I paused for a second and then looked down at what she was wearing. Leggings and a t-shirt.
“Let me smell your breath,” I demanded as she squirmed beneath me.
“What the hell? That is—no!” she squealed, the laughter she’d held inside bursting forth. I pulled her closer, getting the quick whiff of coffee breath I knew I’d encounter.
Traitor.
“You’ve already been up!”
“I needed coffee courage!” she giggled as I punished her with my fingers, tickling her mercilessly. She squealed and giggled, the sound filling me with a peace and tranquility I thought I’d never have. It was like the sweet sound of angels to my ears, and now that I’d heard it, felt it to the depth of my soul, I knew I’d never be the same.
I’d never be right in this world without it.
“For what?” I asked as she wiggled out of my grasp, begging for mercy—which I granted.
“Well, I’ve been thinking,” she explained, readjusting herself on the bed so that she was sitting cross-legged in front on me. I lay back with my arms behind my head.
“I know how important it is for you to be known among my group of friends.”
I stopped her, reaching out to wind a piece of her hair around my finger as I spoke. “I told you it could wait. It doesn’t have to happen right away, Everly.”
“I know that, but I’m ready,” she replied, he eyes closing slightly, as she let herself surrender to the feeling of my fingers in her hair. It made me wonder if it was something she’d always liked.
Had I done this before?
“I feel like the longer we go on not telling people, the longer this won’t feel real,” she continued. “And I want it to be. I don’t want to just be sitting around playing house with you, August. I want my friends to know who you are and what you mean to me. I want you to matter in my life.”
My heart quickened in my chest. “I want that, too.”
“Good, so that brings me to my next point.”
“Okay,” I said with an inquisitive brow.
“I want to have Sarah over for dinner.”
“Sarah,” I questioned, doubt settling into the pit of my empty stomach as I swallowed audibly. “Your best friend who hates me? That Sarah?”
She nodded.
“Wouldn’t it be best if you confronted her on your own and we did this in stages…like they do when they introduce someone to a wild animal or something?”
She laughed. “Are you comparing yourself to a wild animal?”
“Who said I would be the one attacking anyone?” I grimaced.
“Okay, okay…I know I haven’t painted her in the best light,” she said.
“Best light? Over the last two years you basically conditioned her to hate me—not that I blame you, considering the circumstances, but it kind of blows for the new guy. Which is still me, by the way.”
“I know,” she said, taking my hand. “Which is why I want her here, around you—to show her that you are different and new. Telling her is one thing, but actually having her here? I’m hoping you can change her opinion faster than I can.”
“Okay,” I agreed, with a reluctant nod. “But if this goes badly—it was your idea.”
“Agreed.”
“But first, we have a date in the dark room,” I said, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.
Her eyes widened as she remembered the film we’d captured the night before.
“Race you!” she yelled, jumping off the messy bed toward the door. I caught her before she got two feet and threw her over my shoulder as I raced downstairs.
Turns out developing those pictures was just as much fun as it was making them.
* * *
Everly had been in the kitchen all afternoon, chopping and dicing god knows what.
It seems Sarah would be getting the dinner to end all dinners.
I’d heard a lot about Everly’s best friend over the last several weeks. I was both anxious and scared as hell to meet her. Besides Ryan and I guess her counselor, Sarah had been the one constant in Everly’s life over the last two years. She’d been there for her from the beginning and I know her opinion was highly valued.
I didn’t like being on the bad side of that opinion.
I hoped by the end of the evening, she might hate me a little less and by some miracle wouldn’t be dragging Everly out by her hair in an effort to knock some common sense back into her.
I’d suggested going out somewhere—neutral territory. Somewhere that didn’t scream, “Hey, look at my gigantic house!” But Everly vetoed that idea, deciding that since we were now officially a couple, we should present ourselves as such.