Page 26 of Make It Without You

I look around at my small but mighty group, my chosen family and then blow out the candles. I don’t wish for anything too big as I have all I need.

James places a kiss on my temple and gets up to grab a knife before coming back to the table. I look at Liam and Kamryn whispering secret things to each other. After Mason, I didn’t know how Kam would recover. Kam had a rocky comeback but now she and Liam are inseparable.

“Hey, Kam? Do you remember when we first met, and I asked about you two? You said, “Not like that”. Well I’d like to say, “I told you so.” I pick up my glass of champagne and take a healthy swallow.

Liam and James can’t help the laughs that escape as Kam playfully shoots daggers at me. I still remember picking up the phone and Kam announcing they were dating. They were very much in the lovey-dovey phase, and still are if I’m being honest, so I stayed on the phone for the three minutes I needed to without getting nauseous.

We laugh and talk throughout the night before heading to the movie room. It rarely gets used as James and I resort to watching movies in my room. But my parents spared no expense when they first renovated this house all those years ago. The home theater is fitted with oversized loveseats and bucket seats, a deep red color adorning the soundproofed walls, and the TV screen taking up the entire wall. James and I will occasionally have date nights that always end with a movie. Of course, I end up asleep after thirty minutes and wake up to him carrying me to bed. So I can’t complain about that possibility happening tonight.

“What’s the movie for tonight, birthday girl?” Liam asks when he plops down on the couch. Kamryn grabs a few throw blankets, tossing me one, before unfolding the one she chose and draping it over herself and Liam.

“Iron Man,” I declare. James grabs the remotes for the movie, sound system, and lighting.

“Good choice baby.”

“Thank you.” I accept the praise and unfold my blanket as well. James helps me to spread it over the both of us while the opening sequence plays on the screen. I tuck into James’s side and the steady beat of his heart is enough to put me in a catatonic state.

The movie drones on. We laugh when needed and are completely silent during the fight scenes. I feel like I barely breathe during the entire movie. It isn’t until the credits start rolling that I take in the proper amount of air.

Kamryn and Liam sit up and turn to face us. “We’re gonna head out.” She informs me.

As sad as I am at my friend’s leaving, I’m more than excited to have alone time with my boyfriend.

“Okay,” I tell my friend and hope I did my best to disguise my excitement.

We shut off the movie during the end credits and walk them both to the door.

“Five more months until you’re graduating. That’s insane!” I tell Kam as we walk out of the theater.

Her arm is looped through mine and our steps fall in sync. “Truth is I’m ready for college to be done. It’s been exhausting, as you know. And I’m more than ready to move back up here.”

“You and Liam seem to be happy together.”

“Is this what it’s like to go from friends to more?”

I think of James and me. And how every day with him has gotten better. “The can’t stop floating feeling? Yeah.”

We all get to the door, hugging and making promises for the summer. James makes sure they get to the car and shuts the door when they do.

“Alone at last!” James exclaims before pouncing on me and tossing me over his shoulder.

He begins the trek upstairs with my body slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. My hands land on his waist to keep myself stable.

“I like this view,” my voice is a little nasally as the air is strained.

He brings a hand up and swats me on the butt causing me to yelp. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Just a little squeeze,” I taunt. I won’t do it for fear of him dropping me. He never would.

“Emily Marie, don’t you dare.”

His footsteps are hurried as he gets us to my room and shuts the door closed with his foot. I go flying as he tosses me on the bed. James follows me and crawls up my body.

“What’s the matter? Didn’t want a little butt squeeze?” I do my best and give him puppy dog eyes.

He wiggles his way into the cradle of my legs. “I’ll give you something to squeeze.”

My eyes widen, but before I can offer up a retort James crashes his mouth to mine. His hand slides to cradle my neck as our tongues intertwine. Kissing him is like realizing I’ll never need anything else, not even money, to help celebrate the good times.

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