Peachy Keen (14 page)

“Gross. Seriously, I was being polite by asking, I don’t need to hear about the grotto or whatever.”

“Would you friggin’ listen?” I suddenly felt a twinge of sweet memory, thinking about Georgia telling me about her night gone wrong with that asshole Nate, and I smiled.

Lost in my head for a second, I replayed everything following that conversation quickly in my mind. I missed her already. By the time I snapped out of it and looked up, Holly grinned at me.

“If she put that goofy ass look on your face, I want to hear all about her. Continue.”

I told her everything—leaving out the descriptive pornographic details, of course—then stared into my empty bowl as she mulled it over.

“So you want to, like, date her?” Holly asked.

“Maybe. No,” I backpedalled. “I don’t know. I guess I want the option but she’s pretty against it despite our last night together. There’s something there and it would be nice to see what it could be.”

“Wait, I’m confused. Why would Evan care?”

“That’s her issue. I don’t know what she’s so freaked out about but you know Evan; he may’ve been a complete manwhore all those years but he’s always romanticized that kind of crap,” I said, standing to take our empty bowls to the sink. “Best friends in love with best friends. He’d eat that shit up in a heartbeat.”

I turned on the faucet and did a quick rinse on both bowls before I put them in the dishwasher. When I turned back to Holly, she was gawking at me.

“What did you say?” she asked with a smirk.

My brows knit together and I resumed my seat across from her slowly. “What?”

“Best friends…
in love
with best friends? Are you saying you love this girl?”

Fuck
. The words had come out so quickly and easily I hadn’t even noticed I’d say them. I narrowed my eyes on the wood grain of my kitchen table. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t love Georgia, but I wondered if she’d let me if I could. There was a spark and it was more than the fire that sent us reeling into bed more than once.

“I didn’t mean that. I—I just…” My mouth couldn’t even convince my brain, let alone my little sister.

“Harry,” she said softly.

When I looked up at her, her lips were pulled tight in a thin, sad smile and her eyes took pity on me.

“I’m not in love with her. But I like her.”

“And…?”

One side of my mouth turned up in a smile. She’d always seen right through me.

“And she’s coming to the party Evan’s throwing me in two weeks.”

Holly smacked her hands on the table and let out a cross between a scoff and a laugh. “That little ass clown didn’t invite me? What the hell?”

“Obviously, I’m going to need you there.” I ducked my head. “Evan’s not great with that sort of thing. It’s amazing he didn’t make me plan my own birthday party.”

Holly was still pouting over Evan’s oversight when my phone rang in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw it was Evan and answered swiftly.
Back to work.

“Hello?”

“Welcome home, man. How was it?” Evan asked.

I held up a finger to Holly and pushed through the swinging kitchen door to the living room. Steadying myself with one hand against the mantle, I prepared another lie of omission for my best friend.

“It was good. I’m all relaxed and rejuvenated, just like you wanted.”

Evan laughed on the other end. “Rejuvenated? You totally got laid. But, since I know you’re not gonna tell me about it, I better just put you back to work, eh?”

I snorted a light laugh and remembered Georgia’s endearing mockery of my accent and her firm inquisition about Evan’s lack of one. Every now and then, and only with me, he slipped. I scrubbed a hand over my face and prayed the task he was about to request was small. The fatigue from my long day of flights and my long night of sex was catching up with me. But the thought of work, while exhausting, was also normalizing. I needed to get back to reality to get through the next two weeks until I saw her again. After that—after I got the chance to touch her one more time, even a handshake—I didn’t know how I’d find normal again.

14.

Find My Way Back Home

Georgia

I’d spent my last day at Desire slowly packing my things and occasionally burying my face in the sheets that still held Harrison’s scent, which only thrust me into the kind of shame spiral I hoped to avoid.

Kissing him on the beach, letting him kiss me outside my room and then…sharing another night with him, a night that felt more passionate than any night I’d ever shared with a man… My thoughts battled one another, one side trying to justify my right to satisfy my needs with whomever I saw fit while the other side told me what we’d done had the power to jeopardize relationships and friendships. Sex wasn’t worth the kind of drama that would ensue.

