Because you always say inappropriate things
Me
What Archie said. Don’t say anything to make her feel uncomfortable, and certainly don’t be moody with her
Ethan
*rolling eyes emoji* That was one time! She talks a lot, I don’t like talking
Rafe
To be fair, you don’t like anything Ethan
Rafe
What about embarrassing stories? Can we tell them?
Ethan
Like the time we put itching powder in his boxers before he went on a date, and she told everyone he was a pervert because he kept touching himself all night?
Rafe
*crying laughing emoji* I totally forgot about that
I shake my head. Those fuckers, I never knew why that happened. Archie barks out a laugh.
Me
Oh you shouldn’t have admitted that. Now it’s on!
Archie whoops.
Archie
On like Donkey Kong! *ninja emoji* let the pranking commence!
I click out of the message as Archie comes bounding through to the kitchen, waving his phone from side to side, a huge smile on his face as he says.
“We’ve gotta get them back for that.”
I nod my head. “Oh, we will, don’t worry, but not today. Today needs to go perfectly for Hayleigh.”
Archie grabs an apple from the fruit bowl and takes a bite, speaking with his mouthful. “You do realise this is a big deal, right?”
My stomach sloshes ever so slightly. “I know, and I’m hoping she realises that we’re all here for her. I want her to be part of this family.”
He looks at me pointedly. “Have you told her the extent of how you feel?”
I shake my head. “No, not yet. I don’t want to bombard her or make her feel like she owes me anything. I need her to know that she has an out in this with no repercussions if that’s what she wants.”
He claps my arm. “Don’t leave it too long before telling her.”
As he walks away, unease runs through me at his words. Am I doing the right thing by giving her space, or should I be pushing forward? Then it hits me. We haven’t even had the conversation yet about what we are. Sure, we can’t keep our hands off each other, but technically, she isn’t mine; we aren’t together officially.
**********
I pull up outside of Hayleigh’s home and get out of my car. The smell of new flowers in her garden hit me. She has only a small front garden with a patch of grass, but around it, beautiful flowers bloom.
