Chapter 5

Five

Harrison

T he entire time we were at Gran’s, I could sense Everly’s discomfort. She didn’t like lying to those she loved, and I got it. I just needed to keep us focused on the end result. More time with Wren.

It would be worth it, and no one would get hurt. How could we when we were friends and both knew the score?

I stood in front of my dresser, stalling, because I wasn’t used to Everly sitting on the bed in my bedroom. Did I get undressed in the bathroom now?

“I can’t believe you asked for your grandmother’s ring.”

“It’s what I would do if I was really getting engaged. Over the years, Gran’s mentioned me taking it.” I took the chance that Everly wouldn’t mind that I took off my shirt in front of her. We were friends. So, I pulled it off with one hand, rolled it into a ball, and tossed it into the laundry basket. If we were going to be living together, we needed to get used to being in each other’s space.

“Yeah, but we’re not—” Her eyes widened as she took in my bare chest.

“Real?” I asked as I refrained from flexing, pleased she was admiring the muscles I worked so hard to achieve. At her nod, I continued. “We need to make it as realistic as possible. Gran will pass the word on to her friends’ network, essentially doing the work for us.”

Everly seemingly ripped her gaze from my chest and bit her lip. “I don’t know.”

“You’re having second thoughts?” I asked, sitting next to her with my elbows resting on my spread thighs.

She let out a shaky breath. “I’m having lots of thoughts.”

I wondered if she meant living with me or something else. I couldn’t do this without her. “You don’t think you can do this?”

She seemingly pulled herself together, lifting her gaze to meet mine. “I hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be to lie to everyone we love.”

I was pleased that she considered my family to be hers, too. Her family was just her mother as her grandparents died when she was young. She was aware of her estranged father’s home and new family, but as far as I knew, never reached out to him.

“I don’t want to lose them.”

I reached over to cover her hand with mine, my arm brushing against her breast. “You’re not going to lose them. Gran and Wren believed us, and they’ll believe it when we break up. We tried, but we’re better off as friends.”

Everly shifted so that her chest wasn’t touching my arm. “What if I lose you and Wren in the process?”

I shifted so that I was facing her. “Why would you lose us? No one’s going to find out that we weren’t honest.”

Her gaze searched mine. “How do you know that?”

My jaw set. “I just do.”

Everly shook her head. “I don’t know how you can be so confident about this. So relaxed.”

“It will work out. You just have to have faith.” It’s what I told myself since I found out Lola was pregnant with Wren. It prevented me from panicking about the what-ifs on many occasions.

Everly bit her lower lip. “What if one of us catches feelings for the other?”

My heart rate sped up slightly as I chuckled. “Why would we do that?”

Everly gestured around us. “We’re living together, sleeping in the same bed, taking our clothes off in front of each other.”

So, it had bothered her. Interesting. It would be hard, and probably awkward, but we’d get through it. “I’m just keeping my mind on what I want to get out of this—more time with Wren.”

Everly’s eyes softened. “I know you are.”

“And I’m aware you have less to gain from this arrangement.”

Her gaze flicked to mine. “You think I’ll go back to my life as if nothing has changed.”

“Because for us, it won’t.” I pushed away her reaction when I took off my shirt and the way she kept her gaze carefully averted from my chest.

“You’re sure about that?” Everly asked me, her brow furrowed.

“Aren’t you?” Was she saying she felt something for me? She’d never given any indication that was the case. “We’re friends.”

Everly smiled as she stood and moved away from me. “You’re right. I’m overthinking this. I’m going to get ready for bed.”

When she grabbed her clothes and headed to the en suite bathroom, I sat there wondering what I’d missed. Sure, it would be awkward at times, sleeping in the same bed and sharing a bathroom. I was getting to know her in ways I hadn’t before. But it was for a good cause. Plus, at the end of the day, we were friends .

