Chapter 50

It was late that evening, after finally getting home, that I received a text from Kat with the details for the charity event. I wasn't surprised to see that it was a black tie event. I already began imagining what Kat would look like and what she would wear. My thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, and Roxy's voice shouting out from the hall.

"Ev?"

"In the living room!" I called back, locking my phone screen and putting it on the coffee table.

Seconds later Roxy swept into the room, her hair was tied back and she had only soft make up on. She was casually dressed in light blue, ripped skinny jeans, and a white, fitted, long sleeve off the shoulder top. She dodged around the arm of the sofa and threw herself down next to me. Kicking her legs up onto my lap, she knocked her loosely tied pumps onto the floor and stretched out, leaning back against the cushions.

"All good?" I asked, biting back a laugh as she sighed and closed her eyes.

"Much better." She said softly.

"Why the visit?"

I reached for my drink that was sitting on the table next to me. I took a sip and had barely swallowed it when Roxy took the bottle from my hand and helped herself.

"Do you want your own?" I laughed, slapping the side of her legs lightly.

"Are you gonna get up to go get it?" She smiled.

I looked past her in the direction of the kitchen, then flicked my eyes back to hers.

"No."

She shrugged and winked, then proceeded to down the rest of it, before handing me the empty bottle.

"Thanks." I said, shaking my head and standing it on the coffee table.

"You're welcome."

"Fuck. Now I want a drink." I groaned, my mouth suddenly feeling drier than the sahara desert.

I went to stand up, Roxy moving her legs to allow me to get to my feet. I'd taken only a couple of steps when she shimmied back into position and spoke up.

"I'll have a diet coke please. With ice."

Cheeky cow, she planned that.

I pulled the cushion from under her head, causing her to nearly fall out of the chair in surprise, then tossed it at her.

"Hey!" She called after me, whilst I walked away, laughing at her.

I grabbed a bottle of diet coke from the fridge and poured some into a glass with some ice, then picked up another beer.

Entering the living room again, I handed her a drink, lifted her legs enough to slide in under them, and made myself comfortable again. She instantly took a drink from her glass and I followed suit. The cool beer had barely touched my tongue when she spoke.

"So how long have you been sleeping with Kat?"

I nearly spat it across the room as I swallowed it fast, coughing as I turned to look at her.

I'm so fucked.

Her arms were crossed and her brows arched up as though inspecting me closely. Her no nonsense expression was one I'd seen before, and it was the outcome of those situations that still kind of intimidated me.

It's okay Ev, you can talk your way out of this one. Just bluff it.

"Don't even think about trying to talk your way out of it."

Shit! How does she do that?!

"I know you far too well, and I may have also confirmed it with Jamie." She said, glaring at me so intensely that I was pretty sure she could see inside my mind.

"Jamie wouldn't have said anything." I said, only realising too late that I'd pretty much confirmed it myself with that very response.

"Oh he would, and did. Not that I gave him much of a choice." She smiled wickedly.

"Is he at least still alive?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

She shrugged, and I picked up my phone, tapping out a quick text to him.

Thanks for covering for me bro... Not!

I hit send and then turned back to Roxy, trying to gauge what her feelings were on the situation. Usually I knew everything she was feeling. We were like two sides of the same coin, she was the other half of me, and I was able to read her like a book... except now.

Brilliant time to develop a poker face Rox.

My phone flashed up, and I was able to make out the reply from Jamie.

I had no choice... She's fucking scary! You're on your own. I'll prepare your eulogy.

I rolled my eyes, making a mental note to deal with him later.

Make it look like a painful accident... A very painful accident.

"So, is there any life or different universe where you'd be happy, or even okay with me and Kat, erm, you know...?"

She tilted her head to the side, and adopted a thoughtful look.

"Well, let me see. Is there one, which doesn't involve you playing footsie, and god knows what else, at the dinner table, then proceed to have sex in my bathroom?"

"Wait, you knew about that stuff at the table?" I asked, both shocked, and kind of amused.

"I had my suspicions, but then Jamie was kind enough to confirm it... with a little persuasion."

I felt kind of sorry for him for a second, but then it passed as I realised his suffering was over, and mine was just beginning.

"That was nice of him." I muttered under my breath. "We didn't have sex in the bathroom though."

She clutched at her chest, pretending to swoon.

"Oh how considerate of you! Thank you."

"You're welcome." I smirked.

