Forever and Ever (Complete #1-7)

by E. L. Todd

  “I know,” I said with a sigh. “I get that a lot.”

  “He’s very handsome.”

  I cringed. “Don’t check out my dad. Gross!”

  “What?” she said. “I meant it as a compliment.”

  “Nasty.”

  She laughed then turned back to the phone. “Your mom is gorgeous too. Your sister looks just like her.”

  “I think they’re both hideous.”

  She eyed me for a moment, a smirk on her lips. “You aren’t fooling me, Conrad. The fact that you have this adorable picture on your phone is proof that you actually love your family and don’t find them annoying.”

  “Who said that had to be mutually exclusive?”

  “I guess you have a point.” She handed the phone back to me.

  I stuffed it into my pocket then turned back to the screen. The credits were rolling. “I guess it’s over. Want to watch another one, or should I take you home?”

  “Next one, please.”

  “Cool.” I put the movie in then returned to the couch.

  It was difficult to pay attention when she was so close to me. If I reached out my arm, I could touch her. Instead of watching the screen, I tried to watch her in my peripheral vision. She looked so cute snuggled under my childhood blanket while she lay on the couch.

  When the movie was halfway over, I heard a quiet sigh escape her lips. I looked over and saw her eyes closed and her chest rise and fall at a steady rate. She was out.

  I let the movie finish before I turned off the TV.

  What should I do now? Should I wake her up and take her home? Should I leave her there?

  She would get a kink in her neck if she stayed there all night, so I picked her up and carried her into my bedroom. I’d never wrapped my arms around her, so I didn’t realize how petite she was. She was lighter than air. Her soft locks moved past my arm, making me tingle.

  I laid her on my bed, and she stirred slightly, getting comfortable even though she was still asleep. She turned on her side and pulled the blanket farther up her shoulder. I sat at the edge of the bed and just stared at her.

  I studied the curve of her lips. They were shaped like a bow. They were full and red, alluring. Her high cheekbones led to gorgeous eyes, which I couldn’t see because they were closed. I watched her sleep, noting the steady rise and fall of her chest. She looked so small on my bed. I was twice her size and easily a foot taller than her, and seeing her in a place I slept every night made me realize our size differences. A brown strand came loose from behind her ear and fell across her cheek. Without thinking, I tucked it back. “Good night, Beatrice.”

  I went back into the living room then took her place on the couch. It wasn’t nearly as comfortable as my bed, but it would have to do for the night. I’d rather be in there with her, but I had a feeling it would make her uncomfortable.

  I tried to get some sleep, but I couldn’t. All I could think about was the weird knot in my chest, the pain that was inexplicable. I felt something. It was like a burn, slow and steady. It thudded constantly, and every breath I took reminded me more of it.

  When my eyes fluttered open, a face formed in my vision. Beatrice was looking down at me, still as beautiful as the evening before.

  “I’m so sorry I fell asleep,” she whispered.

  I took a deep breath and stretched, still waking up. “It’s okay.” My voice was coarse and raspy. “Not a big deal. It’s a slap in the face to George Lucas, though.”

  She chuckled lightly. “Since I’ve seen those movies at least a hundred times, I think he’ll let my transgression go.”

  “Let’s hope so.” I yawned then ran my fingers through my hair. “What time is it?”

  “Seven.”

  “I’ve got to get up and head to class,” I said miserably. I preferred going back to sleep and passing the day in laziness, but I knew I couldn’t.

  “Me too.”

  I sat up then felt my head spin slightly. When it subsided, I stood. “Do you need to leave now, or can I shower?”

  “No, I can wait.”

  “Okay. Help yourself to whatever you want in the kitchen.”

  “Okay.”

  I showered then stepped out with a towel around my waist. I heard Beatrice moving in the kitchen. “Do you have sugar for your coffee?” she called out.

  “Top shelf in the cabinet,” I said back.

  “I can’t reach it. Can you help me?”

