a layer of awkwardness, fear of the unknown and ghosts of what could have been lingering with every interaction alas, hearing her playful tone made the chef grin lightly, the tension on his shoulders lightly appeasing. "you want to be my wingman? pretty sure we'd be breaking some unspoken rule there ave" a pause as he studied the other, amusement visible on his features. "but i'll bite. how would you pitch me? and how do we know it's not you the one that's being checked out?"

no. the last thing she wanted to be was sebastian's wingman. if anything, it was taking every ounce of willpower not to flip out on the person who was checking out her sebastian. but that was just the problem, wasn't it? he wasn't her sebastian anymore. she'd fucked that up a long time ago, and now they were nothing more than what seemed to be friendly acquaintances. so avery was doing her best to turn over a new leaf. this is what mature, grown adults did, right? friends. they could be just friends. but then he was grinning at her with that stupid, pretty dimpled smile of his, and how quickly she wanted to throw that whole just friends sentiment out the window. she hated how that damn smile still had the effect of making her stomach do somersaults. she leaned in, limiting the distance between them in a way that felt a little dangerous. " and when has breaking the rules ever deterred me, bash. hmm? "

he waits a beat, tries not to be too obvious and then takes a peek, chuckles a little. " don't you think he's a little young for me, though? " danny turns back to avery. he toys with the coaster under his drink—a disgusting alcohol-free beer. no idea what possessed him to try the new flavor but he's still drinking it so his standards must be dangerously low tonight. " i know i look like i'm knees deep in a mid-life crisis but i don't think it's that bad, " he jokes. " we need to find me someone a lot more age appropriate. so bodyguard it is, right? "

eyes couldn't help but roll, knowing this wasn't their first time having this conversation. avery had a tendency to be a bad influence at times and was always trying to meddle, having self-appointed herself as danny's wing woman a while ago. " oh come on, danny. he's not that young. he's like my age. early thirties, at least. a full-grown man who is basically eye fucking you right now. " she teased with a grin, playfully nudging her shoulder against her friend's. " but if you find it creepy and invasive, just say the word and i'll kick his ass. and you don't look like you're knees-deep in a midlife crisis. you look hot. and apparently i'm not the only one who thinks that. "

With his hands wrapped around the glass of water he had been working his way through, James raised his eyebrows at Avery's words. "Shit- bodyguard for sure." Came his instant reply with a laugh, though it didn't stop him from quickly turning in their direction to give a quick look. Curiosity getting the best of him. Dating and flirting were the last two things on his mind these days but it didn't stop him from looking. "And besides, maybe they're checking you out." He gave her a pointed look, grinning as he tilted his head to the side some. "If that's the case, which one am I being for you?"

it was funny how avery could look at james and be reminded of a time when they were innocent and not so fucked up. it felt like a lifetime ago. now, here they both stood side by side, each carrying their own fair share of PTSD. james from the things he'd seen and had to do, and avery from having to document the aftermath of some of those very things. she doubted either of them imagined this was where they'd end up back when they used to sit on the swing set at her family's ranch, eating popsicles and fighting imaginary monsters. a grin spread across her features when he answered with bodyguard. " see? i knew you were going to say that. " mainly because she knew him. her face scrunched up the moment he mentioned they could be looking at her before she gasped dramatically, reaching out to grip his arms. " oh my god, james! what if they want a threesome?!! this could be it. the moment we've been waiting for. " she teased, flirtatious banter simply a part of who avery was. most of the time, it was harmless. " hmm. probably wingman. "

"well of course she is." lew’s face widens into a broad, indulgent smile as he leans forward, like an adult entertaining a child’s astonishing discovery about the colour of sky. this is extraordinarily sporting of her, what a woman. "would you like to play a thoroughly unhinged ex-girlfriend, then? make a scene, do go crazy, love, really sell it. say i've ruined you for all men." he tilts his head, just a bit. "this cheek pinks up better when slapped."

the amusement only furthered across her features, always happy when she had someone capable of keeping up with her antics. avery bored easily, so whenever she met someone who wanted to have fun, well, she was always satisfied. the photojournalist matched his lean with one of her own, playful hues remaining locked onto his. " well, depends. are we trying to scare her off or keep her interested? because if i go full one hundred, she might question your sanity for putting up with . . . all this. " she said with a shake of her head, hands gesturing toward her entire being while a grin remained ever present.

it was another day at the flower shop for genevive and she was excited to see all the wonderful arrangements she was about to make for everyone in the small town of bear creek. She placed the first one in the window before hearing the door open. “hello, welcome.” Is there anything I can help you with today.”? She asked with a smile as she went over to her note pad to begin writing.

a smile graced her lips as bright hues settled onto the familiar face of genevive, seeing as avery was a frequent customer. she often bought flowers that were needed for various portrait shoots. " you sure you aren't sick of me yet? " the femme said with a chuckle, arms crossing over her chest as eyes scanned the selections, " ah. to be honest, i'm not sure what i want yet. any current favorites your eye can't stop wandering to? "

who: open when: late afternoon / early evening where: bear creek lake (aspen glen)

it wasn't often you'd find avery without a camera in hand, and this afternoon was no different. to say that she had an unhealthy attachment to her craft would be an understatement. it was an extension of her, and even on the days when she wasn't working, the photojournalist was incapable of sitting still for too long. the lake was her happy place. it had been since she was a kid, desperate for an escape. and now it was where she sought solace when she couldn't escape the invasive thoughts and memories that flitted through her unfiltered mind. the one place she couldn't seem to truly escape from. though god knows she's spent the last fifteen years trying. a picturesque fog was settling over the horizon, swallowing a distant boat that floated peacefully across the water, and it immediately caught avery's focus. bringing the viewfinder up to her eye, she waited patiently for the right light to peek through the clouds. after ten long seconds, the shutter clicked. a satisfied grin spread across her lips, growing even wider when she was suddenly greeted by a familiar dog. meaning that kurt was somewhere nearby. she swung her camera over her shoulder and bent down to give romeo the attention he was seeking. " sorry, kurt. it's just as i've been telling you. romeo loves me more, and it seems as though my sneakiness is rubbing off on him. " she teased with the crinkle of her nose, scratching behind the dog's ears. " thatta boy, rome. keep being a lil sneek. don't listen to daddy. " again, it was nothing but playful. " any luck? you treating me to a pescetarian feast? "