Chapter 13

Thirteen

Harrison

I dropped off Wren at school on Monday, feeling like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Each time I saw her for the weekend, the time went by faster. All too soon, it was time for her to go back to school or to Lola’s, and I hated it.

On the way to school, Wren asked again if she could spend more time with me. I told her I was working on it, but it wasn’t enough. On the drive home, I called Jackson to get an update.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “I wanted to get an update on the custody case.”

“I wanted to talk to you about that. The papers are drafted, but I thought more about it, and I think we should wait.”

My heart rate increased. “What are you talking about? I thought we needed to file right away.”

“Lola’s having a baby soon, right?” Jackson asked.

“She’s due after Thanksgiving.” I wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything.

“Lola might be more amenable to you taking Wren when she has a baby to take care of.”

“Are you sure?” I wanted to do whatever he thought was best. I didn’t have any experience with these kinds of things. But at the same time, I was getting impatient.

“When you emailed me a few weeks ago, you mentioned coaching Wren’s basketball team.”

“That’s right. Lola was okay with it as long as I picked her up and dropped her off at all practices and games.”

“I think that’s a great idea. It shows you’re committed to your daughter, her interests, and activities.”

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling uncomfortable as I pulled into my driveway. “Of course I am.”

“It will look good in front of a judge. Plus, it shows Lola’s lack of interest.”

“Okaaay,” I said, drawing out the word. I wasn’t trying to prove that I was a good dad and that Lola was a bad mother. I just wanted more time. I believed Wren should have equal time with both of us.

“We’ll see how it plays out. Keep track of every time you take her to practice or to a game, and whether Lola attends.”

“I can do that.” I just wasn’t sure how I felt about keeping a list. It felt deceitful.

Jackson cleared his throat. “We’ll see how things go when the baby comes. We’ll reevaluate then.”

I sighed. “It’s just, Wren asks me every time I drop her off if she can spend more time with me. It sucks.”

“You need to be patient. These things take time. If Lola does something crazy, we can file an emergency motion for custody.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sometimes, in these situations, the mother freaks out when we file for custody. She pulls back, refuses to bring the kid for scheduled visitations.”

“I’m always the one who picks up and drops off.”

“You didn’t mention that before.”

“It gives me more time with Wren, and Lola’s never offered to help.”

“That’s interesting. Another thing in your favor.”

“I’m not interested in proving she’s a bad mother. I may not agree with the way she does things, but she’s not hurting Wren.”

“I understand that, and we’re not saying she is. We’re just going to lay out the facts, and a judge will have no choice but to conclude you deserve more time. That sound good?”

“Yeah. I’m good with that.” I didn’t want to trash Lola. That couldn’t be good for our co-parenting relationship. I didn’t want to ruin our relationship. I just wanted more time, and no matter how many times I brought it up, she shut me down.

I hoped Jackson was right, and the baby coming would change her perspective. That she’d be more willing to give me time.

I got off the phone, still feeling uncertain about the delay. Jackson’s reasoning made sense, and I wasn’t looking forward to Lola’s reaction to the request. It would be ideal if we could resolve things amicably without involving the courts.

In this situation Lola held all the power, and it sucked. I wanted to share in the decision-making as well as have equal time with Wren. I just hoped Lola would come around. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could take the internal struggle of Wren begging me to change things. I felt powerless in the situation.

At home, I tried to settle into work mode, pushing away my uneasiness, but it was impossible. By the time Everly was home after work, I had a headache, and my stomach was rumbling. I’d forgotten to eat lunch.

“Are you okay?” Everly asked, stopping by the doorway to my office.

I let out a breath. “Yeah, I talked to my attorney.”

Everly moved farther into the room, concern lining her face. “How are things going with the custody case? Did he file?”

I ran a hand through my hair, knowing it was a mess from doing the same thing all day. “He wants to wait.”

“Why?” Everly’s forehead wrinkled as she sat in one of the leather chairs across from me.

“He wants to see how things play out with the new baby. Lola might naturally loosen the reins and let me have Wren more. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to coach her basketball team, showing that I’m an involved parent.”

Everly cocked her head. “You’re an involved parent without that.”

“I think Jackson wants more support for our case. He’s gambling that Lola won’t have time when the baby comes to pay attention to Wren. He wants me to keep a list of every time I do drop-off, pickup, or take her to a practice or game. And note whether she attends.”

Everly’s face twisted. “That feels a little yucky.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “Like I’m taking advantage of Lola having a baby. I didn’t want to trash her. I’m not out to prove she’s not a good mother. Wren’s been begging me for more time, and I want that too. Lola has always been in control, and I’ve gone along with that. But I want more time. I need it.”

