More to This

by Tess Keeler

  “And we will, because I want a family with you, too. But we can’t go back on our word. River and Aiden have been so supportive and involved since they decided to go for it.” Her eyebrows were pulled down toward the center of her face, and the exhale she released was shaky. “I wish we would’ve communicated better before we made the trip to Seattle.”

  The door to their patio slammed shut as the boys came together on the patio, making out in the dark winter air. Henley laughed at himself after giving her his attention again, “How could I tell you that I want to ruin your future? Everything you’ve worked for?”

  “Henley, I told you.. you are my future.”

  The uneasy feeling in his stomach brought him back to a time before Everly, when he drank to much and had a lot of sorrow. He was thinking about Victoria while fucking some other girl—a girl he didn’t know the name of. He would go home feeling worthless, and then he would get high with his brother until the sun came up. Now, he was finally with someone who he loved and appreciated, who felt the same way that he did. He had never been happier, and he still continued to hold back feelings that could hurt their relationship. He was still stupid.

  Their eyes met, and Henley tried to find the right words. He wanted to take it back—it was the eggnog talking.

  “It’s bloody fucking cold out there,” Mason said too loudly as he slid the door open roughly. Pierson closed the sliding glass door much softer than his boyfriend did, but Henley was already broken away from his thoughts and the emotional drain. “Want another one?” he asked Henley after sauntering into the kitchen.

  Henley shook his head, “I’m good.” He put his hands up to further emphasize his point. Everly was watching him as he reached out for her fingertips, playing with them as he felt the alcohol less and less with each passing second. “Can we just forget I said anything?” he asked. “Watch TV with these fools instead?”

  A small smile played with the corner of his lips as the beginning of a headache knocked on his head.

  “Who are you calling a fool?” Pierson griped as he walked past them to sit down on the couch.

  Everly walked into him, her arm wrapping around his lower back as she put her chin on his chest. She was staring up at him, and he loved the way she watched him. “Are you sure we’re done with the topic, H?”

  Henley hesitated before nodding a few times. “I’m sure,” he whispering down at her.

  After placing a kiss to her lips, he escorted her to the couch, letting her take the last open spot next to the newest lover birds. Henley sat down in front of the couch, between her knees. The sensation of her fingertips pulling through his hair made him shiver as someone flipped through the channels. As always, nothing was on, and they seemed to go through every channel at least twice.

  “Couldn’t we play the new Super Smash Bros game? That’s why you bought it for me, right?” Everly suggested, her hands still busy in his thick, untamed hair.

  “Yesssss,” Pierson dragged out, more animated than he had been all night. “We could light up a joint?”

  “Not in here,” Henley said sternly. “Her parents could be home any minute.”

  “Trust me, you don’t want Ella catching us smoking up. Especially with a pregnant Everly nearby,” Mason said with a little fear in his voice. He wondered if he had ever been caught by Ella. Henley was scared of both of her parents—both intimidating in their own way.

  “Yes to the game?” Henley asked, turning to face them all.

  “I’m going to kick your ass, Moore,” Mason threatened before nudging into his boyfriend. “Both Moores.”

  Henley sighed once she stopping playing in his hair.

  He leaned back to watch her wear the most mischievous smirk. Her words were playful yet stern, and he couldn’t help but feel a little turned on by it, “I’m going to kick all y’alls asses.”

  1

  More to This

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Everly

  Teaming up with Mason for the twins 21st birthday was easier than she thought. She brought it up to him before her own birthday, hoping that it would pan out how they wanted. It would start with alone time for each couple, with a surprise, joint birthday party awaiting them at Everly’s place.

  Her parents had left two days prior, and she couldn’t have been more grateful that they didn’t linger. Her mother barely spoke to her, but held conversations with Henley. At least she wasn’t being nasty to him— he didn’t deserve it.

  To take her mind off of everything that had her mind racing, she threw herself into the details of the birthday bash. She had constructed two circular towers comprised of twenty-one various flavored jello shots each. The very top shot was for each twin. Their cakes were from Everly’s favorite bakery, and it was the biggest cake she could get. It was split into two sides— Henley’s side was carrot with a cream cheese frosting; Pierson’s side was french vanilla with a chocolate frosting. It was decorated according to each twin’s favorite color— Henley’s was yellow and red, Pierson’s blue and green.

  They had stocked up on alcohol. They weren’t planning a huge party— but it was going to be big enough. Everly locked off rooms to keep people out of them.

  Mason had finished pinning up the last of the party lights on the back patio, and he blew out a relieved breath. “I can’t believe we’ve pulled this off.”

  Everly nodded, agreeing completely. Hiding anything from Henley was nearly impossible, but they really utilized Mason’s room to hide gifts. She had gotten twenty one gifts for her boyfriend for his birthday, ranging from small to extravagant. It was difficult to keep her commission jobs on the down low, but she did it. Barely. But it would be worth it to throw the Moores a birthday worthy of them.

  ————

  Everly was guiding Henley to their room, his eyes blindfolded for extra suspense.

  “What do you have up your sleeve, Parker?” Henley’s throaty voice was low, and sultry almost.

