Chapter 7

Seven

Harrison

A s we walked the brick-lined streets of historic Annapolis, the leaves were a combination of reds and oranges. The sky seemed impossibly blue, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight.

“It’s the perfect day, isn’t it?” Everly tipped her face back, presumably to feel the sun on her skin.

I reached out to hold her hand. “The best.”

I always enjoyed spending time with Wren and Everly, but today I was allowed to hold her hand because she was my girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancée. I didn’t have to pretend she was like a sister to keep my wayward thoughts at bay.

“Are you going to be kissing all the time now?” Wren asked as she looked over her shoulder at us.

“Absolutely. Get used to it.” I smiled at Wren before pulling Everly in to kiss her. I’d kissed her teasingly in the past, but this time, I allowed myself to linger. I wanted everyone who saw us to know things were different. My body had already gotten the message.

When I pulled back slightly, Everly blinked at me as if she were a little stunned. “How was that?” I asked, remembering our talk this morning about being convincing.

She smiled at that. “Not bad.”

“Uh,” Wren said as she turned back around. “I don’t know about this.”

“I thought you liked having me around?” Everly said, her voice light.

“I do. It’s the kissing and the other stuff I could do without.” Wren gestured wildly at us.

“I’m an affectionate guy,” I said as I came up beside Wren and threw an arm around her shoulder.

Wren merely gave me an irritated look, and I knew she was okay. The kids at school teased each other about crushes, so I was positive it was an extension of that, not any real animosity toward our relationship.

We’d reached the tables featuring vendors and slowed our pace to peruse the wares. We’d stop occasionally to get a closer look at something. Wren enjoyed shopping, so it was nice to have Everly share the experience.

When Everly purchased earrings for Wren, I put my arm around her and said, “You didn’t have to do that.”

Wren walked ahead of us, pleased with her purchase.

Everly smiled at me. “I wanted to.”

Before I could respond, someone said, “Hi, you guys.”

I squinted against the sun, wondering who’d recognized us. My heart picked up that we’d need to act the part.

It was Abby and her fiancé, Nick, with their boys, Abby’s son, Hunter, and Nick’s nephew, Brody. Both boys wore their travel team’s uniform with sneakers.

“You just come from a game?” I asked Nick.

“It’s a tournament. We had some time in between games, so we thought we’d stop by the festival.”

“What are you guys up to?” Abby asked, her eyes widening as she took in the way Everly was tucked into my side.

“I moved in with Harrison this weekend, and we’re spending the day together.” Everly smiled easily as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on her friend.

Motioning between us, Abby said, “I didn’t realize you two were together. When did this happen?”

“A few months—” Everly said at the same time I said, “A few weeks ago.”

Reading Everly’s slightly desperate look, I added, “We’ve been friends forever, and one thing led to another.”

Abby nodded. “Right. One thing led to another. And now you’re living together.”

“That’s right.” I hoped she wouldn’t ask any more questions. We clearly needed to work on both our story and the delivery.

“We’re happy,” Everly said so genuinely I believed her.

“I’m happy for you guys.” Finding the boys had wandered off, Abby said, “We’d better find our kids. It was great running into you.”

When we moved to separate, Abby lowered her voice, “We need to talk.”

Everly merely smiled as we kept walking.

“Can I get ice cream?” Wren asked, undeterred by our interaction as she pointed to a nearby stand.

I pulled out a few bills and handed them to her. “Go ahead. We’ll watch from here.”

Everly turned to me. “Well, that could have gone better.”

“Tell me about it.”

Everly shook her head. “I think it’s harder with people who don’t know us well. The ones we’re closer to, like Gran or Wren, want to believe it so badly that they’ll overlook our awkwardness.”

“And blatant lies,” I said, thinking of our attempt to quantify the length of our relationship.

“I think we need to keep it simple. No timelines or dates. We’re friends who grew closer, accidentally locked lips, sparks flew, and we realized what was under our noses the whole time.”

“Our soulmate?” I asked jokingly, but a tiny part of me thought her story sounded good.

Everly’s gaze shot to mine. “I don’t know if I believe in that.”

