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Chapter Twenty-Three
We All Fall Down
By the end of the first movie, I was full, sleepy, and almost content. All the rough edges had been sanded away by the fact the guys just hung out. It was almost like old times, only—better. I’d changed into sleep shorts and a tank top after we’d gotten home, they were down to boxers and t-shirts and queuing up the next movie. I’d started off the first movie leaning against Ian, ended up curled up next to Coop for the second with my head pillowed against his stomach. Jake had been rubbing my feet, and I must have fallen asleep there.
When I woke up, I was sandwiched in bed between Coop on one side and Jake on the other. The cat walking across me irked my bladder, and I smothered a yawn as I tried to figure out how to get up. A faint snore escaped Coop, matching one coming from farther away, and I leaned up to look. Archie was sprawled on his back amongst two of the cushions with a blanket over him, and Tory sleeping on his chest.
The fact he’d gone out of his way to make sure I wasn’t alone last night and they all distracted me hadn’t been lost on me. Tiddles glanced at me from the foot of the bed, but there was no sign of Tabby.
Where was Ian?
There was a blanket and pillow next to one of the other couch cushions, but no Ian. Tiddles suddenly streaked out of the room with Tory right behind him at the distinctive sound of a can opening. Easing out of the bed, I managed to not wake up Coop or Jake.
After pausing in the bathroom to deal with my bladder and brush my teeth, I padded into the kitchen to find Ian leaning against the kitchen counter staring at my fridge.
Following his gaze, I looked at the photo of the five of us that was hanging by a magnet. It had been there for years. I had a better copy in my room, but I’d plunked this on the fridge that summer between freshman and sophomore years. We’d taken it the last day of school.
He glanced at me as I came in. “You ever wish you could go back and be those kids again?”
“No,” I said slowly. “Not that I minded being them when we were, but I’d much rather be looking at the end of high school than the beginning.”
“Fair.” When he stretched out an arm, I narrowed the distance and curled right up to him as he wrapped that arm around me and pressed a kiss to my temple. “How you feeling?”
“Not bad,” I admitted. “Better than I thought I would.” The cramps had faded, the irritation under my skin had reduced, and the singular dread from the day before had given way to a kind of apathy. I was at a loss as to what to do about Mom and Mr. Standish. “Feeling lucky.”
“Yeah?” He glanced down at me, and I smiled.
“Yeah, you guys all came. You’re all here. We’re still friends, and as crazy as everything has been… I feel closer to all of you.”
He nodded slowly, then tightened his arm and rested his cheek against my hair. “Good. You know we’re always going to be here for you, no matter what, right?”
I frowned a little. “I do know that, and I’m there for you.” As bumpy a road as the last few weeks had been, and as bad as last Saturday had been, I did know they were there for me. “Ian, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m fine. Just thinking about all the stuff we have to do.” He didn’t sound fine. I wiggled a little until he loosened his arm so I could look up at him. “Angel, I’m fine,” he said quietly, then dropped a kiss on my nose. It was probably supposed to just be a light, teasing kiss, but I rose up on my tip toes, and he hesitated a moment before his mouth closed on mine.
I sighed into the kiss, it was slow and sweet. He asked for nothing and gave everything. Cupping his face, I marveled at the bristle of stubble along his jaw, even as his lips massaged mine. The first stroke of his tongue teased against mine, and I sighed. Peppermint and Ian.
I wasn’t the only one who brushed my teeth. His fingers tightened against my sides, and he pulled back a moment. “Frankie…”
“Hey,” Coop said as he shuffled into the kitchen. “Anyone make coffee or something?” A yawn elongated and stretched every word.
Something tightened in Ian’s expression, but he just gave me a squeeze before he said, “No, but I can.” He was already turning away before I could ask what was wrong. Then Coop curled an arm around my middle and pulled me back against him.
“Morning,” he murmured and nuzzled a kiss to my cheek. The bristle of his stubble stung a bit, but I sighed at the heat of him wrapped around me. Tilting my head back, I started to answer, but he was already kissing me. If I’d been delighted by Ian’s kiss, I thrilled to Coop’s. It was equal parts comforting and teasing. He nipped my lower lip at the end and sighed. “Now, it’s a good morning.”
The slam of the filter basket startled more than just me. Tiddles bolted away from his now empty food bowl. Coop loosened his hold, and we both glanced at Ian. He wasn’t looking at us, but his back was stiff.
Maybe the no kissing thing should extend to when we were all together. Coop and Jake hadn’t seemed to mind, but I didn’t want to upset Ian. I pulled away, and it was Coop who frowned this time.
“Why are you people awake?” Archie shuffled into the kitchen, and I got a sleepy warm hug and another kiss, this one on the corner of my mouth, before he murmured into my hair, “Better one after I brush my teeth, promise.”
I laughed and hugged him.
“Fed the cats,” Ian said. “Got the coffee started. Figure we can all eat at home rather than dig through Frankie’s fridge. In fact, I’m gonna go get dressed.” Then he was out of the kitchen.
Archie leaned back and tracked Ian’s passage with a frown. “What put a bug up his ass?”
“I think we did,” Coop mused, then he tugged my hair. “You wanna shower?”
