Page 26 of Eternally Yours
Oh, now it makes more sense.I sit up against the headboard and giggle, shaking my head. “Because unlike you, I like to take my time. You know, savor my ice cream one lick at a time.”
“And did you lick that ice cream last night?” she asks, wiggling her brows.
I laugh at her question and throw a pillow her way. “No, I did not.”
She throws the pillow back at me as she lies down on my bed. I lower myself back down as well and lay beside her. “But you had a good time?” she asks me.
This is what I love about Emma. As much as she can joke around and be super inappropriate, she always makes sure that I’m all right, showing concern and love like a mother would.
I sigh and smile up at the ceiling. “Yeah, it was really fun. We went to his friend’shouse and decorated their place for Halloween. Then we had dinner and spent some time by the fire before he brought me home. By the way, I had no idea people decorated that much for holidays. Like it was...A LOT,” I say, thinking back to all the storage bins we emptied, plus the inflatable and mechanical characters we put up.
“YOU WENT TO CLAY BURKLEY’S HOUSE!?” Emma yells incredulously into my ears.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Em! I’m literally right beside you! Fuck, I think you busted my eardrum,” I say in a harsh tone as I rub my assaulted ear.
“Oh, don’t be dramatic.” She rolls her eyes at me once more.
“ME?Dramatic? Have we entered an alternate reality I’m not aware of?”
“Whatever. Back to the important stuff, you were in Clay Burkley’s house? With Clay Burkley?” The look she gives me is a mix of shock and excitement.
“Yes, he was there, so was his wife. But wait, how did you know that’s who I was talking about?”
“Oh, everyone knows about their amazing Halloween decorations. It’s always the first house decorated and so intense, it passes on the news every year since they started doing it. You should see when they do their winter wonderland, it’s magical,” she delivers with a dreamy gaze. It takes her a moment to snap out of it, and once she does, she sits up in my bed and moves on to her knees while I lift myself onto my elbows.
“Hold up, you said his wife was there? You got to meet Morgan Burkley?” Her voice raises a few octaves. “Oh my God! How is she? I always thought she looked almost angelic and too sweet. Is she really like that, or is it a front? Did you know she did the decor in this place? Daddy paid good money to get her. I was so excited to meet her in person because I’m obsessed with her work. But I was away in Madrid when she finally had an opening, so I lost my chance.”
“No, I wasn’t aware she did this place. And yes, she’s exactly as you’ve pictured her. She’s amazing and kind and so friendly, it was like I’d known her forever. She gave me her number and said she wanted to hang out again soon without the boys,” I say with a shrug like it’s no big deal, but honestly, I’m pretty excited about making a new friend and spending more time with her.
“Yes! You should invite her over at our next girls’ night!” Emma suggests, clapping her hands in rapid succession, her grin so wide it’s almost maniacal.
“Every night is girls’ night, we live together.”
“Shush, don’t ruin my fun.” She slaps my leg. “I’m being serious, you should definitely invite her over one night. We’ll order food, drink wine, do facials, andwatch a movie. The whole ordeal.” She waves her hand through the air like she’s picturing the evening.
“Say you’ll invite her? Please! You have to do this for me! I’ll beg on my knees if I must.” Getting up from her position, she scrambles on top of me, squishing me into the mattress as she hugs me with all her strength. “Please, please, please!” she chants over and over, and I can’t help but laugh at her ridiculousness.
“Okay, okay! Yes, I’ll ask her. Now get off me.”
She begins to pepper my face with kisses, her chants changing to “thank you” just as my phone chimes with an incoming text. She gets up, giving me a chance to reach my phone. “Is it lover boy?” she questions with a sweet smile.
I open my phone and go to my messages, one unread text from Silas. I smile as I open his message. “Yes.”
Big Guy
Good morning, beautiful.
Ugh, he sent a heart and a good morning text. How is he so perfect?
Me
Good morning, handsome.
Big Guy
You think I’m handsome? How about sexy? Or maybe irresistible?
Me
