+++
“HEY!” I GREET in surprise when Aleix meets me at the dressing room doors the next day. I don't think he's supposed to be back here, but he could probably charm his way into a nun's panties as long as he flashed that gorgeous smile. Do nuns even wear panties? Would Aleix think I was weird if I Googled that right now?
Saturdays are usually a two show day, but our evening show was canceled tonight which means I have a rare free evening.
He leans down and kisses me sweetly on the lips, then hands me a bouquet of red roses. They're beautiful, though roses have never been my favorite – I've always thought they were a little boring and very predictable. But it's a sweet gesture, and there's a hot guy giving me flowers so I'm sure as hell not complaining. “Hey yourself.”
“I didn't know you were coming to the show today.”
“Oh, I didn't. Missed it, unfortunately. But I finished my client lunch earlier than I expected so I thought I'd surprise you.”
“Consider me happily surprised.” Reaching up on my tippy toes, I kiss him again. His lips are warm and soft and delicious.
Hannah and Ellie, who play Elizabeth and Jane respectively, walk by us on their way out and giggle. They wink at me when I catch their eye. “Bye, Ibbs. Have fu-un!”
I grin back, because I know exactly what kind of fun they're talking about.
“So are you still free tonight?” Aleix wants to know.
“Actually no. Jemma's hosting a dinner party at Reid's place and she's gone completely nutso about it-”
“Their first dinner party together?” he guesses.
“Yuh huh. Appearance is mandatory. She made Reid buy a big dining table and everything. You could come though?”
I'm nervous for a moment, because this is the kind of date you invite your boyfriend to and not just the guy you've been casually hanging out with, until he smiles down at me. “That sounds great.”
+++
You look like crap tonight.
I glare at Walt across the dining table, but he only smirks at me in response. That guy is just shifty, that's what he is. I bet he pours the milk before he pours his cereal. People who pour the milk first can never be trusted.
Jemma's gone ever so slightly cray cray about this dinner party tonight since it's her first grownup shindig, so unfortunately we're on our best behavior which means I can't reach across the table and throttle Walt like I so desperately crave. Not unless I want to be maimed by my best friend's sister. And Jemma would do it, she is that psycho. Walt, however, is making things very difficult, as usual.
Well you look like the devil. So no change there then.
It's sad how much you want me.
Aleix eyes me and the phone suspiciously, so I shove it in my pocket and do my best to ignore his aggravating brother, because side-texting at the dinner table ain't cool.
“Thanks for letting me come last minute, Jemma,” Aleix says politely.
She waves her hand airily. “Oh, it's no problem.” It actually was a problem. When I showed up with Aleix in tow she dragged me into the kitchen and whisper yelled at me for ten minutes straight because I'd messed up the seating arrangement. Seriously, ten minutes straight. About the seating arrangement. I mean, for frigging frick's sake! After a while I'd started to become genuinely concerned that she was going to damage her throat.
“This is delicious – you're a great cook.”
That makes her swoon like a southern belle – Aleix is really good at the whole charming thing. I get a feeling I'm already forgiven. “I love to cook. My mom taught me.”
“She taught you well.”
“She offered to teach Blair too, but Blair thinks emptying soup out of a can counts a gourmet meal so clearly there's no hope for her.”
“Hey!” Blair protests, but she's grinning. “I can cook.”
“Yesterday you had to call me to ask how to boil an egg.”
“Eggs are hard!”
“Naw, baby. I love your cooking.” Silver kisses her cheek sweetly.
She pats his curly hair. “And I love it when you lie to make me feel better.”
“I'm the best fiance ever,” he agrees. It's only been a couple of weeks since they got engaged, but so far he's been slipping the word fiance in whenever he can. It's seriously adorable.
Blair turns back to Jemma, payback in her eyes. “So does this fancy dinner party mean you guys are thinking of moving in together?”
Jemma's cheeks go a bright red. “Blair! No-”
“Sort of,” Reid interrupts with a little grin. One of his large hands comes up to rest on the back of Jemma's neck.
She glances at him in surprise. “Sort of? What's that supposed to mean?”
“It means I've been moving you in slowly, getting you used to the idea before I make it official.”
A shocked laugh escapes her. “What are you even talking about?”
“You haven't noticed yet, but every time you stay over I've been getting you to leave more and more of your things behind. I figured by the time you realized, it would already be too late to stop it.” That's the thing about Reid – he can be sneaky, but he isn't afraid to own up to it. “At least half of your stuff has got to be here by now.”
“That's true,” Dahlia agrees. “Do you know how annoying it is trying to steal clothes from you when your wardrobe is mostly empty? I knew I was gonna end up losing my roomie before the year was out.”
Jemma's head shakes back and forth slowly. I think she's in shock. “But I'm not-”
“Please, when was the last time you slept at our apartment?”
Blinking, Jemma turns back to Reid. There's a cautiously hopeful look on her face. “So. . .you want me to move in with you?”
For the first time, Reid seems worried, as if he's afraid she's going to turn him down. The only time I ever see Reid lose that wall of confidence is when it comes to Jemma. “I do.”
“Then why didn't you just ask me?”
He rolls his eyes. “You kidding? You remember how hard it was getting you to just date me? I wasn't prepared to let you run away from me again.”
Her smile is bashful now, yet elated. Scooting her chair closer, she wraps her arms around his waist and lays her head on his shoulder. All of her craziness from hosting has melted away like ice under the sun. “Okay then.”
Reid tries to fight a smile. “Okay then what?”
“I'll move in with you.”
He grins and kisses her. “Like you had a choice.”
“You guys are so frigging sweet,” I say, holding out my glass. All of my friends are growing up. “Toast!”
Everyone clinks glasses – even Walt, though he doesn't seem happy about it.
Another one bites the dust.
Don't be so mean. That was cute.
“Who're you texting?” Aleix wants to know. I think it's irritating him that my attention is elsewhere. It's irritating me too.
“Just an annoying pest.”
“Ha fucking ha,” Walt replies grumpily. He does everything grumpily.
Comprehension dawns on Aleix's face and his brows furrow together. “You're texting each other? Right now?”
“He started it,” I say childishly.
“Don't you think that's a little weird?”