“Uh huh.”
“If both of you are on the same page, why not? It's been more than half a decade.”
“I suppose it has,” I sigh.
Olsen runs a soothing hand across my stomach.
“The way you described it to me, Porter was the first friend you’d had since your childhood mates went off to boarding school. I know you don't like to talk about the past, but whatever happened before you got to the city must have been pretty dark.”
I nod, threading our fingers together.
“He was there for you. He still is. It's important to have people like that in your life.”
“True. And it's not like he and I were official.”
“Mm-hmm. A situationship can feel intense at the time, but… when you find the real thing?”
“Everything pales in comparison.”
I kiss him tenderly on the mouth.
He loves me enough to give me freedom.
“I'd like to think these past five years have shown you how good it can be,” he says.
“Beyond my wildest dreams,” I smile. “And it’s six years, by the way.”
“Six?”
“If you count when we started falling for each other.”
“You were worth every hour of agonising uncertainty,” Olsen sighs dramatically.
He loves to remind me of this.
But his eyes are kind and flirty.
“As for Porter, ask him if he and Sutton want to come over for lunch some time.”
“Might be awkward,” I shrug.
“Doesn’t need to be. No pressure, just a casual barbecue or something.”
Olsen has no idea what he’s in for.
“Porter doesn't do casual when it comes to food. Especially if he's shy around you.”
“Sounds like a win,” he smiles. “Let him woo me with culinary offerings.”
“Oh, he will.” I promise. “You two actually have a tonne in common. Same sense of humour.”
Olsen’s fingers trace across my shoulder.
“If it means a happier you, then I'm down for it.”
In the end, this leap of courage leads to something good.
We start hanging out as a group.
