Page 78 of Walk With Me
“Thank you. I love you both,” I say, draping myself between them. Neither of them has ever been able to stay mad when I get all cute.
The movie gets played, and I hold out until the last ten minutes. My eyes are closing by the time the hero prevails. When I finally reach my bed, I’m practically asleep. That’s what a night of fantastic sex will get ya.
I’m sleeping so deeply, and I’m disoriented when my alarm goes off. It can’t be as late as the clock is showing. I swear I set the phone to go off thirty minutes earlier. Shit, I’m not going to get over to Eden’s in time to walk with her.
God dammit!
Tearing through my morning routine, I’m still not able to pull back enough time to get over to the other side of town. Stomping down the stairs, I hope Mom and Dad aren’t expecting me to be talkative. Entering the kitchen changes my mood immediately. Sitting at the breakfast bar with my mom is Eden.
“Oh hey,” she says, like it’s totally normal for her to be here at this time in the morning.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as I fall into her arms. Eden snakes her arm around my waist and kisses me soundly. Mom clears her throat, chuckling.
“Okay, so don’t get mad at me,” Eden says, still holding me close.
I narrow my eyes playfully. “What did you do?”
She takes a leaf out of my playbook and bites her lip. “I may have changed your morning alarm so you could have a little more time in bed.”
“Eden…”
“I know, but Sloane, you’re run off your feet. No reason I can’t come here in the morning. We can find a different route to walk or go for coffee.”
“Eden’s right, honey.”
Sighing, I lay my head on Eden’s shoulder. “Well, thank you. I guess the extra half an hour did me good. I slept so well.”
“Wanna eat up, and we’ll grab some coffee for everyone?”
Shoving some toast and a yogurt down my throat, I kiss Mom goodbye. We drive to the coffee shop and order all our friends a drink and a box of donuts. I’m feeling really good and want to spread the love.
Eden holds my hand the entire journey and by the time we arrive at Holcroft, I’m floating. Pia, Todd, Becca, and Bella are waiting by Becca’s car. We hug and say hello, catching up on everyone’s weekend. Becca fills me in on the rest of the party. I do not tell her about my night with Eden. That deserves a proper girl’s night in with Doritos.
Heading inside, Pia pulls me back when Todd engages Eden in a conversation. Confused, I slow down until the rest of the gang is out of sight.
“Hey, so I thought I might hear from you this weekend,” Pia says. I’m confused.
“Um…you did?”
Pia rolls her eyes. “Well, yeah. I mean, I guessed you were taking over the birthday plans being Eden’s girlfriend and all.”
Birthday plans. Because…oh fucking hell, it’s Eden’s birthday on Wednesday and I totally forgot. I’ve had my head up my ass so much lately everything that wasn’t homework or college applications went out the window.
“Pia, I’ve fucked up.”
She winces. “You forgot, huh?”
I feel my face heat and tears prick my eyes. “Oh god, I’m the worst girlfriend ever!”
“No, you’re not. Stressed, for sure. It’s okay, we can throw her a party at the diner or something.”
Shaking my head, I pull myself up tall. “No. I’ll fix this. Leave it with me. By the end of the day I’ll get you some details.”
There’s not a chance in hell I am allowing Eden to have a subpar birthday party at the diner. It’s time to get my shit together.
The day passes irritatingly slowly. I can’t take any time to plan a party when I’ve got a full day of classes. Thankfully, I have Jenna’s cell number and have been sneakily texting her. I wanted to know if Eden and her family have a birthday tradition. I don’t want to plan something, only to mess up her parents’ plans.
Turns out they do have a tradition, and Eden usually celebrates her birthday with friends on the following weekend.I can work with that. It gives me a little more time to pull something together.
