HENRY
AURORA SLAMS THE DOOR CLOSED, blocking out the sound of gasps, many of which I don’t believe are genuine.
“I didn’t know you were here!” she yells through the door. “I was giving a tour!”
Halle’s hands are pressed against her mouth to cover her shock. I want to kiss her again, but I’m not sure this is the time. I clear my throat. “It’s a good thing you didn’t take oI your pants.”
She nods in agreement. “I think you might be right. This is so embarrassing.” I want to tell her being embarrassed is breaking a rule, but people always say some rules are allowed to be broken, so I’m going to give her this one. “They thought we were lying when we said we’re just friends and not hooking up
anyway. Does that make you feel better?”
Her hands move from her mouth to her forehead as she shakes her head. “No. That doesn’t make me feel better at all.”
“Is it because you’re worrying about what people think of you?” She nods, dropping her hands to my hips and placing her head on my chest. “Okay, well, don’t do that.”
“Telling me not to worry about something doesn’t make me not worry.” I silently stroke her hair to comfort her, because I’m out of advice. Eventually she lifts her head to look at me. “I’m being dramatic. It’ll be 1ne, we can just laugh it oI, right? We’re still just friends, so we haven’t been lying to them.”
Hmm. Don’t like that. Is that what she thought I meant when we talked about no labels? I brush it oI. “And I know all their secrets, so if they’re
annoying, I’ll just start dropping them.”
“And how do you know all their secrets?” she asks.
I shrug. “People tell me stuI. I think it’s because they know I don’t care enough to gossip about them.”
“Or maybe it’s because you’re a great friend and a really good listener?”
Once they get their excitement out of the way, I know my friends will be cool with Halle. They all really like her. If they don’t chill out about it, I’ll cause chaos for everyone. Kris and Bobby, because Bobby hooked up with Kris’s sister and he doesn’t know; Robbie and Lola, because they argue every week about her moving back to New York when she graduates; Mattie and his toxic ex, who he swore he’d block but is talking to again; and Emilia and Poppy, who break up every time they have a 1ght, but don’t tell anyone because they get back together the next day. I have years’ worth of people telling me things I don’t want to know.
“It’s de1nitely because they know I don’t care enough to gossip about them.” She grumbles and throws herself back onto the mattress. I climb onto the bed beside her, nearly sliding oI because of the pajama material against the bedding. Lying next to her, I lean in to kiss her cheek, and these damn pajamas tighten against my arms as I move. I’m so hot and I haven’t even done anything. “Did Aurora not want to pay for silk or…?”
Halle chuckles. “Some vegetarians don’t wear silk, so I didn’t want to get it wrong. Look it up; it’s a very interesting information hole to be stuck in.”
“I know how silk is made. I just forgot she was a vegetarian. You remember everything about everyone; I don’t know how you do it. You’re a good friend to her, Halle. She’ll de1nitely protect you from the others if they get too excited.”
She sighs, rubbing her face against her hands. “Let’s just get it over with. It’s 1ne, please don’t spill all their secrets.”
“You got it, Cap.”
IN AN UNUSUAL TURN OF events, nobody said anything when we exited our bedroom.
Not one single thing.
I was instantly suspicious until I saw Russ by the popcorn machine, and he reassured me that after the door slammed closed, Aurora threatened everyone with violence if they made Halle feel the slightest bit uncomfortable or embarrassed.
Halle went for breakfast the morning after we fooled around, and judging by the way Aurora instantly acted protectively toward Halle, I assume she knows. I don’t care, Halle can scream it from a rooftop if she wants to. I like the idea that she has girlfriends to talk to. She clearly has a lot going on in her head, and I almost gave myself an aneurysm trying to make sense of it.
I usually shut down when I’m overrun with issues, but Halle’s solution seems to be to tie herself in mental and verbal knots. I know she thinks she has to solve all her problems alone, but she doesn’t.
I don’t know why I’m bothered that she said we were still just friends when that’s something I’m used to. I know I sometimes mirror people, but I don’t want to start creating problems the way Halle does for herself.
Aurora gives me the same threat of violence when I groan that the 1rst movie we are watching is Legally Blonde, so I know 1rsthand how terrifying she must have been earlier.
Halle and I settle into one of the Roor-bed-couch contraptions covering the vast penthouse living room, and I 1nd myself looking at the various artwork on the walls instead of the giant screen that’s been constructed to facilitate this extravagant sleepover.
“The interior designer needs to be 1red,” I whisper to Halle, who is totally engrossed in the movie and her bag of candy.
“Mmm?” she mumbles.
“The artwork doesn’t make sense in this room,” I say.
“How do you feel when you look at it?” she asks, 1nally taking her eyes oI the screen to look at me. Sporting her own set of pink pajamas, she’s braided her hair down each side of her face and taken oI all of her makeup. She looks so pretty. And happy. That’s my favorite part.
