Chapter 6

Six

Everly

I volunteered to brew the coffee while Wren and Harrison went through their morning routine, gathering the mix for pancakes and pulling out the griddle. Then they argued about the right add-ins, chocolate chips or blueberry.

They bickered back and forth for a few minutes before I finally suggested, “You could do a little of both.”

“That’s a great idea. Why didn’t I think of that?” Harrison dipped his finger into the flour and bopped Wren on the nose.

“Hey!” she exclaimed before picking up a scoop of flour and flinging it at him.

My mouth dropped open when Harrison took the measuring cup of water and returned fire.

“Is this something you normally do?” I asked while I ducked from the flour now flying freely through the air.

Harrison recovered first, his palms in the air as if warding off an attack. “No. Never. I don’t know what came over Wren.”

Wren put her hands on her hips. “Me? You got me with the flour first.”

“I didn’t throw it at you. I put a tiny dot on your nose.”

Wren scowled, which was even more adorable because she was covered with flour.

“I think that water and flour aren’t a good combination for the floor. We should probably clean it up.”

Harrison rolled his eyes dramatically. “Ever the voice of reason. I don’t know, Wren. I don’t think Everly’s that fun.”

“I don’t think she is either,” Wren said.

I barely registered that they were up to something before they attacked. Harrison got me in a bear hold while Wren dumped flour on my head.

I squirmed and wiggled, trying to get out of Harrison’s tight grip, but it was no use. I was stuck. Instead of struggling, I buried my head in his chest, my fingers clinging to his shirt. It only made me hyperaware of his hard pecs pressed against my cheek and the strong band of his arm around me. Was he getting hard?

He shifted so that he wasn’t pressed against me. But I was positive I was right. Was it the wiggling and squirming, or was it something else? Did he get hard for any warm woman in his arms, or was there something about me?

I racked my brain for a way to put a stop to the onslaught. “Mercy! I call mercy!” I finally remembered the childhood word that ended any fight.

I tensed, but no more flour came at me.

“I don’t think she can handle us,” Harrison said to Wren.

“I think you’re trying to scare me off. You want me to move back to my apartment.” I didn’t like the thought of going back to my apartment where I drank tea alone in the morning while thinking of how I’d fill my day.

I sneaked a peek at Wren, whose eyes were wide. “We like you here.”

“I was just teasing you.” I couldn’t resist reaching out and brushing the flour off her cheek.

Harrison let me go. “Why don’t you two rinse off, and I’ll take care of the kitchen.”

I missed the warmth of his body and the protection of his arms. After my dad left, I never felt secure. I kept waiting for something else bad to happen. The fear only increased when things were good.

“You want to take a shower?” I asked Wren, holding my hand out to her.

She pulled her wet shirt off her chest. “I’d better.”

“Was that a new Sunday tradition?” I teased as we climbed the steps.

Wren laughed, letting her head fall back. I let the sound of it wrap around my heart. Finally, she recovered and shook her head. “No. That was crazy.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I just want to be prepared.”

Wren paused at the top of the steps, looking like she was thinking carefully about her answer. “We mess around but nothing like that. My dad’s comfortable with you.”

So, they were different with me here. I wondered if that would continue, or if my being here was a novelty that would wear off like the shine of a new toy.

“You need help in the shower?” I asked when we reached the hallway bathroom.

“I got it. Thanks,” Wren said sweetly as she closed the door.

I continued down the hall past the guest room and into the master, which was now mine, too. I grabbed new sweats and a T-shirt before starting the shower.

As the warm water rinsed away the flour, I couldn’t help but think it was the best Sunday I’d had in forever, and we hadn’t even eaten yet. My chest felt full and my limbs light. I was happy.

After my dad left, I’d always characterized it in my mind as before and after. That’s how Mom referenced his leaving, too. Things were different before, and they’d never be the same after. I’d been living in that state of expectant anticipation of something else bad happening ever since.

But maybe moving in with Harrison was a good thing. Maybe he and Wren would show me what it was like to live again. To relish each moment and be present. The entire time I was cuddling with Wren on the couch, watching cartoons, or nestled in Harrison’s arms, squeezing my eyes shut against the onslaught of flour, I hadn’t thought about anything else other than being in the moment.

I closed my eyes as I turned my face into the stream of water, smiling when I thought of how freeing it had been to watch Wren and Harrison let go. Wren had said something like that hadn’t happened before, but I had a feeling that wasn’t true. Even when I was around, they laughed and teased each other.

I’d just never been included in the wrestling matches or water fights. I’d always been more of a spectator. But now, I was part of their family, and fake or not, it felt real. Being included in their little family of two was nice.

It made me long to have a family of my own. Was it possible for me to let go and hope that person wouldn’t eventually walk away? It seemed impossible to ever take that leap. That’s why I kept myself so closed off from any possibilities. And if Harrison left, I’d lose my best friend.

I was making new friends with the wedding planners of Happily Ever Afters, but they were slowly pairing off, too. Lily had Jake, and Abby had Nick. Soon, everyone would settle down and have kids, and I’d still be afraid to take that step. I was afraid to live my life.

I wrapped my arms around my stomach, wanting to protect myself. If I wanted this thing with Harrison and Wren to work, I needed to let go of my reservations. Besides, this might be my only chance to experience what it would be like to truly be with someone.

I didn’t think I’d ever let go enough to marry someone, much less bring a child into the world. I couldn’t set up my child for the same pain I’d experienced.