  She laughed softly, pushing onto her tip toes to whisper in his ear. “You’ll see.”

  The lifting of his cheeks was evidence that he was smiling. Everly felt nervous as they neared her bedroom door. Mason was to be getting everything set up while Everly gave Henley his surprise. Mason would surprise Pierson, then they would all join downstairs before the guests arrived to have a family first piece of cake. It was timed to perfectly execute their long incubated plans.

  With all the rooms being locked with their keys, Everly took a second before opening the room. She had used all of her blinds and curtains to make the room as dim as possible. Candles were strategically placed, complementing the twinkly lights they already had up everywhere. His twenty-one presents were scattered across the room, almost like a treasure hunt. Everly secured the door behind them after pulling Henley inside.

  Moving to take off the blindfold, she heard him gasp quietly as the room came into focus for him.

  “Happy birthday, baby.” She moved to place a soft kiss on the corner of his lips, before pulling back to explain. “There’s a gift for every year you’ve been alive spread throughout the room.”

  His face was bright and happy— it was exactly what she had hoped for. “This is incredible.. I don’t deserve you.”

  “You deserve every little bit of this, Henley Moore.” She held his face, her eyes dancing in the light pools of his. “Get used to this. This is who I am.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, the roundness of her belly providing agonizing distance between them. “God, I love you so damn much.”

  He instigated a kiss she was silently begging for. His hands grabbing onto her as the kiss intensified. Everly wondered if there would ever come a time when it didn’t feel so intense all of the time.

  A gasp tumbled from her lips as the kiss broke, both of them breathing heavily. “How about some presents?” She asked quietly, watching a small, unsure smile pull at the corner of his full lips.

  “Is there really twenty one presents?” he asked, emphasizi
ng the amount as she moved to his side.

  Nodding, she let out a slow, “Yes.” Her free hand wrapped around his bicep. “Which one do you want to open first?”

  The first one he picked was smaller, and he seemed to get a kick out of them. It was a naughty coupon book, and she knew he would love something like that. The next was a personal cooler, made to help hot sleepers cool down at night. But his two favorites seemed to be his new Apple watch, and a very lacy piece of lingerie for her to wear for him— post baby.

  “Only three more months.” She reminded him, rubbing her belly as she did so.

  Both couples enjoyed time together, and met in the dining room at 6:30pm, sharp. The party goers would be hiding while they had the twins cut the cake, hopefully being a nice surprise for both of them. Mason and Pierson were a few steps in front of them due to Everly’s inadvertent sway. She had gained a lot of weight the past few weeks, and the baby had started kicking. It was making her a little slower when she moved around.

  They both almost slowed entirely as they took in the snacks, and jello shot tower, and the split cake.

  Everly saw Henley reach over, grabbing Pierson’s bicep to get his twin’s attention. “We’re going to get fucked up.”

  “I’ve been waiting twenty-one years for this,” Pierson responded, followed by an amused laugh coming from Mason.

  “First, though, mind if we start off with some cake?” Everly moved in front of them, getting the utensils ready for them both to cut the first piece. “I’m craving cake so bad.” She whispered in Henley’s direction, and he smiled at her before kissing her forehead.

  “Need help?” Henley asked as she grabbed the plates waiting for them.

  She shook her head. “I’m good. Thanks, though.” Blowing him a kiss with a wink, she smiled as both of them stood on their side of the cake.

  “Oh!” Mason said, lighting the two and one candles resting in the middle of each cake. “One more thing.”

  That’s when all of the hiding guests popped out from their hiding place. Each twin jumped, and Mason cheered that they had successfully pulled off a true surprise party for them.

  “Surprise?” Everly pulled her lips into a line, hoping he wasn’t uneasy about the amount of people already there.

  Henley laughed, enjoying the music already on and loud. “This is perfect. I’ve wanted to enjoy a party with you for so long.”

  Everly wrapped her arms around him. “I’m glad you like it.”

  After some cake, the boys took the first jello shot, getting cheered on in the process. People had brought gifts for them. It was mostly the herbal kind— which is what they both had wanted, really. It was a decent sized party, and Henley never left Everly’s side too long— only when she encouraged him to partake in the birthday blunts being passed around in Pierson’s closest friend group.

  With the liquid courage pulsing through him and the jello shot tower mostly gone, Henley’s hands started roaming freely, and he even encouraged her to dance with him. His energy was spiking, and she wasn’t surprised when he started whispering in her ear.

  “Is it possible to cash in one of those coupons tonight?” he purred, nuzzling her neck with his nose as they swayed to the slower song.

  She laughed softly, feeling a shiver move through her as his breath warmed her skin. “Which one did you have in mind?”

  He hummed, pretending to think a moment before answering. “How about the ‘strap me to the bed and ride me’ option?”

  Everly felt heat spread over her cheeks, feeling turned on by his suggestive tone. “If that is what you desire.” She was really good at pushing his buttons right back— or at least, she seemed to be.

  “I desire you,” he breathed, his eyelids heavy over his darkening irises.

  Chewing on her lip, she felt her stomach flip around in response to his gaze on her. “I’m yours.”

