“What stupid grin?” Felix sipped on his beer.
Huck grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them in his mouth. “He looked like he’d swallowed that dude who plays the Joker.”
Jesus.
I rolled my eyes. “You could have just said The Joker.”
Huck stared at me, waiting. “So are you going to tell us why you were looking like that?”
The smile crept up my lips again; I could feel it getting bigger. I had no hope of playing it cool.
Fuck it.
“I just saw Emerson holding Flossie.”
Felix looked at me; his eyes were smiling knowingly, and he nodded subtly. He knew how deep I was in it; that I was so fucking in love with her, that she was my future. That my heart was spilling over with her, because every time I was sure it couldn’t get any bigger, she’d do or say something, and it swelled all over again.
And the thought that I might have never experienced this because I’d lost her, made my ears ring.
“You’re still asking her to move in with you?”
“Yeah, you can bet your fucking ass I am. I want everything with her.”
Huck reached for more chips but Felix moved the bowl away, not allowing him to have it. He kept it out of arms reach with a snicker until Huck nearly punched him in the nuts.
“Stop being a dick.” He stuffed more in his mouth. “So when are you going to ask her?”
“Soon. We spend all our time together anyway, but I’ve only just got her to introduce me as her boyfriend.”
“And how’s the bromance going?” Felix leaned back into the sofa, nodding to the screen where the commentators were still talking about Jupiter. “Sent you any more love letters?”
“No. Don’t worry, you’re still in the top spot.”
“Yeah, I am.” He put his arm around my shoulder, trying to kiss me.
I pushed him away.
“But it’s all good with Luck?”
“Yeah, really good.”
“Let’s hope you don’t fuck it up then.”
I forced a loud laugh at his joke, hopefully hiding the anxiety I felt about the very same thing.
Because I couldn’t fuck this up, I couldn’t lose her again.
I stood up. “I’m going to find pizza.”
“Bring some back for us!” Huck called after me.
Lazy fuckers.
Walking into the kitchen, Jasper’s mom, Patti, was slicing up a dozen large pizzas on the counter. She’d fed our group enough times to know that it was always better to over cater, especially if Felix was involved. Emerson was at the table, smiling at something Freddie was saying as she sat on Cooper’s lap, Wolfie was laughing too. I loved how easily she’d fit into this group and our lives.
Like she belonged.
Flossie was lying asleep on Jasper’s chest. I walked over, taking her in. She’d been dressed in a miniature pumpkincostume, like mine and Felix’s, too adorable for words. She was so tiny and pink, her little face scrunched up, squashed button nose snuffling as she breathed in and out, her pouty lips quivering. The tightness in my chest was swiftly making its way up my throat.
