Page 205 of There's No Us Without You
Will is kind of like that now, slowly letting his guard down to show his soft marshmallow centre.
And fuck if that centre isn’t delicious as hell.
My stomach rumbles, letting me know if I’m going to think about food—or Will—I better be willing to shove some into my mouth.
I run a hand through my wet hair and head downstairs. The grin on my face almost splits my cheeks when I find Eden and Will in the lounge room.
Eden has a book in her hands, her legs bent over Will’s lap as he massages her feet with one hand, and thumbs through his phone with the other, totally oblivious to my presence.
I don’t mind. It gives me a moment to appreciate my two favourite people and how much I’ve needed them these last few days.
Without them, I’m not sure where I would be right now. Maybe lying in a morgue in the local hospital because I took myself out.
Not that I want to die. At least not now. I won’t lie and say detoxing was a walk in the park. Although, it wasn’t just that part that had me ready to end things. At the time, I couldn’t think straight, and my future was so far out of my reach, I would have done anything to bring it back to my fingertips.
I clear my throat, sending Eden’s head whipping in my direction. Her mouth falls open, and she literally throws her book across the room, then climbs over the back of the couch, kicking Will in the back of the head as she does. “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” she screams as she races towards me.
Our bodies collide, hers warm and soft, mine still a little tender, but I don’t care about any of the lingering pain right now.
“Hey, baby.” I wrap her in my arms and breathe in her scent.
My entire body tingles as Eden squeezes me tighter.
“How are you feeling?” She grins up at me for the first time in days, sending the grin on my face deflating.
Which isn’t what I expected to be doing when seeing that smile again.
I grab her chin and move her head side to side, inspecting the two black eyes she’s sporting. “What the fuck happened while I was dying?”
Eden frowns before recognition settles on her face. “Oh, right. It’s nothing.” She lifts a shoulder. “I got into a fight with Gabby.”
I scoff. “This has to be a joke, right?” I glance at Will, waiting for him to tell me what really happened.
“She’s not joking,” Will says, smirking.
“What the actual fuck, Eden?” I shake my head. “What were you thinking?”
“It’s not my fault.” Eden crosses her arms over her chest. “She just... pissed me off, is all. I got mad, and might have shoved her a little, then she punched me in the face. Besides, it’s Will’s fault I was at Tyler’s house in the first place.”
I snap my focus to Will. “What did you do?” My words are growled out as though my tone is actually going to have an effect.
“Please,” Will says, waving a hand dismissively as he climbs from the couch. “It’s not my fault Eden happened to be listening in on myprivateconversation with Tyler. She needs to learn to mind her business.” As he approaches, he shoves a hand into his pocket and runs the other through his hair. “Little Rocky here was defending your honour.”
My eyes widen and I grab Eden’s upper arms. “What? You were fighting because of me?”
Now I know why Will likes punishing her. The thought of bending her over my knee does something to my insides, and I take a deep breath before I do just that.
“Dick.” Eden narrows her eyes on Will, ignoring my question.
“Careful, Sunshine. I’m not in the mood to be tested right now,” he says, coming up behind her to kiss the top of her head. “How’s the knee?” He raises an eyebrow in question while nodding to my leg.
I stretch it out and bend it a few times. “Better. I’m not in any pain.”
“That’s good.” Will steps around Eden and grabs the back of my neck to pull me towards him. Our lips connect in a soft caress. “I missed you,” he says against my mouth.
I grin, my insides igniting. “I missed you, too.”
With a swipe of his tongue over my bottom lip, he pulls away and nods at Eden, who has managed to escape and is now planted on the couch again with her arms crossed over her chest.
