Page 132 of Made Better Together

After we’d rested on the couch for an hour last night post-scene, I’d heated up some real food for us. We ate while watching a movie on a streaming channel.

Her energy revived, we’d ended up getting distracted from the movie. Which evolved into fucking in the living room.

Just her and me. No scene. No nicknames.

No complaint. It’s unbelievable we can do it all.

Still, I’m struggling with how this is going to work until we’re in a better position to tell everyone. Having to keep this situation from Rawley while living here is a complete pain in the ass, because the only other place to spend the night together is her dorm.

That sounds unappealing, but I’ll do it if necessary.

She moves toward me, and her eyes blink open.

“Morning, beauty.”

“Morning.” A cute little smile appears as she pulls the comforter up over the bottom half of her face. “Not beautiful right now.”

“Always.” I sink further down into her and pull her close with my right arm. “I’m glad you got some sleep.”

“Mmmmm…I could sleep more if you snuggle me like that.” Her eyes shut again.

“Don’t tell anyone I snuggle…”

Her giggles are interrupted by a distinctly unwelcome sound—the front door opening. Followed by two loud voices, those of a man and a woman I know well.

Fuck. What the hell are Rawley and Avery doing here?

“Oh no,” Eden moans, sleepiness still audible.

“Don’t worry. Let me figure out what’s going on. Stay here.”

Damn it. I throw on a pair of shorts and head out the bedroom door.

As I walk into the living room to greet them, I steel myself to cover however I need to. Except, I forget the absolute mess we left last night—empty food plates, a full bag of trash in the takeout bag. Eden’s flower arrangement is sitting on the kitchen island in a large pitcher of water I used to keep it fresh.

Shit. There’s no way they’re missing the chaos. I need to deflect as much as I can.

“Morning. What are you two up to this early?”

“I didn’t realize my supplies of meds were low at Avie’s house.” Rawley keeps bottles of Adderall at both places. “I was going to restock since we’ll be there for the next few days.”

“Got it.”

Rawley looks at me with disbelief. “You have nothing to say?”

“About?”

“All of this.” He gestures to the mess and the flowers.

Avery starts snickering. “Don’t give him a hard time. He’s allowed to have company.”

“I’m not,” he replies, matching her teasing tone. “I’m just surprised…who is she?”

Adjusting my glasses, I play my typical delay game. “Can we talk about this another time?”

“Yeah, fine.” He starts moving to the kitchen cabinet where he keeps his meds. “I guess if she were important, you’d have already introduced her to us.”

“Rawley!” Avery says quickly. “She could be here still. That was rude.”