Page 92 of Walk With Me
Eden kisses my head. “Borrow something of mine.”
“Pfft, Eden I’m smaller than you and slightly thicker.”
Growling, Eden snatches my empty coffee cup and places it on the bedside table before tackling me to my back. “Yeah, you are. God, I love your muscles…and tits.”
“Charming.” I giggle beneath her. “I thought you said we didn’t have time for…this.”
Eden’s leg is between mine and I’m ten seconds away from grabbing her butt and grinding into her. Taking my lip in her teeth, she playfully bites down.
“We don’t. I just can’t resist you, which is why I’m getting out of bed.”
My pout and verbal protests go ignored as she pushes herself into a plank and then off the bed. Her workouts are really…working out.
Giving myself an extra second to pout, I fling the cover back and stand. I can see Eden is regretting her stance on the whole staying in bed a little longer thing as she eyes me from head to toe.
Closing her eyes, I watch her jaw tighten and then relax. I have to say, it gives me great satisfaction every time I see how I affect her. Great for a confidence boost. Eden hands me her robe and opens the door. I pass her and flick my tongue over her lips as I go by, heading to the shower.
Freshly washed and dressed in a baggy hoodie and gym shorts, I grab my phone and thank Becca for the thirdtime. She agreed to swing by my house and pick up my backpack. Eden takes my hand and leads us outside. Liz wasn’t bothered in the least that I’d stayed the night. Jenna didn’t make any comments either, which is progress. She definitely seems happier nowadays.
Walking to school hand in hand with Eden, I feel lighter than I have in days. Another glaring reminder that my disappearing act serves no purpose other than making things worse.
Speaking of making things worse, Kiera is waiting in the parking lot. I see her eyes travel from my face to our locked fingers. A small scowl forms, and in that moment I know I let myself get duped.
Kiera never intended to be friends with me and Eden. She’s been playing the long game, and I didn’t see it. Too wrapped up in my anxieties to see what was clearly right in front of my face. Something I’m sure Eden spotted days ago.
“Hey, S,” Kiera says in a soft voice.
“Morning,” I reply, holding Eden’s hand tighter. It hasn’t escaped my attention that Kiera didn’t greet Eden.
“Are we still on for lunch?”
“Not today, sorry. Eden and I are going for a dinner date at the diner.”
Clearly I just made that up, but Eden turns to me and smiles. “Celebratory milkshakes?” she asks with a brow pump.
“Something like that.” I grin.
Clearing her throat, Kiera steps forward and places her hand on my forearm. “Still up for a movie night at my place?”
I’ll admit I’ve been totally dumb and blind. Now that I’m out of my head fog, I can see exactly what this sounds like and what Kiera is doing. The thing is, she doesn’t know Eden very well. If she’s trying to get a rise, it’s not going to work. Now that we’ve spoken and cleared the air, I can feel Eden relax next to me.
I know that if she thought I wanted to have a movie night with Kiera, she wouldn’t protest because she trusts me. The thing is, I don’t want to. I want to go back to spending my time with Eden. I’ve got a lot of making up to do.
“Crap, no, sorry. I’m helping Eden with her last few training sessions before the 5k.”
“Right,” she grinds out. I look at Eden, who is completely relaxed, swinging our hands between us, checking out the parking lot, looking for our friends.
“Babe, Pia and the gang are here. Ready to head in?”
Nodding, I smile at Kiera one more time. I kind of feel like a bitch. After all, she did help me with organizing a lot of things for the upcoming 5k race. But now I know her intentions were less than altruistic, and I need her to understand I’m not playing the game.
Giving her a wave goodbye, I let Eden pull me along until we reach Pia, Todd, Becca, and Bella. Becca gives me a heart-stopping smile when she sees me clutching on to Eden. It’s obvious my bestie has been worried about me, too. Hopefully, me being here with Eden and my friends is all she needs to know that I’m making my way back to beingmeagain.
Instead of heading to class, I break away and go to the student counselor’s office. If I don’t do it now I’ll chicken out. Eden was totally right last night, I need someone to talk to. A person who can help me step back and see things from an objective point of view.
27
Eden