  I walked into the kitchen, not thinking about what I was wearing. “Sure.”

  When she saw me, her eyes widened. Automatically, she stared at my wide chest and tight stomach. She didn’t move or flinch. Her eyes were homed in. Then she got red in the face and turned around, fidgeting with the coffee grounds.

  I was used to doing whatever I wanted in my apartment and didn’t think about how inappropriately I was dressed. Oh well, it was too late now. I grabbed the sugar then placed it next to her on the counter. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

  She didn’t look at me, her gaze downcast. “Okay.”

  I headed back into my room and changed. When I thought about her reaction to me, I smiled. She was definitely attracted to me. I was used to the gawks and stares from women on a daily basis, but seeing the same look on her face was priceless. I wondered if she was just as affected by me as I was by her. Now I had my answer. But I guess it didn’t matter since she was emotionally unavailable. The thought made me feel hopeless all over again.

  I grabbed my backpack then walked back into the kitchen. “I’m ready.”

  “I made coffee,” she said. “I would have made breakfast, but you only have butter and cheese in your refrigerator.”

  I chuckled. “I eat out a lot.”

  “No way,” she said sarcastically.

  We headed to my truck then I drove back to her place. I turned on the radio but kept it low. I was still slightly asleep. I glanced at her every few minutes, surprised that she still looked perfect after a night of rest. Her face was free of makeup, but her eyes were still bright. Her clothes were slightly wrinkled, but that was the only indication that she had woken up and rolled out of bed.

  I parked in front of her apartment then jumped out of the truck.

  She eyed me while she walked beside me. “What are you doing?”

  “Walking you to your door.” Suddenly, I realized I’d never done that before. It was just impulsive. “If that’s okay…”

  “No, it’s fine.” She reached her door then took her keys out. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

  “Yeah, I hope you aren’t late for your first class.”

  “Me too. Thanks for dinner last night.”

  “Anytime.” I gave her a quick smile then turned around.

  “Conrad?”

  “Hmm?” I turned around but kept walking backward.

  “Thanks for being such a good friend.”

  I stopped in my tracks and stared at her. “Of course.” For some reason, I felt like her words implied something more. I just didn’t know what it was.

  “Bye.” She opened the door and walked inside.

  As I headed to my car, my mouth stretched into a grin. Beatrice was a cool chick that I could hang out with and have a good time. She wasn’t my girlfriend, but we had something special. Maybe if things continued this way, we could have something more. The longer I spent time with her, the more I realized she was the only person I ever wanted to spend time with.

  Theo was practically running through the library. “Dude!”

  “What?” I looked up from my book.

  “Skye and Cayson broke up.”

  My lungs froze, and my book was forgotten. “Wait. What?”

  “I guess they broke up like three or four months ago.”

  That couldn’t be right. “Are you sure?”

  “Totally. I texted Skye today and she didn’t respond, so I texted Trinity instead. That’s what she told me.”

  My eyes were wide. “Why did they break up?”


  He shrugged. “I guess because Cayson went to Stanford, and they couldn’t do a long-distance relationship.”

  “Wow…” I didn’t even know what to say. “Do they hate each other now?”

  “I have no idea. But knowing them, I doubt it.”

  “I just…can’t picture it. I thought they would be together forever.”

  Silke came to the table then plopped down. “Are you talking about Skye and Cayson?”

  “Did you just hear too?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” Silke said. “I texted my brother and asked for the details, but he wouldn’t budge. He just said they couldn’t work it out.”

  “What’s he hiding?” Theo asked. “Did something else happen?”

  “I don’t know…” I rubbed my chin. “But what could have happened? Those two are meant for each other. I can’t see either one crossing the other.”

  “Maybe they just had a fight,” Silke said. “Or maybe Skye broke up with him so he would go to Stanford. I really don’t know.”

  “Should we text Cayson and ask if he’s okay?” Theo said.

  “It’s been like six months,” I argued. “I’m sure he’s over it by now.”

