Hailey tried to blink back some tears, but a few managed to escape.So this is what happiness feels like.
Avery reluctantly pulled away from Hailey and a look of concern took over his face. Bracketing her face with his hands, and brushing the tears away from her cheeks with his thumbs, he asked, “Hey, what’s wrong? Are we moving too fast? Did I hurt you?”
Hailey smiled at Avery and squeezed his body closer to hers.
“Everything is perfect and that was mind-blowing. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”
With a playful look on his face, he took a quick peek down toward where their bodies met before meeting Hailey’s eyes.
“I think I want to break that record now.”
She let out a giggle, “I’m definitely rooting for you. I have some records I’d like to break myself.”
It was early in the morning by the time they ran out of energy, a now-empty box left on the nightstand.
After cleaning up from their final round, Avery turned out the light and then fell back onto the bed withHailey, settling both of them under the blanket, and he pulled her back to his chest.
After their breathing slowed down, Hailey squeezed the arm Avery had wrapped around her with her hand. “So, I think we should do this again sometime.”
Avery let out a deep laugh, too tired to rein it in.
“Yeah, I think I’m game for that.”
“Good, because that was amazing.”
“Hailey, I will do that with you every day if it keeps you around.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I waited long enough to be right here.”
Avery squeezed Hailey against his body and they let sleep take them.
23
IT WAS MID-DAY when Avery and Hailey finally loaded Avery’s car to head back to South Jersey. Leaving the bed this morning was certainly not the easiest task of the day, but they managed to after another round of making love and a short nap. After getting out of the room in time for checkout, they managed a late brunch in the hotel restaurant with a few other wedding guests.
Hailey spent every moment of that morning touching Avery in some way, whether it was holding hands, leaning against him while they ate or an arm around his waist while his rested across her shoulders. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself either. After fifteen years of platonic friendship, it was like the floodgates had opened and they couldn’t spend another second not taking advantage of their new connection.
Once they were on the road and headed home, Averyslipped his hand into Hailey’s, intertwining their fingers. She smiled at that physical connection and looked at Avery’s profile to see he was smiling, too.
Hailey didn’t want to break the comfortable silence, but there was something she was curious about.
“So, how do you think everyone will react at soccer tonight?
Avery’s smile grew as he stole a quick glance at Hailey before returning his eyes to the road.
“There’s a chance they will be even happier than we are, which is really saying something because this might be the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Hailey beamed at Avery before adding, “So far.”
When Avery glanced again at Hailey, she sent him a wink that had him squeezing her hand in his.
“So far,” he agreed.
“What if we messed with them? They’ve had plenty of fun at our expense.”
“Hmm. Maybe. Mess with them how?”
She thought for a minute before rattling off some ideas. “We could pretend the wedding went terribly and we’re not even friends anymore and it’s all their fault for pushing us together.”