Nothing could come between us. When we were kids and she found out her father had left for good, I vowed never to do anything to hurt her. I’d always be there for her, no matter what. It’s why I never allowed myself to think too hard about the changes her body went through during our teen years. I just kept telling myself we were friends, and our friendship mattered more than my body’s reaction to hers.

Over the years, I’d honed that skill. I didn’t look at Everly any differently than my male friends. I tried hard not to notice the way she looked in a particular dress or outfit. She was off-limits, like a friend’s ex or a friend’s little sister. It had been easier before she was living in my house. But I had to get through this. It felt like a magical chess game, where one wrong move meant my demise instead of just losing a rook.

She came out in a soft, satiny-looking button-down shirt and shorts. Her honey-gold hair was freshly brushed and hung in waves over her shoulders. Was she even wearing a bra underneath? Was this some kind of payback for taking off my shirt?

I wanted to reach for her and see if her skin was as silky soft as I knew the material of her pajamas would be. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to pull myself together, and gruffly asked, “You done in the bathroom?”

“Yep,” Everly said as she settled onto the bed, resting against the pillows, which made her legs look impossibly long.

I escaped to the bathroom, remembering too late that I usually slept in briefs. I didn’t think Everly would appreciate that.

But I couldn’t go back or give in to Everly’s fears. This was too important to screw up. Every time I was tempted by Everly, I’d remember Wren’s voice begging to stay with me. The attorney said this was necessary to get what we wanted. I needed to present the best case. And we weren’t lying. Not really. I did love Everly. She was my best friend, and apparently, if I let myself go there, I was attracted to her.

I washed my face with cold water, wishing it wouldn’t look weird if I jumped in the shower to cool off. Imagining Everly in my bed in the next room was wreaking havoc on my system.

My dick didn’t get the friend memo. It was on board with the fiancée track, and I couldn’t seem to rein him in.

When thinking of my grandmother didn’t make it deflate, I said fuck it and turned on the cold water in the shower. As I stood there, shivering, I thought about Gran and Wren and everyone else in my life except for the woman sleeping in my bed.

Maybe taking nightly cold showers would be my new norm. I came out in briefs, hoping Everly wasn’t awake. I should have grabbed sweatpants before I headed into the bathroom. But Everly was already asleep. Her hands were folded under her cheek as she lay on her side, facing me. She looked so peaceful in sleep. Like she’d finally been able to put the day behind her and let go.

Pulling on worn sweats, I lay on the bed next to her and folded my arm behind my head. Resting on top of the blankets, I wondered how I’d never noticed how beautiful she was. My heart ached with the truth. She was gorgeous. Her beauty made me the constant source of ribbing in school.

My friends couldn’t believe I’d never made a move. I always said she was like a sister to me. And maybe I’d said it so often I believed it. But she wasn’t like a sister to me. Not really. I’d just ignored the truth that had been staring me in the face. Everly was the whole package: beautiful, sweet, and caring. She was amazing with Wren and my family. She was my best friend, and I was obviously attracted to her physically.

Why hadn’t she dated anyone seriously? I always figured it was her family’s circumstances that held her back. She didn’t trust men, and I didn’t blame her. I saw the aftermath of her father’s departure. It was hell for her.

With her father out of the picture, and her mother understandably depressed, I was protective of her. I might have blocked her from meeting other guys. But then she’d never expressed interest in settling down. She seemed content with spending her free time with me and Wren. I knew I’d been selfish. And now, I’d asked her to do the unthinkable. Put her life on hold and pretend to be engaged to me.

The entire situation was crazy. But it was only for a few months. Surely, I could handle a fake girlfriend in my bed for that long. Not just anyone, though. Everly Long. This gorgeous girl could have anyone if she was open to it. Why would she choose me?

I rubbed the ache in my chest. The longing for something more than I already had. What would it be like to come home to Everly every night, to figure out what was for dinner, maybe even cook together, and help Wren with her homework? We’d take turns asking Wren about her day.

