“Well, as long as there are no ritual sacrifices.”
“I said at the lantern festival. I didn’t say you weren’t going to be sacrificed another time.”
All Courtney does is chuckle in reply. When Tucker reaches over to take my hand in his, then pulls it into his lap to hold on to, I feel like a million bucks. The drive home is short and sweet. I can’t help but puff out my chest when Courtney whistles at the sight of my house.
“It really is perfect for you,” Courtney says while grabbing his suitcase. He lifts one hand to shield his eyes despite his sunglasses. “But where’s Cupcake?”
I snort and shove him a little before slinging my arm over his shoulder to lead him into the house. The place is quiet, which still scares me sometimes after Cupcake’s illness, but all Courtney has to do is softly yellCupcakeand the old girl comes running like she’s a puppy all over again. Courtneyeasily scoops her up into his arms and walks her to the couch, then sits and tugs her close.
“Is Daddy being good to you?”
Cupcake yips and wiggles in what I hope is dog language foryes.
“Wow, she really loves him,” Tucker says in amazement.
“Because he is basically a Saint Bernard himself.”
“Hey!” Courtney shouts, but the smile on his face betrays him.
We settle into the house for the afternoon, since in just a few hours, we’ll need to head to the beachside park to prepare for tomorrow’s festival. At some point Courtney wandered over to the puzzle we started on last week’s video call. All three of us end up seated at the table, picking at pieces for the holographic hell puzzle Courtney thought was funny.
“Listen… it looked fun online,” Courtney says while Tucker gives him a death glare from across the table.
“This is absolutely atrociously hard.”
“It’s good for Charles’ brain.”
“It’s good foryourbrain, old man,” I say with a teasing laugh.
Courtney and Tucker both grin at me as we continue working on the puzzle. The comfort of having my best friend and boyfriend in the same room, doing the same activity, settles inside me like a fine-blown glass paperweight. Before now, I’ve never had the feeling thatI’m meant to be exactly right here, but I let it wash over me. Which makes me turn sort of mushy, and it must show on my face because Courtney sends me a confused look as I stare at him.
“Do I have a booger?” Courtney asks while wiping his nose.
“Nah, I just love you.”
“Blargh.” Courtney returns to the puzzle, but the flush on his rugged cheeks made saying I love him worth it. He’s always shy when it comes to any sort of emotional intimacy. “Tucker, do you have any single friends?”
Tucker raises one eyebrow. “A few, maybe.”
“What’s maybe mean?” Courtney shoves a puzzle piece in with a little too much attitude. “None that might want a washed-up wealthy former Super Bowl winner?”
“Uhm, I meant more like they don’t always tell me if they’re single or not, so the ones I think might be single actually might be in a sort of secret relationship.”
Courtney and I both stare at Tucker.
Tucker sighs. “I think two of my best friends are dating but I can’t prove it.”
“Well, if they’re dating but no one knows, did the dating even make a sound?” Courtney asks with so much seriousness that we all end up in a laughing fit.
Later that evening has me,Tucker, and all of Tucker’s friends, his parents, and Courtney working at the beachside park to ensure everything is set for the next day. Tucker hasn’t left my house since the night of the sunset cruise, and I’m not sure I ever want him to go back home. But I also recognize that it might be a problem, considering his last relationship went similarly. So, he needs to go back to his parents’ and maybe only spend a few nights at my house until we’ve been together at least six months.
I don’t know how to say that to him without breaking his heart though. I don’t want him to feel like I’m pushing him away or that I don’t want him there, because I do more than Ican ever put into words, but the last thing I want is for him to feel forced or regret anything about us.
“You’re staring into space,” Scott points out while we’re hanging fairy lights in the trees. “Don’t want you to miss and fall. I think Tucker would kill me.”
I snort. “Tucker wouldn’t kill you.”
When I look over, Scott is giving me a look that saysyou’re pathetically stupid. “Tucker would one hundred percent kill me if you fell to your death on my watch.”
