Chapter 8

Eight

Everly

M y skin tingled everywhere Harrison’s body was pressed against mine while we danced under the twinkling lights. The fire crackled nearby, heating us as we swayed with the occasional dip. Each time, he pulled me into his body so we were touching from chest to thighs.

Was he driving me crazy on purpose? Or was it a natural progression from our arrangement? We’d naturally grown closer while pretending to be a couple. Was he just playing a part, or did he want to hold me in his arms?

We’d danced when he was my “friend date” to senior prom. But there wasn’t this same sense of expectation in the air back then. Now the air was thick with tension and unanswered questions.

Was it too much? Was it crossing an invisible line? Should I talk to him about being more careful? Especially since we needed to think about more than just our feelings. There was Wren and his grandmother to consider.

Before I could broach the subject, Wren was back. Her nose wrinkled. “It’s still playing slow songs.”

She moved to Harrison’s phone, scrolling through the playlist until she found a fast one she liked.

Harrison still held me close as he dipped his head, his lips by my ear. “Thank you for the dance.”

My breath hitched. He’d never looked at me like that before. Like he wanted to devour me. It was exhilarating.

Before I could respond, he let me go and pulled Wren into a silly dance around the patio.

Wren’s laugh trailed behind her. I sat on a nearby chair to watch them together. They were close. Closer than I’d ever been with my dad. But then it was different when you grew up in a two-parent household. One parent is naturally the main caregiver and the other one kind of fades into the background.

I didn’t know why that was. I would think the preferred arrangement was when both parents were equally involved. I wondered if my dad felt like my mom did everything, so he didn’t have to. Did he feel left out? Is that why he looked for someone else? I would never know the answer, and I needed to let it go.

Harrison encouraged me to confront him, but I never had. He was convinced it would be good for me to get my frustrations out. Even if my dad didn’t have any answers for me, it would be cathartic. I wasn’t so sure. I didn’t want to see him happy with his other kids when I wasn’t enough.

Harrison appeared in front of me. “No sad faces.” Then he tugged on my hand, pulled me up, and led me around the patio with them, dancing and singing. I never let go like this. But it was freeing.

Harrison kept his hand in mine as Wren entertained us by singing the lyrics and acting out parts of the movies that went with the songs. I laughed so hard my sides hurt.

Finally, Harrison and I collapsed onto the couch.

“I think it’s time for bed,” Harrison said, pausing the music.

“Mom lets me stay up late.”

From the look on Harrison’s face, I knew he didn’t like that. “It’s better to stay on a schedule and go to bed at the same time each night. You’ll get better sleep and feel more rested for school.

“Go get started on your shower, and I’ll be up in a minute.”

“Can I listen to music on the water speakers?”

“Sure.”

Wren disappeared with his phone.

“I sounded like an uptight dad, didn’t I?”

“You sounded like a good dad.”

“She loves listening to music, and if it gets her to take showers, then it’s worth it.”

I’d observed the constant push and pull between Wren and Harrison over the years. He had to pick which battles to fight and which ones to let go of. It was made infinitely more difficult because Lola seemingly had no rules.

Harrison pulled my hand to his lap, where he held it on his thigh. The muscles flexed and tightened under my touch. Did he realize what he was doing? Or was he so lost in our role, he did it without thinking?

“It was the best day.” He rested his head back and closed his eyes.

“It was.”

“Thank you for everything. Moving in. Playing the part,” he murmured, his voice so low it rumbled in my chest.

Those last three words reminded me this wasn’t real. No matter how much I wanted it to be. “You know I’d do anything for you and Wren.”

Harrison shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if we take advantage of you.”

“You don’t.”

He opened his eyes and looked at me. “I don’t know. You could be out at the bars, picking up a guy.”

I laughed. “I’m sure I’d meet a quality guy at a bar.”

“Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. That’s how Lola and I hooked up.”

“Are you saying that it was a love match?” I remembered Lola from high school as being a partier.

“Definitely not. But I never talk bad about her in front of Wren.”

“Of course not.” I’d never heard him say anything negative about her when she was around. Only when it was just us two.