But I’d done it. We’d done it. Harrison and I were so far over the line at this point I couldn’t even see it if I looked over my shoulder.

Back at home, I pretended my vacation hadn’t happened. Not just for Danielle’s sake, either. I shoved my bathing suits and sexy lingerie to the bottom of my laundry hamper and threw my plane tickets and resort receipts away before Dani picked me up at the airport. I was never there. I was never with Harrison.

A sigh burst forth from me as I stared at the textured ceiling of my bedroom. Lying on the floor, letting the condemnatory daydreams interrupt my ab workout, I felt a strange pulse in my chest at the mere thought of his name. Maybe sex wasn’t worth drama or any ounce of worry, but what if it wasn’t just sex?

A knock at the door pulled me to my feet and I hurried to answer it, though I had no idea who would be stopping by on a Monday afternoon. I’d taken one last day off of work before I snapped back to the dreaded reality of Mr. Young’s office and didn’t particularly want to be disturbed.

A grin spread on my lips when I remembered the first time I’d flung open our door to reveal the man Danielle and I had both equally lusted over from afar. It felt like a lifetime ago though it had only been a few months. It felt like forever because their lives had fallen instantly into the perfect rhythm. Despite being miles apart and from different worlds, they were making it work. They were putting in the effort to stay together and me and my needs didn’t have any place skipping stones over those still waters.

Evan Weston gave me a look and forced a little smile, surely thinking I looked like a creep beaming at him.

“Hey,” I said, wiping the smile off my face and letting him inside. “She’s not here.”

Evan roughed up the hair at the back of his neck, standing awkwardly in the living room as I flopped down on the couch. “I know,” he replied. “I came to talk to you. I mean, I’m surprising her…later…but I came early to see you.”

My stomach knotted. Fuck. Had Harrison been that much of a softie that he couldn’t wait two days before spilling his guts to his best friend?! I kept myself from reacting physically and simply tossed my hair with my fingers.
Play it cool.

“Okay, what’s up?”

He sat down beside me, pulling something from his back pocket as he did. I felt sick waiting for the bomb to drop. Evan handed me two folded up papers and I narrowed my eyes on him as I took them.

“I wanted you to know, not just because I need your opinion but because this affects you too,” he said.

I unfolded the papers and my eyes landed on a picture of the most beautiful house I’d ever seen. The other paper had smaller photos of the place, including a huge pool in the back overlooking a lake and the most stunning master bathroom. I shot Evan a look and glanced at the first page again noticing it was a listing. There was the square-footage, a shitload of amenities, and of course the price.

“Holy shit!”

“Do you think she’ll like it?” he asked, ignoring my outburst.

My eyes snapped up to meet his. “Dani?”

He shrugged and nodded at the same time, a wave of insecurity washing over his expression for an instant. Even when he’d walked in here pleading with Danielle to take him back, he hadn’t looked this pathetic.

“I went and looked at it yesterday. I think I’m gonna buy it. For us.”

I didn’t think my stomach could drop any farther, but that admission knocked it down another notch. Instead of feeling happy for Danielle, my first thought was a curse, wondering how I’d pay for this apartment on my own—certainly not with the paycheck of an aerobics instructor.
Guess there’s no quitting my job now.
The next thought surprised me even more. I was angry. Not about the house, not even about Danielle potentially moving out or the fact that Evan had burdened me with this secret, asking for my opinion.

No, I was angry because this was the final nail. The last straw. The signature in binding ink, solidifying the truth in my mind that Evan and Danielle were forever. And while I wanted that to make me happy—while I wanted to feel joy for the girl I nearly considered a sister—I was angry that all I took away from it was Evan and Danielle forever meant Georgia and Harrison never.

I put on a happy face and said all the things I was supposed to say.
Congratulations. She’ll love it. I’m so happy for you two.
Evan lost the scared puppy look and the confident movie star returned. He thanked me then slapped his knees as he stood up.

“I’m going to make dinner so it’s ready when she gets home. Will you be joining us?” he asked.

