“I will.”
She winked at me and then left.
It was dark outside now, and the only light came from Bella’s muted TV. I just lay there enjoying the warmth of her body next to mine, until eventually she woke up with a gasp and a cough.
Sitting up, I handed her a glass of water.
“What time is it?” she asked eventually.
“Seven.”
“We are so lazy.”
“Eh. We’re sick. It’s allowed.” I stretched toward the lamp on her bedside table and clicked it on.
Lianne’s voice came up the stairs. “Hi honey I’m home!” She appeared a moment later. “Hey! It’s Rafe, too. Good timing! I got what you asked me for.” She lifted the handles of a shopping bag. “I’m going to put it away.” Lianne scurried off, toward the guest room I supposed.
“What did she buy for you?” Bella asked.
“Can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Um, Bella? It’s a week until Christmas. Duh.”
She poked me in the belly. “What is it?”
“Didn’t you just hear me say I wasn’t telling?”
“I can make you talk,” Bella insisted.
“No, belleza. Nobody can make me talk.”
“Okay. No sex until I know what’s in the bag.”
I laughed. “If that’s the way you want it.”
She turned to study me. Then she ran a hand from my chest to my crotch. “Goddamn it. What did I just do to myself?”
“Break it up,” Lianne said, bouncing into the room. “You two had all day to grope each other whilst I toiled in yonder salt mines.”
“You poor thing. We were busy with TV and naps,” Bella answered. “Thanks for the plague.”
“Sorry.”
“You can make it up to me if you tell me what’s in the bag.”
Lianne rolled her eyes. “I’m not telling.”
She tried me again. “Please can I open it? It’s almost Christmas.”
“It’s not wrapped,” I argued.
“Actually, it is,” Lianne said. “The store offered, so I said yes.”
“What store?” Bella asked.
“Nice try.” Lianne climbed onto the foot of the bed. “I bought some cocoa on the way home. Can we make hot chocolate?”
“Sure we can.” Bella used her toe to poke Lianne’s hip. “You know that will have calories, right?”
“Yep. But I’ve decided to make a few changes. I’m going to eat whatever I want, for starters.”
“Really.” Bella wrapped her arms around her knees and stared. “What else?”
Lianne picked at one of her perfect fingernails. “I’m going to spend time only with people I like. And stop listening to the ones who try to control me.”
Bella and I exchanged a glance. “That sounds like a good plan for anyone,” I said quietly.
“I need to stop letting people push me around,” she said. Then she looked up at Bella. “You wouldn’t put up with a quarter of the shit that I do. The next time some Hollywood asshole tries to step on me, I’m going to ask myself, ‘What would Bella do?’”
Bella snorted. “I don’t want you to take any shit from anybody, Lianne. But maybe we should find you a less notorious role model.”
“No.” Lianne shook her head. “I never take any risks, and you do. And I know they didn’t all work out the way you planned…”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Bella said.
“But you are fierce,” Lianne finished. “And I admire you.”
Bella’s mouth opened and then shut again. Pink spots appeared on each of her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said, swallowing. “Let’s go have hot chocolate. You can start your bold adventures in my kitchen.”
Thirty-Six
Bella
Downstairs, I began opening and shutting cabinets.
“What are you looking for?” Rafe asked.
“A pan.”
“You don’t know where they are?” he yelped.
“Don’t judge. Found one!” I yanked a skillet out of a drawer.
Rafe crossed the kitchen and took it out of my hand. “Belleza, that’s not the right shape. When you stir, it’s going to spill.” He leaned over to exchange the skillet for a heavy saucepan, then pushed the drawer closed. He put a hand on my hip and gave me a squeeze.
And I freaking loved it.
It should have been a drag to be sick over Christmas vacation. But standing in my kitchen with the two people who’d gotten me through the worst semester ever was really lovely.