This time, I kissed her. Just a gentle press, but I couldn’t stop smiling through it.
“Do you still want to… you know… clean up?” I raised my eyebrows suggestively.
“Cam!” she laughed as she smacked me on the shoulder. “We’re not going to do thatnow,when everyone’s outside.”
“So… later, then?” I smirked, kissing her again.
“Maybe.”
Smacking her ass, I gave her a flirty smile.
“I’ll be waiting,” I said. “Come find me when you’re done.”
Because I wanted to hear her answer, and I hoped it would be the yes that I’d been waiting for. The sparkle in her eye gave me hope that it was.
Half an hour later, Ella rejoined us in the living room, hair damp from a quick shower, and dressed in an oversized sweater and leggings.
The rest of us were scattered about the living room, Forest and Adam playing the newest FIFA game on the TV as the rest of us chatted.
Sutton and Audrey were curled up under a blanket on the armchair, clearly gossiping over boys.
My girl sat down on the arm of the couch next to me—not quite close enough that we were touching, but close enough so I could smell the sweet raspberry and floral scent of her.
“So, what’s the plan for today?” Ella asked, her voice sounding calm and collected. Nothing like it had before in her room.
The guys shrugged. “Figured we’d settle in, maybe go to the grocery store later,” Sutton remarked. “And then if you want to go skiing, we can get ski passes and rentals tomorrow?”
I was only half listening as Sutton explained, as I drew circles on the fabric of the couch next to Ella’s knee.
I only started listening again when I realized James was talking to my girl.
“Is Ella short for anything?” James asked, flashing her a flirty smile. “Daniella, or Isabella, or…”
I held myself back from growling at my best friend. Maybe it was possessive of me, but I didn’t want him flirting with her.
“No. My Mom just liked it.” She fidgeted with her sweater.
“Any nicknames?” He asked, and her eyes met mine.
She held my gaze even as she answered, “No.”
My lips curled up into a smile.That’s my girl.
Because I called her Princess, and I knew for a fact that Audrey had her own nicknames, but I liked the idea that those were reserved for us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Ella’s fingers dance on the back of the chair next to my shoulder.
In response, I brushed my hand against her knee.
Shit, we were doing it, weren’t we? Acting like we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other. When had it started? When she’d been sick? Ella might have wanted to deny it, but we both knew the truth. That there was something more here than physical attraction.
Sutton loudly cleared her throat, pulling Forest up off the couch, who only weakly protested about the game. “We’re gonna head to the store and get stuff for dinner. Anyone else want to come?”
Adam looked up. “I’ll come. I don’t mind cooking if you want to do dessert.”
My friend beamed. “I think I can work with that.” She grabbed the keys. “Who wants to drive?”
Forest took them, wrapping his hands around hers. “I got it.”