  Theo gave me a stupid look. “It’s Cayson. He’s the most sensitive straight guy I know.”

  Silke jumped in. “Slade told me not to bother Cayson. He said he would murder me if I did.”

  Theo thought for a moment. “Maybe he’s right. Whenever I’m going through something bad, I hate talking about it.”

  “Yeah…” He had a point. “Does this mean they won’t be in the same room together ever again? Because that creates a problem for all of us.”

  “They never should have gotten together.” Theo shook his head.

  “Well, Christmas is coming up,” Silke said. “We’ll know then.”

  I’d totally forgotten about that. None of us had gone home for Thanksgiving because Uncle Sean and Aunt Scarlet were sick. Then they passed on the flu to everyone else. None of us wanted to catch it, so we stayed in Cambridge. I’d thought Skye and Cayson were still together, so I didn’t even ask what they did for the holiday. “This is so fucking crazy.”

  “I think they’ll be friends,” Silke said. “They are both really mature. They agreed on that in the beginning.”

  “But breakups change things,” Theo said. “I wouldn’t want to see my ex all the time.”

  “You don’t have any exes,” I argued.

  “But if I did, I wouldn’t want to see them,” Theo said. “That’s going to be so awkward.”

  “They’ll make it work,” Silke said. “I just wish Slade would tell me the details. He’s sealed like a safe.”

  “We all know he’s loyal to Cayson,” I said.

  “And Trinity is loyal to Skye,” Theo noted.

  “That’s got to be awkward for Slade and Trinity,” Silke said.

  “Yeah…” I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it.

  “Should we send them a card or something?” Theo asked.

  “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Silke snapped.

  “You’re the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Theo snarled.

  I pushed my book aside now that I couldn’t concentrate. Our lives would be different from that point onward. I sincerely hoped Cayson and Skye could be friends like they used to be. I didn’t want to pick sides, especially since I didn’t know why they broke up.

  Someone approached our table, but I was so absorbed in my thoughts, I wasn’t paying attention.

  “Hey, Beatrice,” Theo said.

  I was pulled back to reality. My eyes moved to hers. “Hey.” I sat up straight, realizing I was slouching.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked. Her hair was pulled back in a slick ponytail, and she wore tight jeans with heeled boots. A red cardigan made her look classy. I usually hated it when girls put their hair up, but she looked beautiful no matter what she did.

  “Yeah, I just got some news I didn’t expect.”

  “Oh. Well, I hope everything is alright.” She had a brown bag over her shoulder.

  “What are you doing down here?” I asked. She usually stayed on the second floor.

  “Well, I remember you mentioned you come down here sometimes…”

  She came down here just to see me? “Yeah, my friends and I claimed this table freshman year.”

  Silke was smiling at her then giving me a distinct look.

  I ignored her then tapped the seat next to me. “Would you like to join us?”

  “Sure.” She moved into the seat beside me and put her purse down.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your…friend?” Silke gave me a threatening look. I knew she would tease me mercilessly once Beatrice was gone.

  I turned to Beatrice. “This is my annoying friend, Silke. Silke, this is my friend, Beatrice.”

  They shook hands.

  “How do you know Conrad?” Silke asked.

  “We met a few months ago at a speed-dating event,” Beatrice said. Her voice was deep and hypnotic. “We’ve been friends ever since.”

  Silke nodded slowly. “Conrad…friends with a girl?”

  I threatened Silke with my eyes, telling her not to say something stupid.

  Silke took the hint and fell silent.

  There was an awkward silence at the table. I felt it, and so did the others. I knew Silke had a million questions for me. She knew there was no way in hell I’d just be friends with a woman as gorgeous as Beatrice. I’d never brought a girl around my friends before, so I knew Silke would assume the worst.

  “I’m excited for Christmas,” Theo said. “My mom makes the best pecan pie.”

  “My mom’s is better,” Silke argued.

