OURS

𝗍𝖾𝗇

I wish I was there with the girls right now.

Everything here at the office was slow as ever, but I couldn't leave for another hour. Distracting myself with paperwork isn't doing anything for my boredom but worsening it.

You'd think after years of doing this, I'd have found some way to make the boring days a little better. How I wish that were the case. If anything, it gets worse with the years.

If Avery were here, I wouldn't be bored.

I can't help but think it, because it's true. I would probably be having the time of my life.

I don't regret giving her today off; she deserves it. But I don't deserve to be bored.

You know it's bad when I even got bored of bullying Damian. Bored of purposely making the system lag out for everyone but the front desk.

I threw a paper ball at some woman earlier, and she just smiled and flashed her tits at me.

Not purposely, of course. She's happily married to my assistant, Marie. Her shirt just slipped. Anyway, say she had done it purposely, she'd be packing her shit right about now.

She's not though, so I can't find enjoyment in ruining someone's day either.

҉

I'm finally packing up my stuff for the day when I get a text from Avery. It's a bunch of pictures from today. One of her and Sonny trying on matching shoes. Sonny eating something with a big smile. A selfie of Avery. A few more of Sonny trying stuff on and walking to stores. Then one at a nail salon. Avery poses with her long acrylic nails and Sonny poses too, her little hands out in front of her as she shows off her baby blue nails. The last picture of them at a gas station.

I smile when I get a text from her.

Avery:
Hihi
All is good
Those are from a few hours ago
Sonny's out in the backseat
Almost home

Carson:
Can't wait to see you guys

Avery:
Likewise
See u soon

God, I couldn't wait to get home. The one thing I'm most excited about is the fashion show my girls will undoubtedly put on. Per my request or not.

As I leave the office, I nod at a few people politely. I get a few nods back, some ignore me, some just smile. Not that I care. I just want to be home right now. More than ever.

When I get to my car, I shrug off my suit jacket and toss it and my tie into the backseat. If I could take off my pants too, I would. But I'm a better human being than that, so I stay as clothed as I can bear.

The drive home is agonizingly slow, and I hate it. Los Angeles traffic is easy to get used to once you've lived here for so long, but fuck. My horn has been put into more use today than any other. These excruciatingly long moments of no movement have me considering moving.

Right when that thought comes, traffic clears right the fuck out. Wow, thanks universe. Love you, too, I guess.

Soon, I'm on my street and I couldn't be happier. From here, I can see Avery's car in my driveway. I decide that I want it to stay there whenever it's not in use. How can I be thinking about her moving in already? That's crazy. But it sounds so good.

My gaze flickers to the car that's parked just across the street from the house and I hum. That's a new development. Wonder whose car that is.

I pull into the driveway and my eyes flicker to the door as it slams shut behind Avery who runs down the driveway to her car. She shuts the door to her car when she finds something in her hand. It's her phone. She looks up and our eyes meet.

There's something stirring in them that makes my chest tighten. Her eyes are red and I follow her every movement as she comes up to my car.

She pulls the door right open and just stares at me. Her eyes are glassy and just about ready to break, but she just shakes her head at me disappointedly.

"I can't fucking believe you. Out of everyone, I figured I'd be safe from this shit with you, but you're just..." she trails off at the cracking of her voice.

I frown, turning off the car and unbuckling my seatbelt as I climb out. I cup her face in my hands and she lets me, but she doesn't make a move to touch me in any way. She just looks down at her shoes, hiccuping low sobs.

"Baby, what are you talking about?"

She shakes her head again and digs the heels of her hands into her eyes. "I'm such an idiot. I thought about everything that could go wrong, but I didn't think about this."

I open my mouth to ask her one last time what's going on, but she just takes my hands in hers and pulls them away from her face, turning back to her car.

Avery gets in, but this time, she doesn't get back out. Her car turns on and she's off before I can even register what the hell is happening.