I’d gone to that lunch with my mum. And, you could probably even almost say that we were like mother and daughter now. We were at least on our way to becoming relatively good friends. Things were way more comfortable with her, although that was comparatively. We had lunch pretty regularly, just the two of us. Some nights I was at home, we ordered in pizza and watched movies, and found we had some similar favourites – Mum was a fan of Molly Ringwald, too.
When Dad was home, he joined us. Some nights, Topher and/or Ander would visit as well. And, more often, Mac, Linc and Petey were there, too. Everyone could tell things were still not right between Mum and Dad – and I was sure they never would be – but they didn’t fight so much anymore. Instead, they put their energy into spending time with their kids and it was the first time I could remember the MacGuires feeling like a real family. There were still tensions, but we were all working through them.
So, what brought on Mum’s change? Well, apparently me dating Topher was a wake-up call to her. What had started as excitement because I might actually be a real, proper girl who’d made an impeccable choice in boyfriend (gag) turned into the realisation that Mum had basically missed almost seventeen years of my life and my having a boyfriend wasn’t going to change that. And, it wasn’t just me, but the boys, too. It was the realisation that four humans she’d given birth to, who she’d just taken for granted for years, hated her and she knew she deserved it. That no matter what kind of girl I was, I wasn’t going to magically love her because she did or didn’t approve of me. So, she’d been trying to make up for that.
The road back from that hadn’t been smooth or easy, but we were all taking it one step at a time and we were all making progress.
And, I’d been sleeping around at my parents’ house a bit more. This was in part because Mum and I got along better – better being, when she criticised me these days, I felt like she didn’t hate everything I stood for but rather she was just a mother being a mother because apparently they could criticise the shit out of you and still love you – and in part because I couldn’t stay at the Hendersons’ as easily I had before. I couldn’t really sleep in Ander’s bed most every night knowing my boyfriend was in the room next door, and I refused to sleep in Topher’s room every night because I was so not ready to move in with him anytime soon.
So, yeah, Topher and I were good, too. Things were comfortable and easy and I was unabashedly in love with him. I was still terrified that it could all come crashing down. But, I couldn’t help myself. Love really did have a habit of being where you thought you didn’t want it, but it was impossible not to just go with it; I’d found that first with Ander and now with his brother.
Topher was mushy and sweet and annoying and still just as arrogant as ever. Life with him was just like it had been a year ago, just with some added bonuses now. Because Topher was, to me, totally what all the fuss was about and I had no doubt he felt the same way. Oh, and that he felt the same way about me, too.
We went on dates that involved Ander’s old overalls as well as dates that included casual dresses. But, that night involved formal dresses.
“Bow tie!” Ander cried. “Bow tie!”
I laughed as I picked it up and shuffled over to him.
“Why did you wear those if you can’t walk in them?” he asked.
“I’m just saving my feet for later,” I replied. “I’ve been practising.”
“Yeah, I was there. You practised that heel right into my foot last week,” he muttered, but when I looked up at him he was smiling.
I put the bow tie around his neck and tried to remember how to do it up. “You ready for this?” I asked him.
He shook himself out. “Not really.”
I laughed. “You’ll be great, babe. She’ll love you.”
He waggled his head. “Thinks she knows everything about love now,” he murmured and I pretended to choke him for a second. He laughed and kissed my forehead. “He’s going to fall head over heels for you.”
“He already has,” I grumbled, my tongue sticking out, because I’d forgotten how to start the bow tie knot.
Ander took my face in his hands and made me look at him. “Babe, he falls again and again every day.”
I felt suddenly, stupidly, teary. “Don’t be stupid,” I blustered.
Ander laughed. “I love you, Addy, to the moon and back.”
“I love you, too, more than all the stars in the sky.”
I finally worked out how to start the bow tie and it was smooth sailing from there. I stepped back and admired our handiwork.
“Okay. I think you’ll do.”
“I’ll do?”
I nodded. “Eh. You’ll do.”
He took one last look in the mirror and smoothed his hair, then turned and pointed at me. “Right, what do we need?”
I looked around. “Jacket for you.” I patted my pockets. “Phone, lip gloss, keys.”
Ander patted his pockets. “Phone, lip gloss…” He paused, panic-stricken. “Crap, where are my keys?”
I snorted. “Funny.”
He gave me that lop-sided grin. “Let’s do this.” He poked his head out the door and hollered, “Aunt Jelly! We’re ready.”
