Hardwood - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,23
the trouble just for myself.
I know Mia thinks I should consider the possibility that happily ever after doesn’t have to include a man, but I’ve never much liked being alone. That might be strange coming from someone who’s an only child, but it’s not like I was ever alone growing up either. There were always a couple of foster kids living with us, and my mom worked from home, so I wasn’t one of those kids who had to come home after school and find ways to entertain myself. Some boyfriends in the past have said I’m too clingy, but they weren’t exactly perfect either.
I close the refrigerator and pull out my phone to order from a local sandwich place instead. Once my dinner is sorted out, I go into the living room and pull up Schitt’s Creek on Netflix. Since I’m on my dozenth watch through of the series, it’s more background noise as I scroll through my phone and wait for my food to be delivered.
I look at the meme Ev sent me and chuckle at it again before typing out a text to him.
Watson: I’m so lazy I just ordered a sandwich instead of assembling one myself from the ingredients in my fridge. How’s your night going?
Everett: I’m being forced to sit through Frozen for the millionth time. I’ll trade you.
Watson: Hell yeah. I love Frozen.
Everett: I didn’t mind it the first dozen times, now it’s like a North Korean propaganda video. I swear I’m singing that stupid snowman song while I brush my teeth.
There’s a knock at my door, and I get up to get my food. The delivery guy is cute with a friendly smile and long hair, so I shoot him a flirty smile before I let him go.
Watson: The delivery guy was cute. Unfortunately, he did not offer to come in and have sex with me.
Everett: Again, life is not a porn.
Watson: But imagine how much more fun the world would be if it was.
Everett: I can’t argue with that.
I unwrap my sandwich and dig in, sinking into my happy place as I watch Patrick and David have their first kiss on the screen. My heart squeezes even more than usual, my mind replacing Patrick with Everett. I can’t imagine what it would be like to wait so damn long to kiss another man for the first time. I hope whoever ends up being lucky enough to get Ev’s first kiss is worthy.
I do my best to smother the jealousy that rises up in me at that thought. I’m not going to be Ev’s first anything, even if I want to. I’ve had enough heartbreak without adding something like this to the list. He needs to play the field, make up for lost time by sleeping with tons of guys.
As romantic as the idea is that I could be both his first kiss and his last kiss, I know that’s not how life works. Hell, Mia’s probably right that I should give up the idea of finding Mr. Right all together. If my string of failed relationships isn’t enough proof, I don’t know what is.
Just because I was raised on one too many rom coms and programmed to believe that one day, my perfect leading man will appear out of thin air after some adorably awkward meet cute, doesn’t mean any of that is real.
No, I’m going to print out the paperwork for the foster parent application tonight and get started on it. I can’t keep waiting for someone else to come along and make me happy. I’ll have to do it myself.
Chapter 8
Everett
Sitting alone in my living room with my feet up on the coffee table, happy to be watching something other than Frozen since Livi is with her mom this week, I find myself checking my phone every few minutes for a new text from Watson.
As if summoned by my thoughts, my phone vibrates with a text, Watson’s name displaying across the screen.
Watson: Come over and hang out.
The message is innocuous enough, but it still makes my heart jump and my stomach flutter. Texting is one thing, even hanging out at his favorite bar is pretty innocent, but going over to his place feels like something else.
I chuckle and shake my head at myself. He said he wants to be friends. Friends go to each other’s places. How many times has Cole crashed on my couch in the past? How many times have I gotten drunk and shared a bed with