“The apartment was getting a little crowded, and I’m sure these two lovebirds would love to be able to prepare the guest room for baby Harper-Emery.” I smile at the future parents.
This past month with Dia has been heaven on earth. I’ve been happier than I ever thought possible, but living with another couple means having little to no privacy, which is just a polite way of saying that we can’t fuck whenever we want to.
Let me tell you, that shit gets old fast.
Xavier and Aveena seemed to agree because they brought up Lacey’s guest house a while back. Apparently, her folks were looking to rent it out, and since Dia’s summer classes ended a few days ago, I thought we might as well live together until school picks up and she lands a new dorm.
As for me, I haven’t found a place to live next semester—not that I’ve been looking. I’m secretly hoping that Dia will want to get an apartment together when the time comes.
Lacey put in a good word for us with her parents, and they agreed to let us crash here for free in exchange for some yard work around their property. I already sorted out the details with them and shoved as many of Dia’s things as I could into the trunk of my car. I couldn’t exactly pack up her whole life without her noticing, so I brought the essentials. We’ll have to go back to the apartment to get the rest.
Stunned, Dia glances around the room, noticing the grins on our friends’ faces. “You all knew about this?”
Theo, Xavier, and Aveena confirm her suspicions, and Dia swats my shoulder.
“How long have you been preparing this?”
“Since we got back together.” I push to my feet.
Dia flings her arms around my neck as soon as I’m off the couch, and I pick her up, twirling her around and relishing her laughter. This is what I mean when I say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
We spend the rest of the evening relaxing by the pool. Everyone’s tipsy by the time midnight rolls around—everyone but me and Aveena—and Lacey suggests the others spend the night at her place to avoid taking their car. I’m hit by flashbacks as I comb through Lacey’s backyard, reminiscing about the many parties that happened in this very spot.
So much has changed since high school, and yet…
Our friend group hasn’t.
No matter where life takes us, we’re always going to find our way back here. To Silver Springs, our boring hometown of around five thousand people, where there’s nothing to do except gossip and attend the local high school’s basketball games.
Dia and I call it a night and head over to the guest house a little bit after one. She said she was tired, but I know my girl better than she knows herself, and the look in her eyes didn’t match her story one bit.
Sure enough, she’s all over me from the moment I unlock the door. Her mouth is on mine before I can drop the leftover nonalcoholic drinks we brought back from the party on the entryway table. I thought maybe she’d want to take a look around, but a tour seems to be the last thing on her mind as we collapse onto the couch, never breaking the kiss.
“Want to try our new shower?” I tease, directing my focus to her neck and leaving a trail of kisses all the way to her earlobe.
“But what if Aveena and Xavier hear us?” She fake gasps. “Oh, wait, they can’t. We live alone now.”
I laugh. “Damn right we do.”
“A shower sounds amazing.” She plants a long kiss on my mouth. “Except I didn’t bring any clothes to change.”
I smirk. “Even better.”
“I’m serious.” She chuckles. “I didn’t pack anything. I thought we were driving back home after the baby shower.”
I get off the couch in one leap and offer her my hand. “Come with me.”
She doesn’t argue, taking my hand and following me into the master bedroom on the second floor. She’s quick to spot her overnight bag next to mine on the bed.
“You packed for me?” she asks, disbelief lacing her voice.
I nod. “Did it last week.”
Her eyes grow in size as she hurries over to the bed, tossing her phone onto the mattress before unzipping her bag. She pulls out the purple shirt I packed last—she recently started wearing colorful clothes again.
“I’ve been looking for that top for days!” she blurts out, and I laugh, bracing my shoulder against the doorway.
“Check out the nightstand,” I suggest, and Dia turns her focus over to the side of the bed.