“If I didn’t get Wren out of it, I wouldn’t have seen her again.”

I was tired of this conversation. “I don’t think I want to meet someone. I don’t think I could ever trust someone enough to mix our finances and buy a house together. If I tied myself to someone in that way, it would give them the opportunity to walk away.”

“That’s not how it is for everyone. My parents are happy.”

“No more talk of me dating other guys.”

“I won’t feel guilty for holding you back anymore because I promised you I’d show you the fairy tale.”

I’d hoped he’d forgotten about that. “How are you going to do that if I’m not dating anyway?”

“Well, dear Everly, you’re supposed to be dating me.”

“So, you’re going to show me that fairy tales really do exist.” This was what he’d said earlier when Wren interrupted us. But it didn’t make sense that it would be him showing me unless he planned on giving us a real shot.

Wren appeared at the door with a brush. “Everly, can you brush my hair?”

Harrison held his palm over his chest. “Not me? I’m hurt.”

“Daddy,” Wren said with a smile. “Everly’s better at it.”

Harrison fell over in mock shock.

I stood and patted his shoulder. “You’ll be okay.”

I knew Harrison prided himself on being able to do a little girl’s hair.

“You two are ganging up on me,” he called after me.

“You know you love it.” I followed Wren to her room where I sat on the bed, her between my legs on the floor. I brushed her hair, carefully untangling any knots.

“You’re so much better at this. It hurts when Daddy does it.”

“That’s because he’s never had someone brush his hair. He doesn’t know what it feels like.”

I sensed Wren rolling her eyes. “Duh. He doesn’t have much hair.”

“You know he watches videos about styling girls’ hair?” I said to her. It was important for her to know that Harrison tried, even when he fell short. He didn’t want to be one of those dads who deferred his daughter to someone else who might know better. He wanted to be the one she could come to.

“You don’t think I hurt his feelings, do you?”

“He’s tough, so probably not, but it wouldn’t hurt to give him extra hugs and kisses at bedtime.”

Wren nodded. “I can do that.”

I smiled. “You’re a good kid.”

“The best, right?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Absolutely. I love you so much, and I’m so happy to be living here with you.” I reached my arms around her shoulders, hugging her.

Wren covered my hands with hers. Emotion filled my chest, threatening to burst. I was happy and content here. It was scary because I knew it wouldn’t last, and I hated the thought of moving back into my apartment.

I resumed brushing her hair.

Harrison leaned on the doorframe. “You two about done? I’m hoping to read a certain wizarding book. Unless Everly has taken over that job, too?”

Wren scrambled onto the bed. “I want you to.”

I moved to the edge of the double bed while Wren cuddled up with Harrison, and he pulled out the large, illustrated version of the book.

“I love these books,” I said to them.

“Daddy said we have to read them before we watch the movies.”

“Which one are you on? Maybe I could read it with you.”

Harrison tilted the cover so I could see it was the third book.

“You live here now, silly. You can read it along with us every night,” Wren said.

“I’d love that.” I settled back in the cushions and let Harrison’s deep voice wash over me. His narration was almost as good as the audiobook. I found these books comforting to re-listen to. I’d read them when I was a teenager and loved the escape they gave me into another world. Where kids could leave their homes at eleven and move into a school, living with other kids in a dorm. Escape their reality. Sometimes even staying for holidays.

I’d almost drifted off when Harrison whispered in my ear. “She’s asleep.”

I sat up, seeing him give Wren one last kiss. I got up slowly, stretching as I walked out of the room.

“That was nice,” I whispered as we walked out. It almost made me reconsider my no-kids rule.

“Thanks for doing that. She loves having you here.”

“I love being here, and you’re such a good narrator. I almost fell asleep listening to your voice.”

“Would you like me to read one of your books to you at night?”

I laughed as we reached the bottom of the stairs. “I might like that a little bit too much.”

Harrison growled under his breath and tugged me to him. “You being here is dangerous. It’s opening all these possibilities in my head.”

“What do you mean?” I asked when I could get a word out.