  “I’m just excited to see everyone,” I said.

  “You mean Roland,” Silke teased. “You love him.”

  Theo shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m pretty cool to hang with…”

  “Aww, Theo is jealous,” Silke said.

  “Am not,” Theo snapped. “Are you bringing that mysterious boyfriend of yours?”

  “Maybe,” she said vaguely.

  “He better wear a bulletproof vest,” I said. “Because he’s going to be taking a lot of hits from us.”

  She rolled her eyes. “If my dad and brother aren’t protective of me, then you don’t need to pick up the slack.”

  “You’re still family,” I said.

  “We’re like your brothers,” Theo said.

  Beatrice smiled. “That’s so cute.”

  “Are you coming to Christmas?” Silke asked Beatrice.

  Beatrice flinched slightly, obviously uncomfortable by the question.

  I wasn’t planning on asking her. We were just friends. But then I remembered she didn’t have a mom and she wasn’t speaking to her father. And she didn’t seem to have a relationship with her brother. Maybe I should ask her…

  “Oh no,” Beatrice said gracefully. “But your family does sound lovely.”

  I turned to her. “Would you like to?” I asked hesitantly. “You’re more than welcome.”

  “Uh…” Beatrice tried to find a response.

  “Our family is loud and fun,” Silke said. “You’ll have a great time. We usually play games and open gifts then get drunk. It’s pretty spectacular.”

  Beatrice fidgeted with her hair.

  “You don’t have to,” I said quickly. “But I know you would be welcome. My family always says the more, the merrier.”

  She still didn’t say anything.

  I felt bad for putting her on the spot. “Think about it and let me know later.” I hoped that would decrease the tension.

  “Okay,” she said. “Thanks for the invite.”

  “Sure,” I said.

  Theo changed the subject and started talking about his work problems with that Alex girl. We listened, but I still found it hilarious that a girl beat him up. I was curious to see what she looked like. If she was tiny, that would only make the story better.
>
  Theo turned to Beatrice. “Sorry I asked if you were into anal when we first met.”

  Silke blanched. “What did you ask her?”

  Beatrice had the grace to smile. “It’s quite alright. I get that question a lot.”

  “The answer to that is no,” I said with a smirk. “If you were still wondering.”

  Silke hit Theo in the arm. “I can’t believe you asked her that.”

  “What?” He shrugged. “It’s a reasonable question.”

  “After you’ve been dating for a year, maybe,” Silke said.

  “No, I need to know up front,” Theo said. “How am I going to know if a girl is my future wife unless I ask?”

  “Asking is the best way to guarantee she’ll run away,” Silke said.

  “I’ve asked girls that before,” Theo said. “They didn’t have a problem with it.”

  “Because they were whores,” Silke snapped.

  “Did your boyfriend ask you that?” Theo asked.

  “No.” Silke rolled her eyes.

  “Are you lying?” Theo pressed.

  “No!” Silke shook her head. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Have you?” Theo asked me.

  “Maybe once or twice,” I said vaguely. Beatrice didn’t know I was a manwhore, and I wanted to keep it that way. Since we were just friends, it didn’t matter, but I didn’t want to scare her off either.

  Silke gathered her things. “I’m out of here.”

  “Good riddance,” Theo said.

  “Go to hell,” Silke called back.

  “You first,” Theo yelled.

  I turned to Beatrice. “Sorry, my friends act like they’re five.”

  “It’s okay,” she said with a chuckle.

  “I should head out too.” Theo grabbed his backpack. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye,” I said.

  Theo winked at Beatrice. “Let me know if you change your mind about anal.”

  Beatrice laughed loudly.

  I gave him the death stare. “Talk to her like that again, and I’ll break your face.”

  Theo rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” Then he walked away.

  “I’m sorry about that,” I blurted.

  “It’s fine, really. Your friends are nice. They’re a breath of fresh air.”

  “I guess they’re alright…”

  “I’ve never had a friend who was considered family.”