She stilled, and he wondered if he’d said the wrong thing.
“What’s up, Renie?”
“It’s strange. I’ve lived in this house since I was born, and now I don’t anymore. Sometimes I forget.”
“You’re welcome here anytime,” he said quietly.
“I understand what you mean about missing my mom being here. I’d miss Dottie if we were at your parents’ place, and she wasn’t there.”
“See? Exactly.”
“I shouldn’t stay here all the time.”
“Why not?”
“It’s your house now, Billy. It’s not my mom’s anymore.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Doesn’t it feel weird to you?”
“Weird, how?” He knew what she meant, but wanted to know whether she was feeling the same profound changes between them he felt.
“Never mind,” she shrugged.
“Don’t make a big deal out of nothin’, Renie. I said you could stay here whenever you want, and I meant it. If anything changes, I’ll say so.” He was lying, and she probably knew it. Nobody read him as well as she did.
He’d been in Renie’s life since she was a little girl. Now that they were both adults, and things were changing between them. She’d handle it better than he would. Even when she was ten, she’d been more mature than he was.
Sometimes he figured that was why they were such good friends. She was at least five years more mature than her age, and he was at least five less mature, so that made them about equal.
Renie dished their shrimp and salad and pulled a stool next to him at the island.
“Glad you’re here,” he murmured.
“Me, too.”
Two words, so simple, but from her, it made everything feel right.
“You wanna watch a movie after dinner?”
“I have to study.”
“You wanna study while I watch a movie after dinner?”
That made her smile.
“Sure, that’d be great.”
Renie fell asleep in the big chair next to the fireplace, her book still on her lap. He had to wake her up, or she’d be stiff and sore in the morning. He didn’t, though. He wanted to watch her sleep a little while longer. She leaned over and put her head down on the arm of the chair. A blanket covered her legs, but her shirt had hiked up enough for him to see a little of the smooth skin on her tummy. He would love to be the arm of that chair, and have her resting against him. He’d reach around and hold her close to him.
Anyone else, he’d wake up and carry into his bedroom, and do what he wanted. But this was Renie, and if the day came that they took their relationship to a different level, it couldn’t be spur of the moment. It was too big a risk for them. Or for him anyway. If she weren’t in his life, there would be a big, gaping hole that no one else could fill.
She was his best friend. He wondered if she realized that. She shifted, and her eyes opened.
“Movie over?”
“Yep. I was about to wake you up and tell you to go downstairs to bed.”