I eased under the blankets, holding myself away from the inviting warmth of Everly’s body. I listened to her soft breathing, tensing each time she moved. Every once in a while, her bare leg would touch mine, and my cock would harden.

Each time it happened, I moved farther away, hoping I wouldn’t gravitate toward her in my sleep. It was ironic that the first woman I had in my bed since Wren was born was my best friend.

I woke to something tickling my nose. Was it flowers? Opening my eyes, I realized it was Everly’s hair. At the same time, I felt her satin-covered ass nestled against my crotch. My arm was wrapped around her upper body.

I attempted to lift my arm, but my fingers touched a hard peak. Her nipple? I paused, barely able to breathe for fear of waking her and her realizing I was spooning her. My best friend. My very off-limits friend.

I had no business touching her, much less being wrapped around her like she was my lifeline. I had no idea how it had happened. My body clearly had a mind of its own.

“Harrison?” Everly asked softly, turning slightly.

I moved away from her like I’d been caught doing something I shouldn’t—because I had. I moved to my back and threw an arm over my forehead. “Sorry. I must have moved in my sleep.”

She rolled to her side and brushed her hair out of her face. “It’s okay.”

Her cheeks were pink, and her hair was tousled. The way she propped herself on one elbow made one globe of her breast visible. I shouldn’t be thinking about how she’d look if she’d been thoroughly fucked. Because that was never going to happen.

I’d made a promise that this was a temporary thing, and it wouldn’t change anything between us. I couldn’t change the rules in the middle of the game.

“Are you okay?” She tipped her head slightly, her hair brushing my pillow.

“Yup.” I just hoped her gaze didn’t slide down my body to the tent in my sweatpants. I casually pulled the blankets over me.

Everly frowned. “Are you cold?”

“Mmm,” I said, not wanting to lie to her but not wanting to tell the truth either. Why had I suggested that she sleep in my too-small bed? She could easily have stayed in the guest room. Except Wren would have thought that was weird.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom.” Everly moved to scoot off the bed and then paused. “Unless you need to get in there first.”

I waved a hand at her, desperate for space. “It’s all yours.”

“Thanks.” She padded to the bathroom, the silky end of her shorts barely covering her ass.

Was she torturing me on purpose? What kind of game was she playing? The funny part was that Everly never played games with me. She never had to. She always had my attention and my heart.

Would it always be this awkward? Would we tiptoe around each other, worried to upset or offend the other? Would I need to stay away from her or sleep on the couch so she didn’t realize my morning wood was for her and not just an anomaly?

Everly returned and climbed into bed, propping her pillows against the headboard. “What do you do on Sunday mornings?”

“I make a big breakfast, and we laze around, watching cartoons and playing games.” It was always our time to spend together. I only saw Wren every other weekend.

“Do you want me to head out? I could go to yoga or brunch with the girls to give you two space.”

“Is that what you would do if you’d moved in here for real?” I asked her, genuinely curious how that would be.

Everly gestured around at my bedroom. “I’m moved in. It’s for real.”

“You know what I mean.” For the first time, I took in my dark wood furniture and gray sheets. It was a masculine room. I needed to tell her she was welcome to spruce it up with her things.

Everly was quiet for a few seconds, and then said, “I’d enjoy the time with you.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” I scooted so I was sitting against the pillows next to her.

Her nose scrunched. “I don’t want to take up your time with Wren.”

“You’re not. Besides, all of this is to prove to everyone we’re a couple. It won’t look right if you’re out with your girlfriends your first morning in my house.”

“True.” Then she shook her head. “I never thought it would be this complicated.”

Unfortunately, I had a feeling this was just the start. We were bound to be in situations that were awkward or uncomfortable, or when we got tripped up on the story of our origins. We were bound to make mistakes, but we had our existing friendship to fall back on, at least. We were comfortable with each other.

“Are we going to need to hold each other’s hands or kiss in public?” Everly asked tentatively.

