Page 66 of The Likelihood Of You

“Care to insult me again?”

“Gladly, just because you’re bigger than me doesn’t mean I won’t test my luck.” she focused her face. “Did anyone ever tell you actually not that good an actor—”

My lips cut her off before she had a chance to test her luck, and it seemed from the way her hands were pressing against the side of my face that she didn’t mind me keeping her quiet. It was a quick kiss, a timeless one, which I loved just as much as our kisses that were driven by need.

Her full lips left mine, and I collapsed back down beside her. “Okay. You win.” She said, getting the sheets from the end of the bed and wrapping us up in them again. Before she lay down, I let my arm sprawl out on her side, guiding her to lie on it so I could pull her closer, letting the warmth from our bodies engulf us.

Somehow her locket found its way to my hand as I absentmindedly tugged her towards me. I could feel her tense up when she felt me holding it, causing me to let it go and instead run my hands through her silky waves.

"You doing okay? I know you don't really talk about your parents much, but I just wanted to make sure nothing was tormenting you again." I whispered in her ear, enjoying the way her shivers caused her to cuddle closer.

"I am, thank you for asking. I don't think I've ever been better, truthfully." She said, her head nestling into my arm before flipping over to face me, our exposed skin gliding over one another like the smoothest of waves. "Thank you," She uttered, grazing her thumb across my morning stumble.

I took her mouth on mine, this time for longer, just soaking her up, those little whimpers that made me dizzy and the serenity of our morning so far. Although, that serenity was rudely cut short by whoever thought it was appropriate to be knocking on my door at eightin the morning.

I reluctantly pull myself away from her and the warmth of the bed, grabbing a sweatshirt from my closet with a groan and a pair of loose shorts, before jogging to the front door.

I swung it open to find a lazily dressed Nate; his hair was out of control, and his face was as red as a beet. “I’m sorry I’m late, your…” He tried to catch his breath, putting one hand on the door frame to support him. “Your elevator is broken, so I climbed like a million…steps. There was traf…traffic. Anyway, give me your…dog so I can collapse…at home.”

I stared at him blankly, his words not making any sort of sense.

“Uh…what do you mean?” I moved from the door to usher him inside, and he strode in.

“You asked me last week… if I could watch Bagel for you." He took a deep breath. “It’s your parents’ grand opening of the new bakery in Boston…or something.”

Oh shit.

I immediately felt my body shift into panic mode, the realisation that I actually did have something planned this week, and I’d forgotten all about it. I remembered the whole family welcome party that was waiting for me in Boston. I remembered the private jet I’d booked. I remembered that whilst grabbing my sweatshirt, I saw my suitcase packed and ready to go. I remembered the bag I’d also packed for Bagel, for when she would stay with Uncle Nate. Then I remembered—

“Oh, morning, Nate.”

I turned around to see what I remembered. Florence stood at the bottom of the couch, wearing my old sweatshirt that had The Rolling Pin logo embroidered on the front, that clung just below the top of her thighs.

That sweatshirt was hers from this moment on.

“Oh, hey, Florence. Fancy seeing you here.” Nate shot me a look which told me he was happy for me, but also that he wanted all the details of what had happened for her to end up in my apartment on a Sunday morning. “I was just stopping by to get Bagel. Is her bag packed?”

“Uh... yeah. Yeah, let me grab it and her.” I strutted towards the hallway leading to the main bathroom, the study, and two other bedrooms, all the while trying to suppress the panic that was rising inside of me. I found Bagel sprawled across the bed of the third bedroom. I quickly rounded up her and the bag of food and toys I’d packed and headed back to the living room, Flo and Nae's voices slowly coming into earshot.

"…so it's just the baking powder that makes it fluffy?"

"Yeah, that's literally it. Oh, and try creaming the sugar and butter together first. That usually makes them extra fluffy." Flo beamed, her eyes darting from Nate to me when I rounded the corner.

A laugh snorts out of me. "Since when did you become a baker Nathanial?" I teased, handing him over all of Bagel's belongings.

Sarcasm stormed his smile. "Oh, ever since—" His middle finger ended that sentence, causing Flo's head to fall back, and several chuckles escape it.

He and Florence exchanged goodbyes, and after I slapped his cap off, I walked him to the door.

He stopped just before I shut the door, grabbing my shoulder as he did. “I’m happy for you, man. For both of you.”

“Yeah…we’repretty happy too.”

Once I’d waved Nate off and got a kiss or two from Bagel, I reached the living room to find Florence at the window, gazing out onto the rooftops and skyscrapers before her. Her head snapped round at the sound of my bare feet on the hardwood floor, a smile gracing her face.

“How come Nate took Bagel?” She asked, her hands fiddling with the hem of her new sweatshirt.

Her looking like a model didn’t help my racing heartbeat. There was so much to tell her, and the minutes before I needed to be on that private jet were running from me. But then it hit me: there was no harm in asking her if there was a chance she wanted to join me.

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