I’m not sure what just happened, other than a truce between the guy I’m interested in and the guy who could be a friend when I move to Alexandria. Either way, my chest bursts with happiness as I eat, talk, and laugh with Trace and our new friends.
My attention is drawn to where Ember disappeared.
I hope for the same for my new friend.
Friendship.
Laughter.
Acceptance.
19
Sorrow
“Well, what did you think?”
“Of what?” I glance up at Trace. We’re under the covers in my bedroom. The lights are off, and moonlight shines through the windows. “Your attempts at cooking the eggplant, that you became butthurt because it didn’t turn out as planned and the guys made fun of you? Or how happy I am that you’re getting along nicely with Rush and his friends?”
“All of the above.” He smooths his large palm over my hair, and I resist the urge to purr like a cat.
Turning into him, I wrap my arms around his neck. I have my PJs on, and he’s wearing a white T-shirt paired with gray sweatpants. “It was a great day and a wonderful evening. Thank you for making it happen. For setting aside your ego and being nice to the guys.”
“They like you, you know.”
“As a friend. Or more like a sister.”
“Yeah. They sure loved giving you knuckle sandwiches.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Thank you for helping me decorate the tree.”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, it was a team effort.”
He’s right. Rush, Beckett, and Gunner helped.
“But it is something. You don’t like Christmas.” It’s what he grumbled about while we waited for the tree to get wrapped with the netting. “So for you to help with the tree and put up lights on the house and the trees around it when you could’ve let Rush and the guys do it . . .” My heart swells with happiness. “I could kiss you.”
“Whatcha waiting for, beautiful?” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Close your eyes, then.”
He does. I flutter my eyelashes over his eyelids and across his smooth, warm cheeks.
He groans. “Fuck, I’ll never get tired of these kisses.”
“You like them that much?”
“I like them too much, Sorrow.”
“Good. I love giving them.”
We smile at one another. I love being with him. He’s my peace, my safe place.
“Are they good at playing video games?” I don’t know much about what they were playing, but it was very violent, and after half an hour of enduring body parts getting blown up, I excused myself and baked chocolate chip cookies.
“I’d say they’re the GOATs.”
I smile. “Greatest of all time.”