“About fucking–”
“Christopher!” Aunt Jelly snapped, then said more pleasantly. “Okay, let’s do this!”
Ander and I shared an eye roll.
“M’lady,” he said, holding his elbow out to me.
“M’lord.”
I took his elbow and we could hear Aunt Jelly announcing us as we started descending the stairs. Because, yes, we had to do it again for our first formal. I’d spent all afternoon while Aunt Jelly and I were doing hair and makeup – and gossiping about boys – trying to convince her that we did not need to do the entrance. Especially when it meant that Ander’s date had had to sit downstairs with Topher and our three lovable larrikins, plus parental-figures and my brothers, while we finished getting dressed.
So, there we were. Me on Ander’s arm as we elegantly descended the MacGuires’ stairs – oh, yeah, before party at the MacGuires, people – to a ton of waiting faces. Mum was taking pictures while Aunt Jelly sounded like some terrifying cross between a boxing announcer and a beauty pageant announcer. My brothers were all in various states of shock or laughter. Our friends looked thoroughly horrified – but, I think in a good way? And, Ander’s poor date milled around the back of the pack staring at him like he was the only boy in the world.
And, while I was ecstatic – if he’d bloody notice how she looked at him already – none of that mattered when my eyes caught Topher’s and I knew it was all worth it. There was something about seeing the look of absolute wonder and adoration in his eyes as I walked down the stairs in my pink, off-the-shoulder, satin dress and matching heels, my hair mostly up with wispy curls escaping like they were supposed to, and feeling amazing about it.
Sure, I shouldn’t have to change myself for a guy, and I wasn’t about to; Topher looked at me like that when I was in Ander’s old overalls, for cripe’s sake. But, I also liked the idea that I’d tried to look pretty – mainly for me – and I hadn’t only pulled it off, but he was totally into it.
Topher waited all of about two seconds after Ander and my feet hit the floor to rush over to us and sweep me into his arms.
“Watch out, Christopher, your cheese is showing,” Aunt Jelly teased.
“I don’t care who sees it,” he told me. “You’re my girl, Sonny.”
“And, you’re my best friend’s older brother, Ranger Dan.”
He smiled at me, standing there looking dapper as shit in his tuxedo and, all those months later, my heart still skittered about in my chest. “Yeah…” he said softly. “I love you, too.” And, he kissed me.
So, Ander wasn’t the only boy I’d ever love. But, I was okay with that.
I’d learnt you could have love and friendship, you could have lust and friendship, you could have love and lust, and
you could have all three of them if you wanted. Working out which was which, though…
Well, that was what made life a bitch, and oh so worth living.
Love, Lust & Friendship
Thank you so much for reading this story! Word of mouth is super valuable to authors. So, if you have a few moments to rate/review Addy and Topher’s story – or, even just pass it on to a friend – I would be really appreciative. You can find it on Goodreads and most retailers.
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Thanks
Oh, wow. So, here we are at the end again. I cannot believe I passed ;)
I feel like I always end up thanking the same people at this point, but I guess it just goes to show that I’m lucky enough to have a whole group of people I know I can always count on. So, thanks go out to the lot of you – you know who you are – as usual.
Thanks too though to my beta readers, who did a marvellous job even though the writer was well behind on her job (seriously, I have one job!). Thanks so much for your feedback. As always, your help is invaluable.
I want to give a huge shout out to those of you who pre-ordered on this book as well. I thought there was an amazing amount of you last time. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence and I really hope you enjoy it.
I’d like to thank my old school, Saints Girls. Thanks for having me in for Book Week 2018 and letting me work on getting this finished in between talking to the students – writing among books was a true pleasure.
And, lastly, you the reader; because of you, I get to keep doing what I love and hopefully keep creating stories you want to read.
My books
You can find where to buy all my books in print and ebook at my website; www.elizabethstevens.com.au/books.
About the Author
Born in New Zealand to a Brit and an Australian, I am an emerging writer with a passion for all things storytelling. I love reading, writing, TV and movies, gaming, and spending time with family and friends. I am an avid fan of British comedy, superheroes, and SuperWhoLock. I have too many favourite books, but I fell in love with reading after Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn. I am obsessed with all things mythological – my current focus being old-style Irish faeries. I live in Adelaide, Australia with my long-suffering husband, delirious dog, mad cat, one guinea pig, two chickens, and a lazy turtle.
Where to find me:
Website: www.elizabethstevens.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethstevens88/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/writer_iz
Email: [email protected]
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