Page 69 of Now and Then

Navy’s voice carries up the stairs, laced with dramatic suspicion. “Do you think she’s hiding now that she knows we’re here?”

“Who knows?” Greer says. “But either way, she has questions to answer about a certain someone.”

This is classic Navy and Greer, always too curious for their own good.

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up. These two are impossible not to love. I set the roller down, wipe my hands on my jeans, and head toward the staircase. “I’m upstairs, you nosy Nellies!”

Their footsteps echo as they climb the stairs. Navy appears first with her trademark grin, Greer right behind with a coffee in hand.

“Please say that’s for me?” I can’t remember when I last had anything to eat or drink.

“Duh,” Navy says. “I drank enough at work to fuel a jet airplane for a week, and Lord knows Greer has an IV drip of caffeine connected to her now just to keep up with thirty second-graders.”

I take the paper cup from Greer, savoring the warmth that seeps into my cold hands. Normally, I’m one that treats coffee as an indulgence, but right now, it’s a necessity.

“Well, this room is very”—Navy spins in a slow circle, taking in the wall color—“pink.”

I roll my eyes and try not to laugh. “It’s not pink. It’s blush. A very soft and subtle—”

“Pink,” Navy deadpans. “I also think you might be confused about your definition of subtle. It looks like Barbie’s Dreamhouse.”

I gasp, feigning offense. “Okay, first of all, Barbie’s Dreamhouse is iconic, and second, it’s blush—not pink.”

Navy gives a playful smirk. “It’s not a crime to embrace your inner princess. But, for the record, isn’t this Hunter’s bedroom? He doesn’t seem like a blush kind of guy.”

I freeze at the mention of Hunter’s name, my fingers tightening around my cup. “Hunter has an excellent sense of style. Plus, he said—and I quote—‘whatever you want, babe.’”

Greer raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smile. “He said that, did he?”

I shrug, trying to sound casual. “Yeah, he’s not the type to get all picky about color schemes. Told me to build us a country house, so that’s what I’m—” My eyes widen, realizing what I’ve said aloud. So much for a few days of anonymity.

Greer’s smile grows larger. “Build us a country house, huh? Now we’re talking. Does this mean you’re building your dream home together?”

“No!” My cheeks burn. “I-I mean, I’m remodeling the house. His house.”

Navy snorts, breaking the tension. She raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that? I mean, we all know you two are meant to be together. You telling me you guys finally pulled your heads out of your butts and are actually doing something about it?”

I blush even deeper, glancing at Greer for help, but she’s just watching me, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Yeah, Sutton,” Greer teases. “Are you and Hunter finally giving in to whatever it is you’ve been dancing around for most of your lives?”

I bite my lip, resisting the urge to squirm under the weight of their questions.

I set down my coffee and grab my paint roller. Anything to distract myself from their questions. So much has changed between me and Hunter the last few weeks. Now, I’m not even sure what to say to Greer and Navy.

I focus on the wall, rolling the paint in steady strokes, trying to keep my breathing even.

Navy watches me for a moment, then drops her teasing tone, her voice softening. “Sutton, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay. But we’re your best friends, you know, and this is kind of our whole purpose, to help you through the maze you’ve created in your mind.”

Greer nods, her gaze shifting between us. “We’re here. No judgment.”

My chest tightens at their words, warmth spreading through me. Growing up with boys as my best friends always made me long for girlfriends, and now, somehow I have two amazing ones.

“I know.” I take a deep breath, setting the roller aside and leaning against the ladder. “I’m scared, alright? Hunter’s the one person I’ve always had. Once we change what we are, there’s no going back to what we were.”

The room grows quiet for a moment, the weight of my confession hanging in the air. Navy and Greer share a look, and for a split second, I’m sure they’re about to prod me further, but they don’t. Instead, they grab a paint brush, pour paint into small trays, and proceed to paint the trim around the baseboards on the other side of the room.

After several minutes, Greer is the first to break the silence. “You know, Sutton, it’s okay to be scared. But you can’t let fear hold you back. You deserve this. You deserve him.”