19. Everett

Everett

I’m not concentrated on the TV show the guys are watching. I keep checking the time. It’s been an hour now... What could they be talking about that’s taking so long? About half an hour ago I started hearing the faint sounds of a ball being passed around.

So, I’m certain they started playing a game around that time. Must be nice. But are they still playing? Geez, I want my baby.

I’m not sure Heart even knows that I never wanna be away from her for more than five minutes.

No one has an idea of how fulfilled I’ve been feeling since we got together.

Amelia Hart is my girlfriend. Amelia Hart? Like we’re exclusive now???? The girl I’ve spent all my life secretly loving… is finally mine.

I know she probably thinks I fell for her during our arrangements... Well, I’ll leave it that way for now—can’t afford to scare her away.

I remember the first time I set my eyes on her. I was just moving to Westside with my parents after grandpa passed on and Dad’s half-brother chased us out of the family house. I hated Westside as it was nothing compared to where were coming from. But that was what my parents could afford…

Then I saw her.

She was sitting on the curb outside the little convenience store near our street, arguing with a boy who looked about twice her size.

She was maybe... twelve.

She was tiny, yet so furiously arguing. And somehow completely unafraid.

I remember thinking, who the hell is that?

She turned around and our eyes met. Then she scowled. Very deeply.

And that was it. I was done for.

Then I saw her again that evening, when her parents came over with her, with a welcome cake, to our house. And that was when I realized, she was the neighbor next door, and I’d be seeing her more often.

Since then, every night before going to bed, I’d glance out my window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her in the room next door.

Most nights, I did. Sometimes she’d be reading. Sometimes she’d be dancing around her room like nobody was watching. Sometimes, she’d be talking to herself.

I’d smile to myself and close my curtains.

The squeaking sound of the backdoor pulls me out of my reverie and I look up.

There she is, the queen of my heart, the most beautiful woman, approaching. And right behind her is her own queen... Funny.

And they’re sweating.

I stand up, embracing all of her. I smooch her hair, “hi, Heart. You good?”

“Uh-huh.” She nods, grinning from ear to ear.

That’s my girl.

I kiss her and she protests, “I’m all sweaty.”

“It doesn’t matter, baby.”

She smiles.

“Let’s go drop Rachel off.” She says softly.

But I want to be with only you now.

“I can do that. I'm headed to Pitchers anyway,” Cole mutters, stepping out of his room, his eyes glued to his phone.

Thank God.

He looks up at Rachel. “That’s if you don't mind.”

“Not at all.” She hugs my girl goodbye.

It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to peel her arms off Amelia.

She's mine, bitch.

Cole and Rachel take their leave, and Heart follows them outside—it’s already dark—while I stand in the doorway. She stands and watches until the truck is completely out of sight.

The moment she turns, I fire at her, “am I your boyfriend or Rachel Lancaster is?”

She flashes me a smug smile, “I’m sorry, babe. Don’t be jealous. You ARE my boyfriend. Everett Griffin.”

I sneer.

Picking her up from the ground, I carry her over my shoulder. Her giggles and laughter fill the air as I make past the living room to the staircase.

“Fake girlfriend, your really having a time of your life now, huh?!” Spencer calls out.

“Nah—fuck you, bro! I’ve been promoted to girlfriend—real, main, THE girlfriend, man.” Heart yells from my shoulder and I laugh.

“Yeah, gardener. Beat it.” I put in, heading up the stairs.

Heart and Harper chortle.

“Fuck you both.” Spencer snarls as we round up the corner of the stairs.

The moment I enter my room, I shut the door with my sole and gently settle Heart down onto the bed.

"Hi, baby.” She plants a kiss on my mouth.

“Hi, my Heart.” I’m atop of her, supporting my weights with my hands on both sides of her head.

Then she frowns. “You know you deserve to be punished right?”

I blink then realize what my offense is.

“I do? How do you intend to punish me?” My voice is low.

Her eyes are hooded as she locks her hands at the back of my neck. Without warning, she pulls me down and lands another kiss on my lips. But this time, she doesn’t pull back.

Her tongue rolls into my mouth, twirling around mine, slow and deliberate, and when I suck on it, a muffled moan slips out of her. It’s the most intoxicating sound I've ever heard, causing my restraint to unravel thread by thread.

My hand slides under her top, skimming the soft skin of her stomach, then higher—and fuck. She's bare underneath. Her nipples are hard, perky, and pebbling against my palm the moment I cup her. I brush my thumb over one and she arches into me, her fingers diving into my hair in a tugging manner.

"Everett..." she breathes, and it sounds like permission.

I take my time with her, kissing down her throat, tracing every curve my hands have only dreamed about, learning the sounds she makes when I touch her just right. Every sigh, every shiver, every whispered syllable of my name branding itself into me.

Then I pull back from her lips. Our breathing's hitched, ragged, tangled together.

I stare into her eyes. It’s dark, glassy, and certain.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Her voice is raspy and there’s neither doubt nor hesitation in it.

That's all it takes for everything I've bottled up to come spilling out. My heart kicks hard against my ribs, louder than the blood rushing in my ears. My mouth crashes back into hers, and I blindly reach for the bedside drawer, fingers closing around the foil packet.

This is my first time.

I've imagined this more times than I care to admit. Thought about her. Dreamed about her. Wanted her—so much, for so long, that wanting her became part of who I am.

But wanting something in your head is nothing like finally having it in front of you.

And suddenly, I'm terrified.

What if I'm clumsy? What if I mess this up? My hands tremble as I roll on the condom.

"Hey." She cups my face, her thumbs stroking my cheekbones, and her eyes are impossibly soft. "It's just you and I, okay? Just you, and I. That's all that matters. It’s just me here."

She takes my mouth in hers and something in my chest unclenches.

I settle over her, press my forehead to hers, and push into her slowly—inch by inch, her warmth swallowing me whole. She gasps, nails digging into my shoulders, and I still, trembling, giving her time. Giving myself time too. Because this—she—deserves to be savored.

"Move, Ev." She whispers.

So I do. Slow. Deep. Deliberate. Our bodies find a rhythm that feels less like something new and more like something remembered. Our hips meet, breaths mingling, and her soft moans pulling me deeper under. I kiss her through it. I kiss her lips, her jaw, the tears slipping to her temples, whispering her name like a prayer against her skin.

When she shatters around me with my name on her lips, I follow, burying my face in her neck as I groan her name against her damp skin.

For a long moment, there's nothing but our ragged breathing and the wild pounding of my heart.

I pull her into my chest. She traces lazy circles on my skin, her cheek resting over my heartbeat.

"Baby," she mutters softly.

"Yes, Heart."

"I changed my mind. I'm staying back."

God. GREAT!

I tighten my arms around her and smooch her moistened hair, grinning into the dark like an idiot.

I love you so much, Amelia Hart.