Me
I think my heart could be in trouble if Nate keeps being sweet…
You can’t write that either!
I give up. I’m about to throw my phone on the side when it rings.
Emmy’s name flashes across the screen, and I answer it immediately.
She’s quick off the bat. “Tell me what you were typing.” I bark out a laugh at her directness. God, I miss her already.
“How did you know I was typing a message?”
She sighs. “I wanted to check if you were okay, but Cas said that it might be a good idea to give you a bit of space and let you come to me if you needed me.” She pauses. “Sorry.”
I smile. “Emmy, never apologise for anything. You’re the one person I always want to hear from, so tell Cas that.” I know he doesn’t mean anything by it, he sees more than he lets on, and I know he’s trying to help. It’s what the Petersons do best. I hesitate but decide to go for it. “Nate stayed the night.”
Emmy shrieks down the phone. “What!Where, when, how? Why? Did he? Did you?” It’s an assault of questions, and then all of a sudden she’s gone.
Cas’s voice sounds through the speaker. “Please tell me he didn’t.”
I laugh hysterically, the pair of them acting like worried parents. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t like that. I had drunk too much, and he stayed on the couch to make sure I was okay, then got breakfast in the morning. That’s all.”
Emmy laughs in the background, and Cas grunts. “Well, if he tries anything, then tell me.”
“I roll my eyes. “I absolutely willnotbe telling you anything, Casper. Now put my best friend back on the phone.”
I spend the next hour talking to Emmy about everything that happened last night and this morning, and our plans for the rest of the day, as she gushes about San Fransico and how beautiful it is. Yet for the first time, imagining her not being here doesn’t fill me with dread. I’m happy she’s having a fantastic time, and I’m excited for the day ahead.
We say goodbye, and she promises to send me daily pictures of their adventures when a knock on my door drags my attention, and I realise I haven’t even gotten ready.
“Just a sec!” I call out as I frantically grab my things together and shove them in my bag.
Archie shouts through the door. “Come on, Haybelle, all the good sun loungers will be gone!” I yank the door open to Archie standing there looking utterly ridiculous, the pink flamingo floaty firmly around his waist, its head standing proud. Bare chest and bright blue shorts that are a bit too small, with blue and black flippers on his feet.
I smother a laugh. “Archie, you do realise there are no fish in the pool?”
He looks at me like I have three heads. Nate pushes off the wall next to my door, shaking his head. “I’ve already told him he’s going to look ridiculous in the pool with flippers, but he won’t listen.”
“Less of the backchat from you two. Haybelle, I expected better from you.” Archie shakes his head sadly and walks off.
“Archie, wait. I’m sorry.” I lock up and breeze past Nate to link Archie’s arm. He leans down and grabs my bag for me, holding it on his shoulder, entirely at ease.
Nate grumbles behind us. “Sure, I’ll third wheel.” I turn my head and stick out my tongue at him, and he blows me a kiss, causing my cheeks to burn.
Archie nudges me and whispers. “Did you bring the goods I gave you?” I look up at him, because the guy is frigging tall at six four.
“Why are you whispering, and what goods do you mean?” My brow creases because I have zero clue what he’s talking about.
He glances back at Nate before whispering again. “You know…” He emphasises his point by staring at me and raising his eyebrows. “Thegoods, the naughty goods.”
It’s then that I realise what he means. The smutty book he lent me. “Why didn’t you just say-” He smothers my mouth with his hand and shakes his head, a pleading look in his eyes.
Nate catches up to us when we reach the lift and presses the button before looking at Archie’s hand. He rolls his eyes, and I dart my tongue out to lick his palm.
Archie recoils in horror. “Youmonster,that’s unhygienic.” I cackle at the look on his face. Works a treat every time.
The lift dings, and Nate walks in before turning back to us. He looks at Archie. “You do realise that you’re terrible at whispering? Also, we live together, and I know every single smutty book you have. It’s not as secret as you think.”