Her face fell, and for a second I feared what was coming next. I was about to open my mouth to argue my case, when she suddenly burst out laughing and nudged me with her foot.

"Is this a good laugh, or a 'run for your life Ev, I'm about to hunt you down with a kitchen knife' kind of laugh." I asked. "Just so I know." I added with a small half shrug.

She laughed harder, clutching at her ribs, just in time for the doorbell to ring. She began to stand, coughing as the laughter subsided.

"Hold that thought." She said breathlessly, beginning to walk away.

I heard the front door open and close, and curiously waited as I heard her footsteps getting closer.

I caught the smell of food as she rounded the corner, and then saw the large pizza box in her hand.

"We needed food for this conversation." She said simply, sitting down, and opening the pizza box.

My mouth began to water as I looked at the cheesy pizza, covered in a large supply of chicken, pepperoni and peppers. Roxy grabbed a slice and pulled her legs back onto the sofa, facing me cross legged and taking a large bite.

"So, can I take it as you aren't angry?" I asked, picking up a slice for myself.

She rolled her eyes, and swallowed.

"Of course I'm not angry!"

I breathed a huge sigh of relief, then scowled at her.

"Why the fuck did you act like you were?"

"I hate to pass up any opportunities to wind you up." She laughed, taking another bite of her slice.

"Just you wait. I'll get you back for that." I retorted, trying not to laugh, but failing to hide a smile.

It felt good for Roxy to know. I'd missed having her to talk to about this stuff. We shared everything, and the way I'd been feeling lately was something that I needed my best friend to help make sense of.

"Just make sure you're alive for long enough then. Hate to break it to you, but Sean might still want to rip you limb from limb if he finds out." She sipped from her glass, then continued: " Especially if he finds out due to under the dining table fun." She winked.

I could understand what she meant. I knew Sean was a great guy, but I also knew he was incredibly protective, just as I was over Roxy and Everly, he was over every member of his family. It was one of the things that I respected most about him. I knew that I should tell him, make it clear that I wasn't just wanting to fuck her a few times and then move on to the next girl. But at the same time, I wasn't even sure what was going on with me and Kat. It's not like anything serious had happened. We were just having fun together. It hadn't even been that long. Who knows what the future may hold, and I didn't want everyone watching over us, adding that pressure and ruining any fun we could have together.

"I still blame Kit Kat for that one." I said, picking up another slice.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Roxy asked.

I sighed, and began to explain it all to her. I told her everything. From the moment in the club, to the invitation to the charity event. She listened to every word, only commenting when I'd finished, and instantly launching into best friend mode, asking questions and talking it all through. It was so good to have her to talk to. It got later and later, and we just kept talking. At some point we fell asleep, both huddled together on the sofa, exhausted and talked out.

What is that fucking sound?

I couldn't open my eyes, my brain was still half asleep, and the light was far too bright, but the irritating buzzing was making me angry. I reached for my bedside cabinet, but couldn't feel it. I groaned, swinging my arm for it again and then yelping as I felt myself falling over the side of the bed and crash onto the floor. Except... it wasn't my bed. Mumbling some choice swear words, I tried to pick myself up, seeing a phone light on the table which I'd just collided with. I snatched it up and answered the call.

"Yeah?" I mumbled sleepily.

"Rox?" I heard Sean ask on the other end.

"Ah, not my phone." I replied, pulling it from my ear and noticing the different coloured phone cover.

I glanced behind me, seeing Roxy still cuddled up with the sofa cushion, fast asleep. I heard Sean laughing and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"She's still asleep. Want me to wake her?"

"And suffer her wrath? Nah, it's fine. Everly has been keeping us up a lot lately, let her sleep." He replied, just as Everly let out a little scream of laughter nearby.

"Want me to pass on a message?" I asked, smiling at the sound.

"Sure. Tell her I'm taking Everly to my parents this afternoon, we've been invited to dinner, if she wants to meet us there later."

"Okay, will do. Catch you later."

"Yeah, cheers Ev."

The phone cut off with a click, and I collapsed back onto the floor, mentally talking myself into a well deserved nap. I'd just closed my eyes when I heard a yelp and felt Roxy's body slam into mine, as she too, fell over the edge of the sofa.

"Fuck!" we both groaned together.

My eyes met her sleepy gaze as she lay splayed over me, and we both laughed, neither of us making an attempt to move before we fell asleep once more and I silently thanked the universe for giving me the best friend ever.