I don't know which one of us it is that gasps when his hand barely touches the skin below my belly button.
"Shit, Wren. I didn't think this through," he murmurs.
"Think what through?" I ask. He only responds by catching my wrist in his hands and he pulls at the sleeves of my shirt and it drops it to the floor. I hear the rustling of tissue paper and then I feel a soft fabric stretch around my head and he pull my arms through it gently, tugging it down on my stomach. "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Yeah."
I do. He's grinning at me with that smug face of his, probably loving the way I get flustered so easily. I look down to the shirt he pulled over my head. It's a white shirt, the same one that Miles wore at my showcase with a bright red heart. Instead, it says, 'I heart my boyfriend.' He dusts off my shoulders, holding onto them as he looks down at me. "Now we can be matching."
I can't control the laugh that escapes me as I look up at him. "It's perfect. Thank you," I say and I can tell how hard I'm blushing. I shift from one foot to the other, feeling uneasy under his gaze. "I didn't get you anything, Milesy."
He leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek as if it's so normal. It should be normal by now but it doesn't feel like it yet. "You don't need to. I'm spending the next week with you. I think I'll survive."
*
Nobody says anything about the shirt when I go back into the living room, apparently used to Miles' antics. After we finish cooking dinner, we set it out on the kitchen island and do a mini buffet. Everybody lines up, taking a paper plate to save the washing up, and get the food they like. We probably made enough food to feed a whole football team, but I know the girls will live off of this for the next week while I’m in Palm Springs. I stand at the other side of the island, waiting for everyone to get their food first.
“Save some for the rest of us,” Evan mutters to Scarlett who’s taken one of the last pieces of bacon in the foil tray. She looks over at him, her face plastered into a fake smile.
“You’re right, sorry,” she says sarcastically before picking up her bacon and shoving it into his face. He doesn’t fight back. He lets her shove more into his mouth until he can’t take it anymore. “Do you want some syrup with that?”
He shakes his head, vigorously but he smiles behind his full mouth. He smiles? He’s one weird guy. “Yeah, I thought so.”
We all mostly eat in silence until we’re all so stuffed, we spread out in the living room. Everything feels so natural here, like we were all made to be friends in some weird way. Evan and Xavier lay out on the couch while Kennedy sits in her beanbag with Scarlett’s head in her lap. Miles sits on the other couch, and I sit next to him, my head on his shoulder.
I knew that moving into this apartment with my girls would make this place feel like a home but now, it feels even better. As if the word 'home' is screaming off the walls at full volume.
“So, what did you guys get for Christmas?” Xavier asks. Evan sits further up, with a smug grin on his face. “Not you, Branson. Nobody wants to hear about what car daddy bought you.”
Evan slouches back down and I giggle, suddenly feeling the champagne hit me. I don't ever drink but today feels special and I feel safe enough around these guys. Especially after my first time getting drunk was an emotional mess, I'm trying to be more cautious.
“You guys did secret Santa, right?” Miles asks. I look up at him and nod as he’s clearly oblivious to what I got.
“I got these books from Scarlett,” Kennedy beams, holding up her new prized possession. I know she’s not going to shut up about this until Jasmine’s new book comes out.
“I got an all-exclusive access to my favourite hotel from Wren,” Scarlett says proudly, flashing a toothy smile at me. “If you’re lucky, Miles, maybe she’ll sugar momma you too.”
Everyone bursts out laughing at her remark and I stick my tongue out at her. I keep quiet, not knowing if saying what I got is the smartest idea.
“What about you, Wren?” Xavier asks when the laughter has died down.
"What about me?"
Evan's eyebrows raise. "What did you get?"
“Uh, nothing,” I reply, cheerfully.
Xavier and Evan look at me confused. I swallow and look around the room, trying to find something that I can say to change the subject. It’s too late to rush off and pretend the food’s burning. Miles rubs my shoulder, turning his head down to look at me.
“You’re telling me that none of your friends got you a present?” Miles asks, his eyes narrowing at me. I shake my head, biting my lip.
“I got her a vibrator. Thebestone in town,” Kennedy shouts, and I shoot her an evil look along with Scarlett. “What? She was too scared to say it. A woman’s pleasure should not be an embarrassing topic.”
I feel Miles stiffen beneath me, his breathing becoming strangled.
“You two having trouble in the bedroom, Davis?” Evan asks, laughing.
Miles ignores him and the conversation around us moves on. It’s better that he didn’t say anything. It’s better thatIdidn’t say anything.