“I know for a fact you don’t.” Everly hated fairy tales of any kind. For her, reality had been harsh. She didn’t hold out hope for something that could disappear or be taken away from her. It sucked because I saw the way Wren was so excited about everything. Life was an adventure. I wanted Everly to feel that way, too. She created beautiful wedding invitations, so a part of her had to believe the ceremony or the vows meant something. But I wasn’t so sure.

“And you know why.” She looked away from me as the crowd moved around us.

I kept one eye on Wren. “Do you ever think someone might come along and show you something different?”

Everly laughed. When she caught my gaze, her face fell. “Oh, you’re serious.”

“That’s a no.”

Everly huffed out a breath, looked away, and then back to me. “I’d like to see someone try.”

I considered her for a minute. She was gorgeous, sweet, and kind. There was no reason why she shouldn’t be able to find a nice guy. One who’d stick around, unlike her asshole of a father. “Challenge accepted.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean, ‘challenge accepted’?”

The crowd had gotten thicker due to the long line at the ice cream stand, so Everly moved into my body, her hand resting on my chest. She was so close I could smell her floral shampoo. “You know exactly what I mean.”

Growing up, whenever we issued a challenge, it was accepted. We’d carry through, no matter what.

“You can’t be serious?”

“I can’t think of a better challenge. Convincing your black heart”—I touched my palm to her chest, her heart beating underneath—“that love really does exist.”

“Is that what you and Lola had?” Everly asked, before looking around to make sure Wren wasn’t within hearing distance.

“You know it wasn’t. But I know exactly what you’re doing. You’re deflecting.”

“Are you a therapist now?” Irritation tinged her tone.

I bit back my first instinct that she might be better off speaking to one and instead said, “I want you to be happy.”

“Like you are.”

“Maybe we can both find happiness.” The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea. “I’m going to show you that fairy tales really do exist.”

Wren chose that moment to appear next to us. “Are you sure you don’t want to try it? It’s delicious.”

“What flavor is it?” I asked, with my gaze still on Everly. Her cheeks were flush, her eyes sparking with the challenge I’d accepted.

“Strawberry.”

“My favorite. You bring me a spoon?”

“You know it.” Wren handed me a second spoon.

We had these traditions we’d developed over the years, even though my time with her had always been limited. We made the most of the time we had together.

My heart ached whenever I thought about Wren begging to stay with me. I wanted to give her everything she wanted, and I was doing everything in my power to make it happen. But it was up to a judge who didn’t know us or our family. I just hoped he or she would conclude that shared custody was the best for everyone involved. Wren wasn’t old enough to decide where she lived, but the judge might take her wishes into consideration.

We walked to the dock by the harbor and sat on one of the benches, watching the boats and tourists go by.

When we were finished eating, I got up and threw out our trash. Wren cooed to a few of the birds that were begging for food.

“Are you okay?” Everly asked me.

“I’m wondering if I made the right decision. If this plan will work out.”

“You’re thinking too far into the future.”

“I’m definitely guilty of that.”

We laughed softly together, and I interlaced my fingers with hers. It felt good to draw comfort from Everly. We were more open with each other and freer with our affections than we’d ever been before.

“It will work out,” Everly finally said as we watched Wren coax a pigeon to come closer.

I wanted to ask her how she could be so sure, but instead, I let the words settle around us like a warm blanket.

After Wren was finished playing with the birds, we walked back through the tables of vendors, toward my truck. On the way home, I thought about what it would be like to always share my weekends with Everly. Then it hit me that next week, Wren would be at her mother’s. We’d have the weekend to ourselves. Even if I had a wedding to set up for, it didn’t take the entire time.

“Can we set up the twinkle lights tonight?” Wren asked when I pulled into our driveway and parked.

“I don’t see why not.” Wren had been asking me to hang lights in the backyard. I’d bought them but wanted to wait for her to be here so we could put them up together.

“What are we doing?” Everly asked as we got out of the car.

“I bought some lights to string up in the backyard.” I went through the boxes in the garage, found what I needed, and carried them to the back deck.

“What a good idea,” Everly said as I set the boxes on the table.

I pulled out the lights while Wren discussed placement with Everly. I had a feeling these two would have me working on many projects around the house. But I didn’t mind. I enjoyed it.