I quickly toweled off and dressed. By the time I returned to the kitchen, there were a few pancakes on a plate on the island, and Wren was pouring syrup on hers.

“You’re just in time,” Harrison said.

“The kitchen looks great,” I said as I sat on the stool next to Wren.

“The trick is getting to it before the water and flour set into a concrete mixture.”

I accepted the plate Harrison offered. “I thought you didn’t have food fights often.”

“That was a first. I just know it’s not a good combination.”

I stacked a couple of pancakes, one chocolate chip and the other blueberry, onto my plate before accepting a coffee mug from Harrison. His fingers brushed mine, and my body felt flushed from the contact.

We ate the pancakes, talking about what we should do for the day. I wondered if they normally planned an outing or if it was for my benefit. I was looking forward to doing something fun with them today.

When Wren was finished eating, she said, “My hair is so long; it takes forever to dry.”

“I can help you. I have a dryer brush that makes your hair super soft,” I said to her as I ran my fingers through her damp hair.

“You’d do that?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll get the dishes,” Harrison offered as we headed upstairs.

“Your mom doesn’t dry your hair?” Too late I realized I probably shouldn’t have asked.

Wren’s face pinched. “She said it takes too long.”

I drew the dryer brush through her hair, taking my time. The movement was slow and methodical, soothing even. I wondered if Wren felt the same. “I’m sure she’s tired since she’s pregnant.”

In the mirror, Wren’s brow furrowed. “She was like that before she was pregnant.”

“Are you excited about being a big sister?” I asked, wanting to avoid the pitfalls of complaining about her mother.

“Eh.”

“You’re not sure about how things will change.”

Wren was quiet for a few seconds, and then she finally said, “Everyone expects me to be happy.”

I turned off the dryer to say, “You’re free to feel however you feel. Nothing is wrong with that. Okay?”

Wren’s shoulders lowered. “Yeah.”

She didn’t say anything else about her little brother or sister, but I sensed I’d said the right thing. I didn’t have any siblings, and other than Wren, I’d never been around kids, so I wasn’t sure I’d said the right thing. I could only hope I wasn’t messing things up more.

When her hair was dry, I sifted my fingers through it. “There. Isn’t that nice?”

Wren smiled. “It looks great.”

“Your hair is so beautiful.” Meeting her gaze in the mirror, I smiled. “And you are, too.” I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to tell a girl she was pretty. Was that good or bad? I made a mental note to do some research on talking to eight-year-old girls. When I was just a friend, it was different. There wasn’t this pressure to get things right. But now I was going to be her stepmother, or she thought I’d be, and there was weight to that.

Wren turned to play with the ends of my hair. “I want my hair to look just like yours.”

“Would you like me to curl it for you?”

Wren’s eyes widened. “Yes.”

“I think I still have a curling iron in here.” This was the hallway bathroom I used when I stayed overnight normally. I opened the cabinet and unraveled the cord from the iron.

“What are we doing today?” Wren asked.

Before I could answer, Harrison said, “We haven’t decided.”

I startled, pressing a hand over my chest. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

He stood, shoulder against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest with a hint of a smile on his face. “I stopped by when you were drying her hair.”

I plugged the curling iron into the socket. That explained why I didn’t hear him. How much had he seen? Had he noticed how much I enjoyed the act of drying Wren’s hair? Or that I said she was beautiful? I hoped I hadn’t overstepped.

Harrison winked at me before pulling out his phone. “I looked online, and there’s the Harvest Festival downtown. Or we could check out a park. Or go biking.”

I had gone biking with them many times before. There were a ton of rail trails in the area that were perfect for it. “What do you want to do, Wren?”

“Can we go to the festival?” Her lower lip protruded, and she folded her hands together in a pleading motion.

“You know you don’t need to do that. I’m putty in your hands.”

“I know.” Wren grinned.

I loved that they were so close. That she knew she could count on him. That he’d never leave her.

“Harvest Festival it is.” Harrison placed his phone into his pocket and rubbed his hands together. “You ladies ready?”

“Just as soon as I curl her hair, we will be.”

He clapped his hands together. “Perfect. I’ll pack some snacks.”

“Don’t forget the Pirate’s Booty,” Wren called to him.

“You got it,” Harrison said as he left.

He seemed happy today. Either he was excited to spend the day with Wren, or it was me.

“What’s Pirate’s Booty?” I asked her as I separated her hair with pins to curl separately.

“It’s a cross between cheese curls and popcorn.”

“Is it good?” I asked while wrapping her hair around the barrel of the curler.

“It’s Daddy’s favorite. You better grab a bag before he eats it all.”

“Is that how it is around here? Daddy eats everything?”

Wren’s eyes were wide, and she nodded. “Uh-huh. He does. He literally eats everything .”

I chuckled. “He’s a growing boy, right?”

She shook her head slowly. “I don’t think he’s growing anymore.”

He was all man. I’d felt his hard muscles as he wrapped around me in sleep last night. When I woke, I was warm all over, and my ass was pressed against his dick. I was positive his reaction was involuntary. Every guy said they woke up hard, but what was my excuse for being turned on whenever he was near?

Whatever was going on between us, I vowed to put it aside and enjoy the day. When would I ever get to be with Harrison again like this? This arrangement was supposed to be an experiment. A way to prove that this crush was a silly holdover from our teen years. I pushed away the doubt.

My feelings for him and my attraction only seemed to grow stronger.