“I know you do.” Everly came around the desk, and I turned my chair, my legs falling open to give her space to walk between them.

She perched on one thigh, wrapping an arm around my shoulder as she played with my hair. My dick immediately sprang to attention. We hadn’t done anything since that kiss in the kitchen when Wren was in the bathroom. Not that I hadn’t wanted to, but we were busy with work and Wren. There hadn’t been a good opportunity. Plus, I’d been worried about what it meant for our relationship. I needed Everly in my life. And the unsettling part was that I needed her to play the role of girlfriend.

But I wasn’t sure I could ignore this attraction anymore. I wanted to show her how I felt about her. I needed to give in to this pull. To see if the chemistry I felt was real.

“You make me forget about everything.” Even the ache in my head was fading into the background.

Her lips tipped up. “Yeah?”

“I want to kiss you so bad right now.”

Her eyes flared. “So, do it.”

Challenge accepted. Something clicked shut in my brain. My hand cupped the back of her head as I slowly guided her toward my lips. I wanted her. I wanted this.

I wanted something in my life that I could feel. That wasn’t elusive or out of my control. When our lips touched, fireworks exploded in my brain. Finally , was all I could think as my lips moved over hers, and my tongue slipped into her mouth, searching out hers.

I groaned when she shifted to straddle me, settling over my straining dick. She pulled back slightly, her breath hitching when she slid over my hardness.

I dropped my forehead to hers. “That’s what you do to me.”

Her eyes fluttered shut, lost in the sensation of riding my dick through our clothes. “You get this hard for all your friends?”

“Not just anyone. You.” My tone was guttural. I was so far gone, there was no pulling me back. “Do you want this with me?” I asked her, needing her reassurance before I let go.

She nodded, her blue eyes glazed over with lust.

With a growl, I stood, her legs instinctively wrapping around my hips. Her arms hooked around my neck as I walked up the steps to our room. Not mine. Ours. I lowered her onto the bed, following her down. We never stopped kissing and touching.

My hand pushed up her shirt, the skin of her stomach soft under my palm. She was warm and pliable under my touch, but I wanted more. I wanted her to come apart, screaming my name.

I pulled my lips from hers to rip my shirt over my head and shove down my jeans. I wanted nothing between us.

I stood at the edge of the bed, and Everly’s legs spread to accommodate me. Everly’s appreciative gaze traveled over my pecs and down, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

“Harrison,” she said softly, reaching for me.

I placed one knee on the bed, kissing her as her fingers roamed my chest, my abs, then lower. When her hand gripped my cock and squeezed, I just about lost my mind. “Too many clothes.”

She wiggled out of her pants. I moved slightly to give her room but not wanting to go too far.

From best friends to lovers, I’d made my decision. This was happening. I was ignoring the warning signs and the red alerts.

I wanted to see my best friend naked. I wanted her hands trailing over my body. Her tongue. My muscles were stretched taut in anticipation.

None of this seemed crazy or out of character. When I touched Everly, everything felt right. When I kissed her, I wanted to sink into her, forgetting about my troubles with Lola and everything else. I’d never wanted anyone more.

With her pants on the floor, she was left with satin-looking emerald panties that begged for my touch. I settled between her legs as she pulled her shirt over her head and off. I groaned at the wet spot visible.

I breathed in her scent. “Gorgeous.”

Her eyes soft, she said, “You make me feel gorgeous. The way you’re looking at me.”

“Like I want to devour you?” I asked, my voice low.

She laughed softly. “Like that.”

I lifted her farther up the bed, bracing myself over her body, the satin of her lingerie soft against my skin. “Are you sure about this, Everly? There’s no going back. If we do this—”

Her fingers tangled in the hair on the back of my head. “I want this. I want you.”

That was all I needed to know before pressing my lips to hers and moving my cock between her legs. Her legs came around me as her hips moved in tandem with mine. “I want you, too.”

I’d never wanted anything else like I wanted her in this moment. It was like finally getting the thing you wanted your whole life. My head was roaring, and my fingers were tingling. I wanted to touch her everywhere. Lick her. Suck her. Fuck. I was so far gone. Incapable of coherent thought.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I said as I kissed her jaw, her neck, and her collarbone. Everly was mine.

Her fingers in my hair kept me anchored in place. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

I kissed the underside of her breast and the side, needing her to be as out of control as I was. “Your skin is so soft.”

Everly hummed.

I placed soft kisses on her breasts, teasing her, building her up before finally pulling one taut nipple into my mouth and sucking hard.

Everly arched into me, her body telling me she wanted this. She wanted me.

I can’t believe it took me this long to figure out what had been here all along. Everly. My friend. My soulmate. I tried not to get ahead of myself, but it felt so right. So perfect.

