40. Dahlia
DAHLIA
I wake up with Felix’s arm wrapped around my waist. I keep my eyes closed, basking in the feel of him a little longer. When his hands grip me and pull me against him, my body heats. I wriggle against his dick and instantly his hold on me tightens.
“Morning, gorgeous,” he says, voice gruff.
“Morning.” I turn around in his arms and bring one hand up to palm his cheek. Dark stubble dots his otherwise perfect jaw. I still can’t believe it sometimes. He’s here in my bed, smiling at me and looking at me like I’m someone that makes him incredibly happy.
I’m still wearing his jersey from my costume last night. We had plans that involved a bed and this jersey that we never got around to, but I’m ready now.
“Good morning,” Jane chirps from the other side of him. I still, and then peer over Felix to see her lying in the pillow fort. She changed out of her dress and into shorts and a T-shirt, but her green hair is still styled straight, and her makeup is smudged.
After waltzing into the party last night dressed as her character from the hit TV show and singing the theme song, people went nuts. Some recognized her immediately, others had to look it up, but by the time we left the party, Ivy Greene was the talk of Valley U.
My plans with Felix were interrupted when she came home last night. The three of us stayed up so late talking, I must have fallen asleep mid-conversation because I don’t remember saying good night.
“Morning, Hannah Montana,” Felix drawls out. He props himself up on an elbow and grins at her.
“Ha, ha,” she says the words without actually laughing, but she smiles.
I sit cross-legged in bed and hug my pillow. “Last night was amazing, babe. I have never heard you sing like that. You’ve been holding back.”
Jane smiles, looking almost embarrassed. A first, I think.
I glance at Felix. “Have you heard from Lucas this morning? He was seriously freaking out. I’m pretty sure he said he had posters of Jane in his room growing up.”
“I’m afraid to check my phone,” he says.
“He showed me his Instagram. He’s following every single Ivy Greene fan account.
” Her laugh, the same old Jane laugh, settles any nerves I had about everyone finding out about her past. She’s my best friend and I’m fiercely protective of her.
I’m glad at least that Daisy and Vi finally know too.
It was torture keeping it from them, but I wasn’t planning on her making the announcement quite so dramatically. I should have known. Same old Jane.
“What should we do today?” I ask, looking from my best friend to my boyfriend.
“All of my ideas involve this bed.” Felix pulls me back down next to him and his arm slides up to rest just under my boobs.
“The more hot girls, the better?” I tease.
He chuckles. “Maybe not in this instance.”
Jane sits up. “Okay, okay. I can take a hint. I’m going to shower and give you two some time to…whatever, but let’s do a movie day.”
“Yes!” I agree. “Oh, we have to watch Can’t Buy Me Love. Felix still hasn’t seen it.”
“You’re going to love it.” She gets to her feet and goes to the door, but before she leaves, she looks directly at Felix. “You have thirty minutes alone with my girl. I’ll be back.”
“Knock first,” he warns and then rolls on top of me as soon as the door closes behind her.
“Better work quick, Walters.” I run both hands over his biceps.
“Quick I can do. You with that smudged eye black is a weird fantasy I didn’t know I was so into until now.”
My hands shoot to my face. I completely forgot to wipe off the black painted under both eyes.
His body shakes as he laughs. “Super hot, babe.”
“Shut up.” I smack at his chest.
“No, I’m serious. It’s really doing something for me. Do you still have that football around somewhere? I have the urge to tackle you.”
“You’re so weird.”
“But I’m a weirdo with a surprise.” He drops his mouth to mine and then pulls back. “Look up.”
“Look up?” I repeat as I tilt my head back and glance toward the ceiling before I can think too hard about why, but even if I had run through the possibilities, seeing a giant poster of Felix’s face wouldn’t have been one I came up with.
I burst into laughter. “When did you put that up there?”
“Yesterday. Jane let me in before the party.” He grins proudly. “You said if you had a poster of me, that’s where you’d put it.”
“I love it.” I glance between his giant head on my ceiling and him on top of me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He presses another kiss to my lips, then glances up. “It’s creepy, isn’t it?”
“A little bit,” I admit. I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “Now I have the fantasy and the reality. And if you make me mad, I have a nice dart board.”
His gaze darkens. “No darts.”
I swear I played darts with one other guy once and the man has boycotted the game for life. “You won. I’m all yours. I think you can let it go.”
“Never,” he says, but he’s smiling.
“It wasn’t ever really a competition, you know? You own my heart.”
“Right back at ya, hot stuff.” His eyes crinkle at the corner and his mouth twists into a playful smirk. “But I still fucking hate darts.”