“No,” I murmured. “Thanks, though.”

He headed to the kitchen, humming happily, and I sank a little deeper into the sofa as the weight of his impending purchase sat on me harder. A little vibration rumbled through the couch and I pulled my phone out to check it but I didn’t have any messages or notifications. Another buzz sounded and then I saw the phone peeking out of the cushions where Evan had been sitting. My fingers itched to grab it and when a third buzz shook the couch, I snatched it up.

Harrison: Photo shoot Thursday at 8:15

Harrison: Oh and I gave Fifi a bath. Jesus, how does an indoor dog get so smelly??

Harrison: Let me know what Georgia thinks of the house…

I didn’t have time to talk myself out of what I did next. My fingers navigated through Evan’s phone so swiftly it was as though he’d asked me to invade his privacy. Another few swipes and all evidence of my snooping was gone. I deleted the text I’d sent myself from his phone then laid it back on the couch cushion before tiptoeing to my bedroom.

Flopping on my bed, I looked at my phone and felt like laughing. I had a text message from Evan Weston on my main screen but things like that no longer thrilled me. What the message contained was what had my heart racing. I added the contact information from the text to my list and couldn’t stop myself from typing a message.

Me: That’s a big fucking house your boy is looking at

Harrison: Who is this?

A laugh cracked out of me at how quickly he responded and my bottom lip made its way between my teeth as I typed my reply.

Me: I’ve found recently that I have more fun when I don’t share my name…

My lip popped out of my mouth and curled into a grin when I read his next message.

Harrison: Ha! Call me right now

My eyes darted to my bedroom door, making sure it was closed before I placed a call to the number I’d just stolen out of Evan’s phone. It only rang twice before his warm voice entered my body once more. Even miles away it aroused me.

“Georgia?”

I breathed a laugh. “Hey, Harry.”

“You know, there’s not too many people I let call me Harry,” he said before releasing a sigh. “But I like the way it sounds when you say it.”

I held in the damning squeal that threatened to emerge.

“So, how did you get this number?” he asked.

I spread out on my stomach on top of my comforter and pushed my hair over my shoulders and hummed. “I got it off the bathroom wall of a
Tim Hortons
. It said, ‘call for a dull time.’”

“And you call me the smartass.” Harrison chuckled. “How are you?”

His tone softened with the question and I felt my chest constrict a little. I shouldn’t have called him. But dammit, I needed his voice in my ears. I needed to know he was still out there somewhere. That he’d been real.

I huffed and rolled over onto my side. “Oh, you know me…I’m peachy.”

Silence hung on the line and I wondered what he was thinking. I wondered where he was and what he looked like the moment he saw my text. I wondered if he missed me like he said he would and whether there was someone who’d been missing him while he was away that he’d neglected to tell me about.

“Why don’t I believe you?”

I let go of a sigh as his tone reminded me how clearly he saw right through me—even on the phone. “I’m not going to be able to leave my job if Dani’s moving in with Evan.”

“Ah, shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it,” Harrison replied. “He’s been looking at houses for weeks.”

“It’s not your fault. And, I mean, it’s okay. After everything Danielle has done for me, I can’t be mad at her for being happy. She deserves it. I’ll figure out the job thing eventually. Maybe in a year or two.”

Even saying the words made my throat stiffen with overwhelming emotion. It felt like I was always putting my life on hold. I was always saying later…eventually…someday.

“What exactly has Danielle done for you? I don’t doubt she’s a great friend, but I don’t get why you think your happiness should be second to hers.”

I sat stunned for a moment then scoffed into the phone. “She’s taken care of me. She’s paid my bills when I didn’t have a job—or worse, when I blew my rent money at the bars. She nurses me through every cold and hangover. She’s been there for me more than my own family. I owe her a lot…you don’t understand.”

“Are you convincing me or yourself?” he asked softly. “You’re really good at putting yourself in boxes, you know that? I bet Dani would hate to know you martyr yourself like this just because you think you owe her for being a friend. That’s not how friendship works. It isn’t a points system. There’s no scoreboard dictating whose turn it is for happiness. No one has to lose.”