I’m about to decline the offer when I notice the expression on Everest’s face. Longing and hopefulness and a general fatigue blanketing it all.It’s okay to accept help, Lambert.
I sigh. “If it’s not too much trouble?”
The surprise on Mom’s face is evident. She hadn’t expected me to say yes. I guess that says a lot about me, huh?
“Of course not. It’s no trouble at all. You know that.”
Everest shoots me a smile. It’s small, private, just for the two of us. Full of approval and pride. It makes my chest fill with all the good feelings I’ve become addicted to. I glance around our kitchen, at the people I love most in this world and the people who love us in return. Life can be hard and shit happens. Sometimes we get hurt and sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to. But so long as we’re surrounded by family and friends who care, everything will work out okay.
The Mars guys don’t stay late. Just long enough for them all to sign Ivy’s cast. The grandparents retire soon after. Then it’s just the three of us.
Everest and I get Ivy ready for bed and stay with her until she’s fallen asleep. Then we go up to our room and get ready for bed ourselves.
When we climb in under the covers, Everest scoots up next to me and wraps himself around my body—arm encircling my waist, leg thrown over my thighs.
“I don’t know if I’m up for it tonight,” I murmur, eyes already closed, mind barely conscious.
“Neither am I. I just want to cuddle.” He adjusts the position of his head on my shoulder, pressing his face into the side of my neck.
I sigh, taking in his weight, his steady breathing, the soft puff of air against my skin.
A part of me can’t quite believe this is real. This is my life now. I have a partner who likes to cuddle, who brings out the best—and sometimes the worst—in me, who I know will stick by me whether I want him to or not. We have a house, a beautiful daughter, a group of friends who rally around us whenever we need them.
It’s like a fairy tale. I never believed in fairy tales. But maybe that’s just another thing I was wrong about too.
The next morning, I wake to the scent of coffee in the air. My eyes fly open and I bolt upright in bed. I’m alone.
What time is it? Why didn’t my alarm go off? Why didn’t Everest wake me?
I scramble out of bed and yank open the bedroom door. The fragrant aroma of coffee is stronger now, along with the distinct umami of bacon. Everest is making breakfast? His idea of breakfast is a bowl of cereal with milk. I’m halfway down the stairs before I hear the voices drifting up from the kitchen. Mom and Dad. Nell and Graham. I’d totally forgotten they were here.
Shit. Ivy. Her arm.
I detour to the second floor only to find the door to Ivy’s room open and her bed empty, covers rumbled in a messy pile. She must be downstairs with everyone else.
I drag a hand down my face, scratching at my jaw, then comb my fingers through my hair. Jesus. How the hell did I sleep so late? Yesterday was long and exhausting, sure, but I’ve had longer and more exhausting days before, and I’m not usually one to sleep in.
With a sigh, I make Ivy’s bed for her, then head back upstairs to make myself presentable. When I get down to the kitchen, everyone’s already gathered, more than halfway through their breakfasts. They all turn when I walk in.
“Good morning.” My voice is still hoarse from just having woken.
Everest notices, his lips twitching into a sly smile. “About time. Jeez. Way to sleep away the whole day.”
Nell smacks him on the arm and rises from the table. “Grab a seat, Owen. I’ll bring over your plate. How do you like your coffee?”
“I’ve got it,” Everest says, following his mom to the coffee maker on the counter.
A warm and fuzzy feeling lingers in my stomach as I watch Everest pour a cup for me. It’s not hard to doctor my coffee when I drink it black, but there’s something intimate about him knowing how I like it all the same.
He takes the plate from his mom and sets both the plate and the mug down in front of me. His hand glides over my arm and around my shoulder as he steps away. When he sits down, his arm rests across the back of Ivy’s chair between us, his fingers brushing against my bicep. It’s small, absentminded, almost accidental, but it makes my heart pitter-patter something ridiculous.
“How’s your arm, Ivy?” I ask, leaning toward her and into Everest’s touch.
She holds it out for me to inspect. The unicorn the guys drew commands center stage in the middle of the cast, with all their names scrawled around it. The grandparents’ names are on there too. “It hurt when I woke up but Uncle Ev gave me some medicine and now it’s okay.”
I take her hand and press a quick kiss to the tiny fingers sticking out at the end of the cast. “Good. Remember to tell us if it starts to hurt again, okay?”
Ivy nods. “Okay! But you won’t be here.”