“We’re already affectionate.” I’d always felt free to hug Everly or kiss her cheek or her temple. I told everyone I loved her; I just wasn’t in love with her. How many times had I said that? Too many. Looking back, I wondered if I’d pushed back a little too hard on the idea of Everly and me together.

On paper, we made sense. We were childhood friends. We depended on each other. It was only natural we were close, given her background and my situation with Lola. “But you’re right. We’ll need to show everyone we’re more. They won’t be convinced otherwise.”

Everly sighed. “That’s what I figured.”

I waggled my brows. “What? You don’t think you can handle all of this?” I ran a hand over my bare chest. “Or kissing me? Afraid you’ll want more?”

I was teasing, but there was a part of me that wanted to put it out there. Was she as worried as I was? Because after waking up to find myself wrapped around her body and seeing her in a way I never had before, I wasn’t so sure I could resist her.

She rolled her eyes. “I can handle it.”

I couldn’t help but notice that her cheeks were flush. A part of me wanted to lean over and kiss her to test the waters. I could always say it was good practice for when we were in public. But I hadn’t brushed my teeth yet.

Then the door burst open, and Wren ran in. That moment was over.

“How many times have I told you to knock?” I asked her.

Wren landed on the bed on her knees and gave me a dubious look. “Um, never.”

I leaned over to pull her into my arms, tickling her. “You’re a brat.”

I never minded when she burst into my room before, but what if she’d seen us in an embrace like we’d been when I was sleeping? Would she be confused? Letting her go, I said, “With Everly living here, you should probably knock. She’s not used to being woken by eight-year-olds.”

Wren frowned and glanced at the clock on my nightstand. “I waited until seven like I’m supposed to.”

“We have a rule that she can’t watch cartoons until seven,” I explained to Everly. Wren usually woke me first, not wanting to be downstairs by herself.

“I’m hoping I learn all of the ins and outs soon,” Everly said to Wren.

“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you. Come watch cartoons with me?” Wren asked Everly.

“I’d love to. But let me get dressed first.” Everly pulled some clothes out of her drawer and headed into the bathroom.

When the door closed, Wren snuggled up in Everly’s spot. “I like having her here.”

I thought about not getting any sleep last night but waking wrapped around Everly. “I do too.”

I’d felt a little like I’d been stuck in a rut lately. I was scared to take a risk with my business and the custody situation with Wren. But meeting with the attorney and moving Everly in felt good. Like I was on the right track, even if the future was unknown. And I was certain I was going to fuck up this thing with Everly.

“She’s more fun than you,” Wren teased. Then she jumped out of bed, giggling.

I made a grab for her ankle and missed. “How is that possible? I’m a ton of fun.”

Everly had reemerged in a T-shirt and soft-looking sweats that clung to her legs. “I have to agree. Harrison can be a wet blanket sometimes.”

“Right?” Wren asked as they walked hand in hand out of the room.

Something shifted in my chest. I hadn’t realized how lonely I’d been. As much time as Everly spent here, there were many times when it was just me or just me and Wren.

It was nice to have company on Sunday morning. Especially when it was my best friend. I was looking forward to making breakfast.

When I went downstairs, Everly was cuddled up with Wren on the couch, a blanket over them. It was sweet. It felt right.

“Who wants to help me make breakfast?” I asked, wishing every morning could be like this.

“Me!” Wren exclaimed, trying to unravel herself from the bundle of blankets.

Everly helped her get out, and Wren giggled when Everly pretended she couldn’t figure it out. By the time Wren popped out, her face was flush, and her eyes sparkled with happiness. This was fun. How had I not realized how much Everly enriched our lives? How much joy we experienced when she was here.

Maybe I’d been afraid of relying on her too much or expecting her to fill our lives twenty-four seven when she might start dating someone special. I expected her to leave. The same way she expected any guy in her life to be temporary.