They decided on the perfect placement, and I got out a ladder and started stringing them up. When Everly left to start dinner, I asked Wren, “How are you doing with everything?”

Wren fed me more of the string. “You mean with Everly living here?”

“Uh-huh,” I agreed as I paused to look down at her.

Wren shrugged. “It’s cool.”

Typical kid thing to say, but I let out some of the tension I’d been holding on to. “So, you’re good with it?”

“I like having her here. I love Everly.” Her voice was soft and full of emotion.

“I’m glad.” What would happen when this was over? Every time I thought about the eventual breakup, goose bumps raced over my skin.

A few minutes later, Wren added, “Being with Mom is different.”

We’d discussed this many times over the years, and I was sympathetic to Wren moving back and forth. It couldn’t be easy, but I didn’t see any way around it. We weren’t meant to be together. It was a drunken one-night stand. Not that I’d ever tell Wren the truth.

“Are you worried about how the new baby will change your relationship? A new baby with Mom, and Everly here with me?”

Wren was quiet for a few seconds, mulling over my question. “It’s different.”

“Yeah?” I asked as I got down from the ladder and moved it over a few feet.

“Everly’s always been here. It’s not really a change.”

“It takes some time to get used to new things and people.”

“I don’t feel like Everly takes anything away, if that makes sense.”

“I think it does.” Everly enhanced our lives, not detracting from it or taking up unnecessary space.

We worked in silence after that until Wren decided we had to have music. With her favorite movie theme playlist queued, Wren sang and danced. I found myself joining in when I remembered the lyrics. It was funny how having kids changed you. I’d never be caught singing princess songs before I had her.

We finished the last strand just as Everly came out to announce dinner.

“Let’s see how it looks.”

The girls gasped when I hit the switch. I watched the lights reflected in their eyes as they took it in.

“It’s lovely,” Everly said at the same time Wren clasped her hands together and said, “I love them. Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome.” I hope she knew I’d do anything for her.

“Do you want to eat inside or out here?” Everly asked after a few seconds.

“Outside,” Wren and I said at the same time. It was chilly, but we were wearing jackets, and I could turn on the gas firepit.

I turned on the fire as the girls brought out the food.

As we sat down to eat, Everly said, “These lights give the backyard a whole different feel.”

“Kind of like having you move in,” I said without thinking about my words.

Everly’s eyes shone from emotion. “I love being here, too.”

“You must get lonely living in your apartment,” Wren said. Her childlike innocence eliminated any filter.

“Wren—” I warned.

“No. It’s okay. I was lonely on my own. I don’t think I realized it until I moved in with you two. It’s only been a weekend, but I love it.”

We dug into fish, sautéed spinach, and baked potatoes. It was a simple meal, but I enjoyed it more because I didn’t have to cook it myself. If it had just been me, it would probably have been chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. Having Everly here made life more enjoyable.

After dinner, we helped Everly clear the dishes before returning to the backyard where Wren danced to the music still playing. Eventually, Wren convinced Everly to join her.

It was the perfect fall evening. Cool enough for a jacket and a fire, but not unbearably so.

“Come on, Dad.” Wren gestured at me to join them.

I got up reluctantly. “I don’t know about this.”

Just then, a slow song came on, and Wren declared she needed to go to the bathroom.

“Was that on purpose?” I asked Everly as I drew her into my arms.

She came willingly, standing close to my body as we swayed to the music.

Everly bit her lip. “I think so.”

“We’re being thrown together by my eight-year-old daughter. I’d apologize, but I’m not upset about it.”

“Me neither.” Everly breathed in the night air and said, “It’s the perfect night.”

“I think so too,” I said as I dipped her unexpectedly.

“Hey,” Everly said as I pulled her back up. The momentum had her pressed against my body with no space between us. Her breath hitched, and her eyes dilated.

Yeah, it was the perfect night. I didn’t want Wren to return for a few more minutes. I wanted to revel in the feel of Everly in my arms, in this crazy limbo we found ourselves in, hovering somewhere between friends and something more.

I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, and one step would take me over. It was exhilarating to think of the possibilities when the risks were so great.

Just because we were pretending to be together didn’t mean anything had changed. Everly was still my best friend, and I didn’t want to do anything to ruin that.