“Inspired,” I answer.
“What? I thought you said you don’t like it,” she whispers after Mattie and Cami turn around from their Roor bed in front of us to shush loudly.
“Doesn’t matter.” I kiss her forehead and her eyes widen, immediately looking around to check that nobody was looking at us. I wish she didn’t care so much about what people think.
When she’s fully focused on the movie, I dig my cell phone out of my pocket.
JAIDEN
So you came to the expert Great choice
I’m your only hope
I need advice.
You’re my last resort.
Hit me. I’m ready to wow you with my wisdom
How do you know if you’re in the friend zone?
Is this about Halle?
You’re not in the friend zone lmao
Yes.
How do you know?
People in the friend zone don’t get caught making out in hotel rooms with the person who is supposed to be friend zoning them
How the hell do you know about that?
I’m all seeing and all knowing
But yeah, you’re good, brother. Firmly outside of the zone Why do you ask?
Bobby is a snitch is what you mean.
It was Emilia actually
She now owes me 5 bucks because I called it weeks ago
She thought I might want to hook up with other people.
Then she said we’re still just friends.
Do you want to hook up with other people?
No.
Do you want a relationship?
I don’t really care what it’s called.
It was me not wanting her to date other people that made me make a move in the first place.
After a Robbie pep talk when I was jealous.
That boy really loves a pep talk
Okay, all these things do not put you in the friend zone
But maybe you guys just need to work out what you want out of your situation
Like is it just s*x? Is it companionship? Is it both? Is it only when you’re both single?
Has she had a shitty relationship in the past?
Yes. Will Ellington from San Diego.
Yikes. Has anyone told him he’s not that great yet?
I plan to.
Maybe she likes no expectations because she’s still deciding what her boundaries are
Remember you get to set your boundaries too dude
Give it time. It’s new, but if she’s as sweet as everyone says she is you should hang on
So I’m overthinking it?
Seems like it. But you know what I always say
Aunts are hotter than moms?
No
Well yes But no
Communicate is what I always say. Make sure you’re on the
same page
I say it all the time
I’ve never heard you say that.
No you don’t. You told me to stay toxic.
As a test and you passed by being your nontoxic self Just talk to her, Hen. You’ll work it out.
Okay. Thanks JJ.
You’re welcome, brother.
Dare I ask how hockey is going?
Okay so you’re gonna leave me on read I see how it is
It’s a good job I love you
Love you, too, J
I feel a lot better when I lock my phone and slip it back into my pocket. Beside me, Halle has fallen asleep, and I let Aurora put on one more movie before I admit defeat and carry Halle to bed. She doesn’t even wake up when I lose my grip on her because of these ridiculous satin pajamas we’re both wearing and accidentally drop her onto the bed. She’s de1nitely breathing—I’ve checked twice.
As soon as I climb in beside her, she thankfully shows some sign of life by rolling over to lie on my chest and put her thigh across me like she always does. I brush her hair from her face and she hums happily, her eyes opening slowly. “Why are you so tired?”
“Up late. Busy day. Are we in our room?” she mumbles.
“No. You’re trying to straddle me in the lounge in front of everyone.”
It’s like I’ve doused her in cold water; her eyes snap open and she pushes herself up with her elbow to look around the room. “You’re an asshole,” she says, sinking back down to lie on my chest. “That’s one way to wake me up.”
“Do you want to go back out there? You slept through the end of Legally
Blonde and Cruel Intentions, but I think they’re about to put Just Like Heaven
on. Aurora really likes old Reese Witherspoon movies.”
Halle yawns and shakes her head. “I’m happy here with you. On our own. In this huge bed.”
“Are you trying to seduce me?” She’s staring up at me with anticipation. I drag my thumb across her bottom lip and watch her breathing slow. I lean in and she lifts her head to kiss me gently.
“I wouldn’t know how to seduce you,” she says. I think about what she said earlier about inexperience.
“When our friends aren’t on the other side of the door, I’ll let you practice as much as you like.”
“My hero.” She looks up, grinning, but I can tell how tired she is when she immediately lies back down. “Do you think Aurora is enjoying her birthday sleepover?”
“She said it’s the best sleepover she’s ever been to. What about you? Where does it rank?”
Halle cuddles into me more, moving her head onto my bicep so she can look at me while we talk. “I’ve never been to a sleep-over.”
“I am so good at giving you new experiences.” I tuck one of my hands behind my head to give her a better place to put her head and let my free hand rest on her thigh. “I wasn’t allowed to go to them, either. I didn’t care, though. I didn’t want to sleep in someone else’s house.”
“Uh, I think you’ll 1nd I planned this, so I gave myself the experience. And it wasn’t that I wasn’t allowed, I just didn’t have any friends growing up other than Will. Grayson went to sleepovers all the time. Gigi does, too, but now that I’m saying it out loud I’m questioning whether she’s going where she says she’s going after her recent performance.”