  1

  More to This

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Henley

  As Henley passed through the living quarters of the house to reach the sliding glass door to the backyard, he looked at the withering flowers from their Valentine’s Day date. Everly had been ecstatic about their plans to see Dark Phoenix. She couldn’t stop talking about it all the way there, and then all the way home. Even though she was seven months of extremely pregnant, she made the best of her cute waddle and exhausted entirety.

  Pulling a cigarette out from the pack stashed in the pocket of his grey joggers, he recalled how their tangled fingers rested against her baby bump, the flutter of his heart settling in the acidic bed of his stomach. He wanted so desperately to not want the baby growing inside of her, but as they went on doing their school work and being the couple he only wished they could be, he only grew more curious about building a family with her.

  The faults in her original plan not to get involved with anyone pushed off the joy of having something neither of them imagined would manifest in their life. They were not in high school—lives didn’t have to fall apart in the session of accidental pregnancy. Why was he so emotional about the subject? Why couldn’t he accept their fate and move on?

  There would be other chances to conceive, if they made it through the entire process unscathed.

  The cigarette between his index and middle finger lit up with the flick of his lighter, and he inhaled a soothing breath of nicotine. One didn’t take it all away, but it chipped away at the bitterness. He closed his eyes and repeated the motions until half the cigarette had burned through, trying to focus on his senses to get out of his head for a little while.

  He heard the door open, and his eyes averted to the Everly’s lanky mess of a best friend.

  “Mornin’,” Mason croaked as he slumped into the chair beside Henley.

  Henley returned the greeting by lifting his head. “Did Pierce stay over?”

  Offering a small smile, he said, “Yes, still sleeping.” Almost proudly.

  Henley couldn’t help his own smile as he enjoyed his friend’s humor.

  “Nice,” Henley hissed through his toothy grin.

  He took another drag, to finish it off, before pulling out another one. He was up to nearly two packs a day, and most of it was smoked all at once, when he couldn’t sleep and while Everly was.

  “At the risk of sounding like a nag, are you alright? You’re burning through more than me, and that’s not good,” Mason’s tone wasn’t soft per say, but softer than normal. It still had the normal attitude it often carried as his perfectly round puppy-dog eyes watched him carefully.

  “Honestly?” Henley asked, a self-deprecating laugh pushing through his now tight lips.

  “Honestly,” he stated simply, still examining his face as Henley fought the jumps in his eye and facial muscles.

  “No,” Henley said as he rested his hand and cigarette against his arm rest, letting it burn away. “I’m not okay, but I’m trying to be. For her sake.”

  Mason shook his head, lighting a cigarette. “What’s ailing you?”

  “I want to keep the baby.”

  Henley witnessed Mason choke on smoke for the first time, his hand pressing against his chest as he attempted to regain his composure. When he did, his eyes were wide, and he was staring at Henley like he had three heads. “You, wut?”

  It was Henley’s turn to shake his head, “I’m an idiot, okay?”

  Mason put his hand up to stop him, “You’re not an idiot. I guess I didn’t expect to hear you say that—that’s all.”

  Nodding in agreement, Henley thought about how he had always been careful and never wanted to hear the words “I’m pregnant” from any girl he had relations with. Everly was an exception to a lot of things, and he was having a difficult time accepting the future of their baby. No matter how sure he was that it was for the best.

  “I can’t let it go, Mace. It’s killing me.”

  “Have you talked to Eve about this?”

  “Unfortunately.” He scratched the back of his head with his free hand, looking
down at the concrete floor. “I only remember bits and pieces, but her face, I remember that most.”

  “Prior to meeting with Aiden and River?”

  “Uh.. Not exactly. Christmas?” he questioned, trying to make himself a little more innocent in the matter. He knew better than to not speak up beforehand, but he didn’t know how strongly he would feel now.

  “You were nearly sloshed that night.” Mason’s lips pulled downward. “Then again, I can see you not knowing how you felt until you let yourself get completely vulnerable. I think you are finally allowing yourself to truly feel, and that’s why this is eating you up.”

  “Aren’t you quite insightful?” Henley asked, his tone lifeless as Mason’s words repeated in his head. Vulnerability was something he had lost and retrieved once again, but too late apparently. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “It’s not a judgment, Hen.” Mason fueled himself with a little more smoke before continuing, “’S something I relate to, more than I can even process.”

  Henley looked up at Mason through his eyelashes, his body nearly folding in half with defeat. The connection he felt with Mason was built from similar foundations and desires, and even though they didn’t get along at first, he appreciated their friendship now. He trashed the white stick in his hand. “Thanks.”

  Mason nodded in his direction, “Aye, no problem.”

  Henley straightened up and stood, excusing himself without much resolution, “I should probably check on her. See ya.”

  After sliding the door closed and following the steps to her room—their room, he heard her before he saw her, the sound of her violent sobs followed by the sound of an unhealthy release of vomit. And then she was crying again.

  Despite the early pregnancy morning sickness and vomiting, he knew that she hated getting sick. Who really enjoyed throwing up anyways?