Page 31 of The Last Special Thing

With Weston, it wasn’t that sex felt awkward after, but it didn’t bring them closer. It was something they did–usually before or after a movie. Sometimes during, if Amelia was particularly bored by the film Weston had chosen.

Sex with Art was something Amelia wanted again and again. They had connected on a deeper level. It wasn’t solely that they had been naked, but it was the way that Art gazed at her like he was committing her to memory. Like she was someone he wanted to know every inch of, inside and out.

She felt the same. He had opened up to her about his family, and he wasn’t afraid to ask about Weston. He liked her as much with messed-up hair as he did when she was done up. He saw every part of her and had no reservations. It was that connection that left her desperate for more.

They made their way blissfully back. Past the bars, the patrons, and the moon up high in the sky.

Art walked Amelia past his apartment and continued to her car. She had no idea what time it was, but it had to be late. Later than she should have been out. They reached the car, and Art lingered, brushing his fingers against hers tentatively.

“Would your parents be cool with you spending the night?”

She suppressed a giggle. “My parents aren’t the problem.”

He thought. “The air mattress?”

“That would be the problem.”

“Well, we will revisit that on another day,” he mused. “One day, I’d love to wake up next to you. Make you bacon and pancakes.”

“Men and their bacon,” she replied, standing on her toes for a kiss. He obliged.

He opened her car door, bid her goodnight, and drew a heart on her window. She loved the growing collection of his fingerprints. A reminder of him every time she left the house.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Afew days later, Amelia finally lured Madisson out of the apartment with a promise of matcha and shortbread cookies. She also returned Weston’s call and invited him to join. Having the three of them together meant that Amelia could see Weston, stop his incessant calling, and also have a buffer while she figured out how to tell him about her new boyfriend.

In her granny flat, the three sat in a loose circle with a plate of shortbread cookies between them as Amelia distributed their drinks.

“I learned who my dormmates are,” Madisson said, taking the cup of matcha and inhaling. “Ugh, this is divine.”

Amelia’s school was the last one to start, so her roommates were still a mystery. “What are they like?”

“One’s a fashion major from Michigan. The other’s a graphic design major from Oregon. We have a group chat going.”

Weston scoffed. “My roommate is ranked online in Dungeons and Dragons.” He brought the paper cup of black coffee to his pale lips and took a sip.

“You’re going to need to find friends outside of him. You can’t spend your freshman year in some dark room,” Amelia said as she nibbled on the shortbread. If it were paired with a scoop of Italian gelato, she would be in heaven. Georgina hadn’t reached back out, and neither had she.

“I mean, Weston likes to game on occasion.” Madisson took up her role as Swiss. “Maybe Weston could help him make friends, too.” Her already big eyes widened further with hope.

Weston gave a nod, but didn’t continue hypothesizing. Instead, he turned to Amelia. “So where’ve you been?”

“I’ve been with Madisson a lot. Sorry.”

Madisson averted her eyes, reaching for another shortbread cookie. “Yep. Hey, should we put on a show?”

Amelia pushed herself up and grabbed the remote off the dresser.

“Too busy with Madisson to even answer a text?” Weston’s voice remained neutral, but his eyes showed a flicker of doubt.

This was the moment. She should tell him that she has a boyfriend.

“So, I -”

The slider opened, and Lauren was taken aback.

“Oh, hi!” Her eyes lit up. “Glad to see you both here, I know Amelia’s been spending her summer with you, Madisson. It’s great for you to come here for a change.”