Page 147 of Honeysuckle

“I’ll grab you some more water.” I reached for his glass as I stood, narrowly missing running straight into Cosy as I turned toward the kitchen.

“Hey, golden boy.” She smiled at me. "You’re looking happy,” she added in passing and raised her beer in my direction as she joined her brother and Zoey.

Coach stood at the counter with Mrs. Shore, who was giggling at something he said, as I approached to fill Mark’s glass with more water. She took the glass from me and filled it with a bottle from the fridge as Coach stared at me.

“So who pulled the short straw and had to talk to my parents about this weekend?” I asked him as Mrs. Shore gave me the glass back.

“Oh, Silas.” Coach scowled. “What I wanted to say to them was rude and without professionalism. I lack tact.”

Mrs. Shore stifled another bout of laughter, and Coach looked at her over his shoulder with a smile. I watched them both interact, getting the weirdest of feelings from the situation.

“You’ll need more than tact if Silas finds out whateverthisis.” I pointed between the two of them, and Coach glared at me like he might kill me if I didn’t disappear faster. I put my hands in the air and started to back away slowly as Mrs. Shore turned her back to the counter with red cheeks and the hand towel against her mouth to cover her bright smile.

I was happy for Coach, I couldn’t remember the last time I saw him smile. And for the first time, I understood the joy of just having someone around that made you feel like that. I hadn’t skipped a meal in weeks. I still had lunch with Riona, and Josh watched my dinner schedule like a hawk. But I was feeling better and it showed.

I looked around the cabin, and a peace settled against my chest that I hadn’t ever felt in my entire life because for once everything seemed to be falling into place. My eyes scanned over the room, taking in everything and letting myself be grateful for every single person.

They stopped at Cael. His hair was getting longer, and his head was propped up on Clementine’s shoulder as she sat in his lap, chatting with Silas, who seemed to finally be getting back to normal despite everything going on with his dad.

Josh found me standing a few feet away from the table. "You okay?” he asked, taking the cup from me as his other hand wrapped around my waist to my back, beneath my shirt, just to feel my skin.

Cael must have felt me staring, because he looked over, smiled softly, and winked. He had been right, I’d never admit it to him because it would make him even more insufferable. But, I had gotten everything I ever wanted and didn’t have to sacrifice a damn thing to get it.

“I’ve never been better.”