It couldn’t be anything else but destiny. I knew I sounded like the fairy tales we watched, but I didn’t care. I was so gone for her.

I moved to her other breast, lavishing it with the same attention I had the former. She undulated against my cock. Breaking away with a groan, I hooked my fingers in the straps of her panties and drew them down her legs, dropping kisses as I went.

I was torn between taking my time and savoring her, showing her how much she was cherished, and rushing, needing her more than my next breath. My body and mind were at war, and I couldn’t settle on any one approach. Instead, I gave in to my baser instincts.

When her panties fell to the floor, I settled between her legs as Everly propped herself up on her elbows to watch me. “Harrison?”

“Is this okay?” I parted her folds, my mouth a hairsbreadth away from touching her.

“Oh yeah,” she said breathlessly.

“Fuck. You’re gorgeous.”

“You said that.” Her voice was soft, almost disbelieving.

“I’ll say it a thousand times because it’s true.” Then I dove in, sucking and licking and touching. It was beautiful how she softened for me and opened up, letting me in. I alternated between my tongue and my fingers until she was writhing on the bed, her fingers fisting the comforter.

“Harrison, please.”

My jaw clenched. “You want my mouth or my dick?”

Her eyes wide, she said, “I need you inside me. Please, Harrison.”

I’d never talked this dirty to anyone. She made me crazy. Wild with lust, I couldn’t rein it in, and I didn’t want to try anymore. I reached over to the nightstand, pulled open the drawer, and grabbed a condom. Impatient, I ripped it with my teeth and threw the wrapper to the side. Smoothing it over my cock, I positioned myself at her entrance, a little light-headed that I was doing this with my best friend.

I braced my hands on the bed, looking into Everly’s eyes to make sure she was on the same page. When she nodded, I slowly pushed inside. “You feel so good.”

Her nails ran over my skin, keeping me present and in the moment.

I covered her mouth with mine while I reveled in the feel of her heat surrounding me. My chest was a mix of awe and rightness. This was where I was supposed to be.

When Everly gripped my ass, urging me deeper, it felt like coming home. The feelings threatened to overwhelm me—tenderness, affection, and maybe even love. What we felt for each other over the years was morphing into something bigger and brighter. More than I ever could have imagined.

Sensing Everly was close, I shifted my weight, reaching down with one hand to circle her clit. I watched her expression, entranced when she bit her lip and arched up, letting go. Her walls spasmed around me, sending me over too.

I collapsed onto her body, content with her being naked beneath me. After a few seconds, I shifted to the side. Kissing her shoulder, I said, “Let me take care of the condom.”

I headed to the bathroom, feeling light. It was similar to how I felt after a hard run. Endorphins flowed in my body, making me feel high. Like I could do and be anything.

I threw out the condom, washed my hands, and then checked to make sure I hadn’t changed. Being with Everly was life-altering, yet I looked like the same guy.

When I came out, she smiled at me from where she rested on her side.

I put one knee on the bed, eager to get back to her. “Are you okay?” I kissed her, unable to stay away from her. I wanted to kiss her, touch her, never stopping. I couldn’t believe she was here with me like this.

There was freedom in not avoiding each other anymore.

“Mmm. Never felt better.”

“Right? Why haven’t we been doing this all along?” I continued pressing kisses to her body, reveling in the goose bumps that followed my lips.

Everly laughed softly. “I guess we had our reasons.”

“I can’t think of any right now.” I moved to my back, resting on the pillow, an arm folded behind my head.

She immediately snuggled into my side.

“I like holding you.” Especially after sex. We’d been touching and holding each other the past few weeks, but it always left me wanting more. For the moment, my body was sated. I was satisfied, but I knew it wouldn’t be for long.

Now that Everly was mine, I never wanted to let go. Surely, she had to see that what we had was special, different than what she’d had with anyone else.

If anyone had lasting power, it was us. Friends since we were kids, together through everything, her dad leaving, her mom’s inattention, Lola’s pregnancy, and Wren.

“No regrets?” she asked me.

“Fuck no. This was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

“How can you be confident all the time? So sure that everything will work out?”

“I’m not sure about Wren and the custody situation. But with this, I am. We’ve already stood the test of time. We took our relationship to the next level. Nothing will change.” A voice in the back of my mind said that everything was going to change. But I ignored it. Put it out of my mind.

We could be friends and lovers. Our closeness would only enhance our relationship. It was part of the fairy-tale story. Being with your best friend, the person who knew you better than anyone.

“I hope so,” she said, snuggling into my shoulder, her hand resting over my heart and one slender leg thrown over mine.

I listened to her breathing even out. This was perfection.

Soon, I’d have Wren half the time, and everything in my world would be in alignment. Everly would see that. She had to.