I didn’t exactly lie. I am with Dev at the moment and I am moving in, albeit temporarily.
I hand Devlyn his phone and we ride to New Jersey in silence.
Devlyn
Fiona smiles weakly in my direction, trying to mask the pain that accompanies Chase. I would love to throw the shitbag in a cell and throw away the key. He’s treated her so badly, and she keeps going back for more. I hope Fiona means it this time, that they are over.
Knowing it isn’t my place to tell her what to do doesn’t make it any easier to keep my mouth closed. However, that’s exactly what I do.
Turning up the radio to drown the silence, I continue to drive, stealing glances at my best friend, the woman I love more than anything but can never have. Her hand finds its way into mine. Her soft pale skin clinging to mine, needing reassurance. Squeezing her hand back, I tell her, “You’re going to be okay, Fiona, you’ve got me. Always.”
Her hand relaxes against my palm as I steer with my other hand. The other cars on the turnpike blur into the distance. Right now, right here in my car it is only the two of us.
Breaking the silence, Fiona brings up the roommate pact. “So, I was thinking we should have boundaries if I’m going to live with you.”
“What kind of boundaries?” I ask feeling mildly curious.
“I hate putting you on the couch. You work hard, and I know you hate your couch, its uncomfortable.”
“You offering to take the couch?”
“No.” She shakes her head, her auburn curls tangling through her fingers as she brushes her hair back from her face.
“You gonna cuddle up next to me,” I tease with a wink.
“I don’t know, maybe you can have your side of the bed, and I could take the other. We could separate the sides with duct tape.”
“Duct tape?” I hedge.
“Duct tape,” she encourages.
I shake my head. “You’ve got to be kidding?”
“Nope. Dead serious. Duct tape solves everything.”
“Okay, Fiona. You’re on.”
“As soon as we get back we can buy some.” She grins at me then turns to watch the scenery out the window.
I can’t help but wonder what is going through her head. Occasionally when she looks at me it feels deeper than friendship. It feels like much more. Maybe I can use this living situation to show her how good we can be together. She never gave me a real shot. Though in her defense my timing was shitty.
I’ve never forgotten the way she felt in my arms, giving herself to me so completely. Then she got sick and that was the end of our moment.
“Hey, I really appreciate everything you do for me. You know that, don’t you?” She questions peering through her lashes, hiding those gorgeous dark chocolate orbs from me.
I give her a lazy grin and pull into my parent’s driveway. This should be interesting. My brothers are home.
I can’t believe we are all here at the same time. It’s been months. Ma always complains that she never gets us all together for dinner even though Franklin, Randall, and Leland live with her and Pa, along with Randall’s daughter, Carly Belle.
Carly Belle comes running at my car before I can even get the door open. She grins at me missing her two front teeth. “Here’s my favorite girl,” I tell her as I step out of the car.
“I thought I was your favorite,” Fiona teases as she gets out as well.
Carly Belle makes a sour face and pulls back from my hug. “Who is thissss,” she hisses the s sound out.
“This is my friend, Fiona?”
“She’s not your girlfriend, is she?”