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But everything she’s searching for is in the way I’m looking at her, like the whole world has fallen away, swallowed up by the love I feel.
She ducks her head.
“I’m not sure about you kids, but I’m ready for cake,” Andrew pipes in. He shoots me a quick glance. “Strawberry rhubarb, right?”
“Always,” I confirm. “With cream cheese frosting.”
I was in charge of his birthday cake this year.
I’m in charge of everyone’s birthday cake every year.
“I’ll never take Brant for grant-ed,” he winks, sweeping past me.
Wow.
I’m pretty sure the joke itself has secondhand embarrassment.
We all groan simultaneously as Samantha trails after him, giving my elbow a tender squeeze along the way. “I’ll fetch the plates.”
As they step into the kitchen through the sliding door, closing it behind them, June startles me by reaching over and wrapping her arms around my middle for a tight hug. Her cheek plants against my chest, and I hesitate briefly before stroking my fingers through her hair, hoping the Baileys aren’t watching through the drapes.
It’s just a hug, I tell myself.
Lilacs invade my senses, sweet and fragrant.
Soothing and healing.
I’m not sure if it’s coming from the bushes that line the back of the house or from the woman in my arms, soft and delicate like a flower petal. “You always smell like springtime and lemon drops,” I say gently, kissing the top of her head. My eyes close with contentment as I breathe her in.
She sighs, her breath warming me through the fabric of my shirt. “You always smell like spearmint and Ivory soap.”
Songbirds serenade us as we stand in the center of the patio, enmeshed in a potent embrace, breathing in perfect time and swaying lightly, as if nature is singing just for us.
Then we say it at the same time: “Like home.”
We enter our shared apartment a few hours later, our bellies full of birthday cake and laughter still ringing in our ears. June tosses her handbag to the countertop and slips out of her ballet flats. There’s a strange energy in the air hovering around us, and I wonder if she notices it, too, as she straightens in the entryway, lifting her eyes to me. She fiddles with her hair, twisting it over one shoulder, a tentative smile touching her lips.
I stare at her for a few beats, not really sure what to say. All I know is that I’m not ready to say good night yet. “Do you…” I swallow, popping my thumb over my shoulder. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?”
She doesn’t hesitate, still playing with her hair. “Sure.”
“Okay.” My smile claims me, something almost shy, like I’m inviting a girl inside after a first date. Shaking my head, I clear my throat and saunter into the adjoined living room, sifting around the cushions for the remote and taking a seat.
June sits right next to me on the couch, her bare thigh pressed against my slacks as her slip dress rides up. I only spare the image a fleeting glance, refusing to recall the way her thighs were linked around me just five days ago as she whispered delicious, forbidden things in my ear.
Flustered by the memory, I shift away from her and start aimlessly scrolling through Netflix.
June inches closer. “Remember when Theo would recite movie lines before they were voiced, pissing everyone off, because he’d seen almost every movie ever created?”
Genuine laughter rumbles through me. “Yes. Drove us all nuts,” I recall fondly, leaning back against the cushions and ruffling my hair. “We’d always get up and leave halfway through the movie because it was so annoying. I think it was his way of secretly hoarding all the popcorn.”
“Oh my God, I bet you’re right.” June giggles, her temple falling to my shoulder. She pulls her feet up beside her until she’s pressed fully into me. “He was such a rascal.”
“Yeah…I’d give anything to have him here right now, ruining whatever shitty movie we’re about to watch.”
“Me too.” She sighs softly.
Instinct and an inherent need to feel her even closer has me wrapping an arm around her shoulders, tugging her to my frame. June curls into me with effortless ease, as if it’s where she’s always belonged. Her fine wisps of hair tickle my chin, her curves molding against me.