“Tucking Wren in, spending Sundays together, sleeping in my bed, getting naked in my shower.”

“ Naked in your shower? That’s awfully specific.” And something someone might say to a person they’re dating.

Harrison touched my shoulder, leading me in the direction of the slider. “You want to take a glass of wine outside?”

“Yes.” Now, this was something we did when I stayed over. We’d watch a movie with Wren, maybe play some games, and then he’d tuck her in while I gathered some appetizers and wine to sit outside.

“I’ll uncork the wine.”

“I’ll grab the blankets.” Outside, I turned on the fire again, moving the chairs around the pit.

When Harrison came outside carrying two wineglasses and a bottle of wine, I pointed at the lights. “These were a great addition.”

It gave the patio a cozy feel. I wanted to hang out here all night, looking at the stars, not wanting the night to end. My heart was already picking up at the thought of sleeping in Harrison’s bed again.

My body heated at the idea of one of us making a move. Would he be too sleepy to resist, or would reason stop him from doing more?

He sat next to me, pouring us each a glass of wine. Setting the bottle to the side, he handed me the glass. “Let’s toast.”

“To new beginnings?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

Harrison smirked. “To showing you that fairy tales really do exist.”

I paused my glass in mid-air.

“Are you really not going to clink to that?” Harrison asked softly.

His voice was getting to me, ever since he read to me and Wren. I wanted him to read a sexy scene to me while I circled my clit with my fingers, dipping inside.

“What are you thinking about?”

I laughed, shaking it off. “Nothing you want to hear.”

His eyes darkened as if he’d guessed. “I definitely want to hear about it.”

“I was just thinking about how sexy your voice is, and what I’d love to do while you read me a steamy scene.” Harrison read over my shoulder a few years ago and was shocked to read the explicit scene in one of my romance books. I explained how the scenes added to the character’s development and emotional arc, but he was stuck on whether I masturbated to the scene when I was home alone in bed.

His hand that held the glass dropped as he shifted forward, his elbows on his knees. “You’re killing me.”

“We’ve been friends for years. Why does thinking about me masturbating suddenly cause a problem?”

He squeezed his eyes shut at my last word. “Fuck. I hadn’t let myself think of the possibilities before.”

“Would this be the case for any woman who slept in your house?”

“Fuck no.”

“Then why now?”

“As much as I love where your head is at, I have a feeling you’re stalling. We were going to toast to the fairy tale that’s coming your way.”

I groaned. “Fine.”

I hoped to clink glasses and move on without another word, but Harrison was in a playful mood and moved his glass out of the way. “We have to do the full toast.”

I gestured with my hand. “On with it, then.”

“Everly, I intend—”

“I feel like you’re about to get down on one knee.” Everything in my body perked up at that. I loved the idea of Harrison loving me, pledging his life to me.

“Stop interrupting,” he chided. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes, I intend to show you that fairy tales really do exist. Starting with the lights.”

“This was part of your grand scheme?” I enjoyed the back-and-forth. He was different tonight. There was an edge to him, one I’d never seen before. Was it the sexual tension?

It made sense that we’d never given in to it before because it was overwhelming. I wanted to do more than just sleep with him. I wanted to act out that masturbation fantasy. And in my head, he only read so long before he lost control completely. Dream Harrison wanted to show me the fairy-tale happy ending of me orgasming on his tongue.

“You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?”

“I think we’re going to have to do it. I can’t get the image out of my head.”

“I kind of want to be in your head right now, but first things first.”

“Fine, I’ll toast to you showing me that fairy tales do exist, and I intend to enjoy every minute of this scheme of yours.”

“It’s going to be great. Just wait and see,” he said as we clinked glasses, and a tingle ran down my spine.

It felt like an invisible barrier between us had fallen tonight. We’d opened the possibility of exploring whatever this was between us. The craziest thing was, I wanted him to show me that fairy tales were real. There was a time in my life when I believed anything was possible, and maybe I needed to know that was still true.

I’d been stuck in a rut with my office job that didn’t satisfy my passion for art. Maybe this was the catalyst I needed to take some risks, both personally and professionally.