“Your family makes me happy I’m an only child,” I say. “I don’t have it in me to look after so many people.”
“Surely being the captain of a sports team is like having tons of brothers? And they’re not bad. I just only ever complain about them. I should talk about when they’re nice to me more.”
“It’s more like having a farm next to a highway and all the animals keep escaping.” I love the feeling of her body on mine when she laughs at something I’ve said. Even in the dimly lit room, I can tell she’s looking at me like I’m the funniest person she’s ever met. “Tell me something nice your family has done for you recently.”
She thinks for longer than I think she’d be able to justify if I challenged her. I don’t challenge her because I don’t want her to shut down. I love hearing her talk about anything, and she’s one of the only people I can say that about. “Grayson called me this morning to prewarn me about my mom being pissed oI I’m not going home for Thanksgiving.”
I don’t think that meets the criteria of something nice. “Why aren’t you home for Thanksgiving?”
“When Will and I broke up, we knew our parents would interfere because they’re like that. We agreed that if I didn’t go home for the holidays, by the time we’re next together they’ll be over it. I just didn’t get around to telling my mom we broke up until today.”
Everything she says generates more questions. “Why are you not going home
for Thanksgiving? Why not him?”
“I have other options, I guess. I have my dad and stepmom in New York. He doesn’t have anywhere else he could go. It was just easier for me to be the one not to go home.”
“Easier for him.”
“When I saw him, he said we should both go home, but I’ve already agreed to work. There isn’t enough pumpkin pie in the world to make me agree to go home given how unimpressed my mom was. She’ll get over it, though. Hopefully by March.”
I’m always appreciative of my moms, but I’m extra appreciative when I talk to my friends about their own parents. My moms have never made me feel not good enough, never made me think I wasn’t capable of making my own choices, never discouraged me or asked too much of me. It wasn’t until I started college and widened my circle that I realized a lot of people aren’t as lucky as I am. Sure, they were busy at work, but they always found as much time for me as I needed as well as giving me the best of everything.
“What’s happening in March?” She turns away from me to yawn, and I remember that she’s supposed to be sleeping right now. “You can go back to sleep if you need to. I’ll stop asking you questions.”
“That’s okay. I like talking to you, and I feel like I should enjoy this bed as much as I can, given I’ll never be in this penthouse again. What’s happening in March?” she says, repeating my question. “My annual headache. My family and Will’s family go on vacation together over spring break. I’m tasked with organizing it every year, and it takes thirty gazillion hours of research and debates, and then when we 1nally get there, they all ignore my plan and complain the whole time. It’s delightful.”
Once again immensely grateful for my family. “It sounds the opposite of delightful.”
“It is. Every year I debate planning their trip and booking myself to go somewhere else alone. Sadly, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be able to function without me and they’d end up missing, 1ghting, or stranded. I mean, they 1ght when I’m there, too, but at least I know where they all are.”
“My parents just use travel agents to book our trips. Have your parents not heard of them?” She laughs again and rolls oI me onto her back. I follow her, rolling onto my side and resting my head against my arm. I pull her closer. “You shouldn’t go if you don’t want to.”
“Aurora invited me on a girls’ trip during spring break. I’ve never been on one, or invited to one, and I really want to go. But it’s not worth the reaction I’ll get. Maybe next year, if she still wants me to go, that is, I can do it.”
“I know families are complicated and I’ve had it easy, but I’m struggling to understand why you don’t just say no and do what makes you happy. Why do you have to make sacri1ces to please everyone?”
“Yeah, they ask a lot of me sometimes, but at least they always want me around. They say I hold everything together.”
“Even if it means sacri1cing what you want to hold everything together?” She’s quiet for a moment. “If everything falls apart because I rocked the boat,
who’s going to notice if I fall overboard? Who’s there if I sink?”
I know how deeply Halle loves her family, and from the conversations I overhear they love her, too. I just wish she wasn’t weighed down by everyone else’s burdens. Conversations like this allow me to learn more about her, which I desperately want, but I can’t help but feel unquali1ed to hand out advice.
“I notice everything you do, Halle. And I bet I could sail a boat if I tried.”
She rolls to face me, our stomachs touching we’re that close in this gigantic bed. “You do say you’re good at everything.”
“And Russ is too responsible to let anyone not wear a life jacket. Aurora probably has enough money to buy the Coast Guard,” I say. “The guys trained to be lifeguards in high school to meet girls. Robbie would love bossing people around. You’re not sinking, Cap. I’m not letting you.”
“Despite what you think, you do always say the right thing, Henry.”
“Go to sleep; we can talk more about how great I am when you wake up.”
Halle leans forward and kisses me slowly. It’s soft and sweet, just like her. She rolls over and slides backward until her back is Rat to my chest, and that’s when we learn there’s no hiding an erection in satin pajamas.
