Page 78 of Dahlias, Sapphires, and Cool Autumn Dusk
Jeremy slid down on the couch as Phoenix got home, flopping onto the chair as soon as he arrived. “Hey, something smells good. I’m hungry.”
Barrett kissed my cheek again, whispering in my ear, “Another time.”
I shivered because he was right, wasn’t he?More times.The idea made me hot, suddenly, in the way his kisses made me hot.
Julian yawned. “You guys look awful cozy.”
Phoenix held up his phone and wiggled it. “I’m ordering food. Anyone want something?”
Jeremy sunk into the couch. “Depends. What are you getting?”
I love my life.
The sun wokeme from my heavy, dreamy state, pulling me into consciousness as if through mud. Some nights, I slept harder than others, as if exhaustion sometimes just won.But other days aren’t the twins’ birthday. I grinned. Phoenix surrendered his side of the bed and slept on his own mattress in the room—a good sign for his recovery—but it gave the twins the space for their special day.
I worried a little bit about having Jer and Jules both snoring in my ears at the same time. Usually, it was one or the other, but since I slept like the dead, it didn’t matter.
I glanced at the light, deciding it was later morning sun before I even checked my phone for the time. The room was quiet, only the sounds of breathing around me.Everyone is still asleep. Usually, one or another of them had to be up early to leave, so I never got to be the first one up.
I hated to wake anyone, but I had to pee, so I wiggled myself free from entanglement. As quickly and with as little movement as possible, I climbed out of bed. Jer rolled toward Julian when I left, but didn’t touch him, completely dead to the world.Birthday snoozes.They were eighteen years old, and therefore legally adults. I wondered if it felt different?I should ask them.Maybe Barrett will remember.I used the bathroom to clean up a little bit. Getting ready for my day of movie watching in bed with Jules did not require me to dress up, but I also didn’t want to be disgusting.
When I came out of the bathroom, they were all awake, which meant I failed at stealth.
“Happy Birthday,” I said and smiled at the twins. “You’re eighteen.”
“Yes.” Jer shoved Julian. “Eighteen years of sharing space with him. Literallyeverysecond of my existence.”
Julian laughed. “You wouldn’t know what to do without me.”
“So, the plan, if I remember correctly…” Phoenix rubbed his eyes. “Is Jules gets Alatheia all day, right? Afterward, we have dinner with the parents and Granny. Then Jeremy gets her all night. Right?”
Jeremy nodded. “That’s the plan.”
Phoenix rose and stretched. “Happy Birthday, brothers-of-mine. I will see you at dinner, then. I’m going skating.”
“Thanks,” Julian said then grinned at him. “Be safe.”
“Nah. Where is the fun in that?” He squeezed my arm on his way out the door.
Barrett groaned. “I actually have to go to the library. so I’m going to be gone most of the day, too. I let the parents know we’re having dessert here, so I’ll clean up before you all arrive.”
I gawked at him.My cake? They are all going to eat my cake. I didn’t mind baking for us, since failures could be laughed off. It was a different story if we were feeding their whole family. “Guys, we need to supplement the cake. I don’t think it’s very good. I mean, I tried, I really did, but I can’t feed your mother that cake. Barrett, could you bring home a pie or something? Do they sell tiramisu at the grocery store? Can we order one?”
He laughed. “She’ll eat the cake. It’ll be wonderful, don’t stress. See you at dinner.”
Julian rolled out of bed then walked over to me. “Movies in my room. That way, if Barrett needs his room, he won’t interrupt.”
At least one of us planned ahead. I wouldn’t have thought to worry about Barrett, but he remembered.
Jeremy kissed my cheek. “You hardly moved last night, the best snuggle ever. I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t forget, I get you all night, so try to take a nap today in the midst of your movies. I intend to keep you outallnight.” He paused, seeming to notice my expression. “You know I’m just kidding, right? I know you would hate that…but I scared you for a second, right?”
I laughed, because my social anxiety would’ve hated every moment of it. I followed him to his bedroom, where he ducked into the bathroom quickly. When he came back out, he wore pajama pants from the night before and I licked my lips at his body.
Julian climbed in next to me, and I tried to keep my hands to myself. “Are you hungry?”
“It’s your birthday. Shouldn’t I be asking you that? What do you want?” I ran my hand through his soft air as he rested his head in my lap and wrapped his arms around my waist.
He lifted his blue-eyed gaze to meet my own. “I want food delivery,” he admitted. He rolled to a sitting position and started scrolling on his phone. “Let’s eat in bed together. Pancakes?”
