Page 58 of Everything I Desire

Lauren stares back at Lacey with a look that could kill. If I had to guess, Lacey already knows.

“No way.” She shoves a bite of pizza into her mouth so she can’t talk even if she wanted to.

“Oh, yea. Now we really need to know.” I lean over and take her pizza.

“Thaffs no pair” She says through a full mouth.

“Totally fair. Spill it.” Scarlett says, eating Lauren’s last slice of pizza.

“You guys are mean! There isn’t much to tell. He kissed me.” She shrugs, then gets up to get more pizza.

“Just kissed you?” Lacey questions her.

“What do you want me to say? He saw me flirting with Gunnar and pulled me away into the hallway, pushed me up against the wall and kissed the life out of me? That no other kiss will ever compare to that one? That after he kissed me he ran for the hills and left me breathless in an empty hallway?” She fumes.

“Um, yea. That’s actually exactly what we were looking for.” I say laughing at her.

“Yea. It’s really funny to you guys, but he hasn’t talked to me since!” Lauren exclaims.

“But you guys walked back to the table together.” Scarlett points out.

“Yea. By coincidence. He saw that crew walk in and knew there’d be trouble so he came back in at the same time I was leaving the bathroom from trying to compose myself.” She half smiles, but I can tell she’s really hurt by it.

“So what are we doing to get Brad to his senses?” I ask Lacey and Scarlett, looking between the two. They each get a big grin on their face.

“Nothing! You three will stay out of it. Swear it?” She demands.

The three of us agree, but I already know my sisters have their fingers crossed under their plates like I do. It’s something we all did as kids when we were up to no good.

The way Lacey smirks at Scarlett and I, I know she already has a plan.

The girls left a few hours later after we finished a rom-com, and ate all the junk food.

When they leave, I see Porter’s headlights flash into his driveway. I walk over to meet him at his truck.

“Hey.” I say, stopping just before I get to him. I see the questioning look in his eyes.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” He steps toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I had a visit from Stacey today.”

“Fuck,” He mutters under his breath. “Addy. I’m not doing that.” He says with a finality that makes the tears come again.

“Why not?” I ask softly, leaning into his chest.

“Because, baby. When I ask you to marry me, and you agree, I want it to be because you want to be with me. Not because you feel like you have to. I might be new to realizing that I deserve to be happy, but I don’t ever want to feel like I was just an obligation to you,” he answers earnestly.

“Porter. I would never feel that way about you. And I would never want you to think I did. I love you, and yes I will do anything you need me to in order to help you. But, I get it.”Damn, Scarlett for being right.“What other options do you have? Did Stacey say?” I dry the lone tear that escaped.

“Not many honestly. It sounds like the guy is traditional, wants a dual parent home, or the bio-parent home.” He shrugs.

“Well that’s bullshit. He’d rather have her at home with drug dealers than a stable home with her uncle?” That’s got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

“I know, baby. But I won’t risk us just to make someone else happy. I’m done caring what other people think. If he can’t see how much happier Kayla is, then I’m at a loss either way. My relationship status shouldn’t have any bearing on Kayla’s well-being. She comes first no matter what,” he says sternly.

“I agree. Where is she by the way? I didn’t know you were working so late.” I ask, just now connecting what time it is.

“She went to Eric’s baseball game, and then they were going out to dinner with his parents. She should be home soon.” He answers.

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