Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Of course. I’ve been through plenty of bad times in my life. I get it,” Mads says, and really, how fucking cool is he? He’s only here because he’s friends with Rylan. He doesn’t really know us. And he’s also a professional athlete, for God’s sake. I’m sure he hasn’t moved his own things in years, yet he’s doing it for Eric.
“We got’chu.” Rylan winks.
“One of the perks of being Jilted Exes,” Anthony adds. “A friendship we never would have had otherwise.”
“I know. And I want that for Eric too.” It’s my biggest fear—that he doesn’t have that because of me. That somehow his devotion to me holds him back.
And how do I repay him? By marrying him. God, please don’t tell me I’m the worst best friend in the world. But we can make this work. I know we can. It’s in name only.
Hayes often struggles to open up, to share parts of himself, but it’s him who says, “He has it…with us too.”
Rylan wraps an arm around him, pulling Hayes close and kissing the top of his head the way I would do with Eric or him with me. We probably shouldn’t be as affectionate as we are. But I don’t know how to be any other way with him, and I’m not sure Eric would let me even if I tried.
“I think this calls for a group hug,” Rylan says.
“But is it really a group hug without Eric?” Anthony asks.
“How about we save the hug for the end?” If there’s going to be hugging, I wouldn’t feel right without Eric involved.
“So strange how I’m the one who’s in touch with my emotions more than anyone here,” Rylan teases.
“Do you know me?” Mads adds, and then we get to work again.
It doesn’t take the five of us too long to get everything either moved into my shed, garage, or Eric’s room in my house. Eric made chicken fried rice for us, and I make him sit down first while I fix his plate.
The group of us eat before Mads, Rylan, Hayes, and Anthony have to go. Anthony’s working at Lush tonight, a queer bar in West Hollywood where he dances. Apparently, Mads is dragging Rylan to yoga, which Rylan tries to get out of.
One group hug at Rylan’s insistence later, and then they’re gone, leaving me and Eric home alone. “I’ll go drop off the U-Haul and get my car. I’ll be back soon.” I bend over where Eric is sitting on the couch to kiss him but then stop myself. Maybe it’s too much? All the affection and the marriage and stuff?
“Can I go with you?” Eric asks.
“Yeah, of course. I just wasn’t sure if you needed to rest or anything.”
He sighs. “I’m fine, D.”
“Why are you mad?”
He drops his head against the back of the couch. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to feel like I can’t pull my own weight. You do so much for me.”
Which he’s told me more than once in the past couple of days. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being overprotective. I should be better about it because I know how it feels to be on the other side of it. I just…love you and want to be there for you the way you’ve always been there for me.” I’m surprised when he grabs me and tugs me down to his lap. I have to maneuver myself so I don’t hit his foot. “What are you doing?”
“Cuddling.” He wraps his arms around me and buries his face in the back of my neck.
“Yes, but why?” The thing is, I really like to be close to Eric this way. I enjoy his arms around me, his cinnamon scent and how comfortable he always makes me. I’ve never felt safer than I do with him, but I’m also careful not to go overboard. Sometimes it’s harder to ignore how attractive he is when we’re this close.
“Because I love you and you’re my best friend. Because you are overprotective, but I also kinda suck because it annoys me and I like it at the same time. Who doesn’t like to have someone care about them that much?”
I slide off him so my ass is on the cushion but my legs are still over his thighs. “I love you too.” I run my fingers through my hair. “And I get it because I was the same. I was so thankful to have you, but I also wanted my independence. I think that’s realistic. I’ll spoil you, but I’ll try not to be too much.”
“That works for me! I’m glad we could have this conversation where I basically get my way.”
“You’re such a brat.” I stand, then take his hand and pull him to his feet.
I keep going back and forth between worrying one minute and feeling like everything will be just fine the next.