Page 97 of On the Plus Side
“Better pizza than our first date.”
It was like someone had set off a series of firecrackers in her stomach. She couldn’t believe he remembered her little comment at his apartment. That was weeks ago. So much had happened since then. She tried to sound cool and nonchalant as her heart battered her chest. “You were that desperate for pizza, huh? The rest of them are probably going out for some kind of fancy meal.”
“Thisisfancy. It’s from the North End. There’s no better pizza.” He flipped open the first box. “Plus, I wanted to spend some time with just you. We’ve barely seen each other since your family dinner.”
And the sleepover they’d had at her apartment afterward. Her mic was still on, so Everly kept that detail to herself.
“Well, now pizza’s my favorite meal,” she said.
With a bright smile, he removed a slice and offered it to her.
Everly looked down at her dress. Pizza sauce and light colors were never great friends. “I should change first. I don’t think I even technically own this yet.”
Logan set the pizza back down and wiped his hands on a napkin. “Need any help?” His blue eyes flashed with mischief.
Already, Everly could feel a familiar loosening at her center. “I think I do. This tie was really hard to reach.” She gestured to the lace that secured the neckline, sitting on her shoulder. She could easily grab the end and pull, but instead she strode toward the dressing rooms.
She ducked into the stall where she’d stashed her clothes and, seconds later, Logan’s arms were around her. His hand coiled her mic outfrom under her dress, and he flicked off the Power switch and set it aside.
Pulling her close, he kissed her like it had been months, not days, since the last time they’d touched each other.
His mouth opened hungrily to hers, and his hands roamed her ass, her back, her arms. Everly tugged at his belt because she didn’t know how long they had, and she wanted him as close to her as possible, touching her skin everywhere.
Now.
It wasn’t until that moment, as her hands fought with the buckle, and her leg hooked around his hip, as her pulse throbbed in every one of her veins, that she truly understood the meaning of the word “need.” It was something deeper than want, than desire. Something primal. Something heady that thrummed from deep inside her.
He released the bow at her neck with deft fingers, and Everly gasped as the fabric fell forward, exposing her breasts to the air for barely a second before they were in his mouth.
His belt buckle was loose a beat later, then his zipper dropped, and his pants were at his ankles as she guided Logan back onto the dressing room bench.
Her mind had found that place again, the quiet, perfect bliss that always came with his presence, his touch, and as she gathered her skirt around her waist and pushed her panties to the floor, the only thing she was thinking about was how good it felt to be with him.
Not a blink later, the condom was on and she was sinking onto his waist. They rocked together, his arms anchoring her to him, their eyes locked on each other.
He rested his forehead against Everly’s as their speed increased, and before she knew it, they were going over the edge together.
CHAPTER 31
“Where are they opening this place? Can I send Bagel there?” Becca asked as she flipped through Everly’s final designs for Sundae’s Sanctuary.
On Wednesday, Everly would be presenting them to Bob Matten and the design team, and then, that weekend, incorporating them into her display for the Cape Cod Collective. After that, filming would be done. Her time withOn the Plus Sidewould be over.
She felt ready. For this new opportunity. For this new version of herself. And for whatever else the universe had in store. For the first time in a long time, not knowing what was next didn’t scare her.
If anything, it was exciting.
The exact opposite of safe or fine.
“I don’t think they’ve found a location yet, but you can ask him when he gets here.”
She hated that, after next week, Logan wouldn’t regularly be driving down to Monmouth Cove from Boston for days at a time. But she reminded herself that this also meant that their lives would be theirsagain. No more worries about cameras and Sady and her machinations.
Everly’s mother accepted each page from Becca as she finished inspecting it. “These are beautiful.” She pointed to the dummies from the website. “I love how you use the same dog on every page, doing different activities. It’s so smart.”
Everly’s heart knocked against her ribs. “Thanks, Mom.” There were few better feelings than having someone look at one of her designs and see exactly what she was trying to accomplish. It meant she’d nailed it.
She could do this. Be a graphic designer. Be an artist. Be whatever she wanted.
