36. Dove #2
She spun my chair around for me. “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. But that’s the gist of it. Now, let's move on to you.”
We were hardly done with everything going on with her, but I knew not to push Reverie. When things got too emotional, she shut down. It was best to let her calm down before speaking to her again about it. And I would, because she deserved someone to talk to. To tell her she was worth it.
“What do you want to know?”
Reverie continued with my cut as she replied, “Um, everything . I’m dying to hear how my hard work paid off.”
A huff of laughter escaped me. “Your hard work?”
“ Yes, my hard work! Do you know how much of a bitch it was to string those fairy lights? You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, Rev,” I drawled, a touch sarcastic, until I remembered how beautiful it really had looked. “It really was gorgeous,” I added more sincerely. “I can’t believe you two managed to work together and keep it from me.”
“Josh made me swear not to tell you. Usually that wouldn’t do much to stop me, since we both know how bad I am at keeping things from you, but with everything we’ve had going on lately, it wasn’t too hard to keep it to myself.
” Her gaze was on my hair as she cut and talked.
It always amazed me how she could do that.
“Thankfully I had Zeke help me, or it probably wouldn’t have turned out quite as nice. ”
Panic clawed at my insides. “He knows?”
“I didn’t tell him,” she hastily explained, “but, well, he’s perceptive, Dove.
I think it’s like a superpower of his. He’s quiet and he knows things.
” Her teeth worried her bottom lip, looking remorseful.
“I’m sorry, should I not have brought him along?
I just didn’t think I’d be able to string up all those lights by myself, and you deserved it to look perfect because I knew how important it was to you?—”
“Rev,” I interrupted, then smiled to ease her fears. “It’s okay. I’m not upset. I know Zeke won’t say anything.”
She huffed. “I don't know why you care what this dusty old town thinks anyway. You’re not related. It’s not even the good kind of taboo,” she grumbled.
“Don’t go on the Credence rant again, please,” I begged. Ever since we’d buddy read it together a few summers ago, she had opinions. Loud opinions.
“I just don't understand why everyone gets grossed out,” she exploded, unable to hold it in. “They’re not related and weren’t even raised together!”
My stomach did that uncomfortable twisty thing.
“Yeah, but we were , Rev. That’s exactly why I’m worried.”
“You were both older, it barely counts,” she dismissed easily. “Either way, this town has no right to judge. You should hear the shit I’m told when the old ladies come in for their styles. You’ve got nothing on the depraved shit that goes on in this town.”
I wanted to argue but she proclaimed, “ Moving on . Now tell me what happened during the magical, beautiful night I helped orchestrate. Come on, spill.”
So, I did. Well, maybe not about everything , despite her prying questions.
Some things were just meant to be kept close to the heart, and that night was one I would cherish forever.
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t brag a little, because Josh was pretty impressive in bed, and before him, I’d only ever had experiences that made Rev wince in sympathy every time I FaceTimed her about them.
She’d never understood why I fucked around with Torrance.
Honestly, now that I’d seen what a man who knows his way around a woman’s body could do, neither did I.
“Damn.” Reverie blew out a breath. “If I wasn’t getting some, I’d be super fucking jealous right now. But Zeke keeps me plenty satisfied. Ten outta ten, no notes. Guess I taught him well,” she joked, because they’d both been each other's firsts, way back when.
Honestly, I was pretty sure she was his only, because I never saw him around Haven with anyone else, and he worked so much I couldn’t imagine him slinking off to go look for someone in the city. I couldn’t prove that, however, so I kept it to myself.
She laid down her scissors and reached for her blow dryer.
“You don’t have to dry it, Rev. I'll just throw it up in a bun.”
She threw me a withering stare before clicking on her dryer. She pitched her voice a little louder so I could hear her over the force of the air. “So, he was worth the wait?”
I nodded shyly, unable to keep the smile off my face. Reverie had heard all about my crush throughout the years, and knew I’d hopelessly been waiting for Josh to be the one to take my virginity. Even when my already delusional daydream became even more impossible when he left.
“Aw, you’re practically glowing, Dove,” she teased, then froze, shutting off her blow dryer abruptly. “Wait. You guys made sure you used?—”
Oh my god , kill me now. I covered my face, which now burned with embarrassment.
“ Yes ,” my muffled reply came from behind my hands. I reluctantly brought them down. “Even though I told him I’m on birth control, he was adamant.”
“Oh no, babe, I’m with him on this one. Don’t ever tempt fate, that bitch is cunning and ruthless. She’ll get you when you least expect it. Always wrap it to tap it, unless you don’t mind having little ones running around in your future.”
My mind instantly went to a mini version of Josh kicking up dust as he ran around the farm, and I tried not to let the longing show on my face, but my best friend was observant as hell when it came to me. Other things, not so much, but me? She was like a damn bloodhound.
She let out a tiny gasp and the blow dryer nearly fell out of her loose grip.
“No way.”
“Whatever it is your thinking of saying,” I warned, “don’t.”
“You want crotch goblins?” Her question was deadly serious despite the ludicrous choice of words.
“Not yet, but…maybe someday,” I admitted guardedly, as if I might be condemned just for saying it.
Reverie had always been very vocal about not wanting kids, and while she got along with little children just fine in social settings, she would never be the kind of person to volunteer to hold a baby.
That was probably a good thing, too, unless you wanted that baby’s first word to be fuck.
“Oh, Dove.” She surprised me with a hug from behind, her arms wrapping around my shoulders unexpectedly in a tight squeeze.
“What are you doing? Stop that! I’m not pregnant, Reverie.
” I tried squirming out of her grip, afraid her weird celebratory hug might somehow invoke mother nature, or whoever it was that was in charge of baby dust. I was nowhere near ready to have kids .
I wasn’t even sure Josh wanted them, and considering how his mom had lost her life delivering him. ..
He might not.
“I know, I know, but… knowing I might be an auntie one day is so special! I’ll be godmother, right?” She sounded so hopeful, as if she wasn’t the only person I had to ask, or the only person I would want to.
“I wouldn't choose anyone else,” I vowed sincerely.
I could see her eyes grow misty in the mirror and one thing Reverie was not was a crier. Seeing her tear up twice in one day was an anomaly and had me worriedly spinning the chair to face her.
“Okay, you’re scaring me. What’s really going on?”
She waved the hand not holding the dryer in front of her face, dismissing the fact she was getting emotional. “Nothing, nothing.”
“That reaction’s not nothing. Now it’s your turn to spill.” Just in case she needed a reminder I told her, “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“I know that.” She put her dryer back in its holder and slumped down into the chair of the station beside me.
It took her a few moments to speak, and when she did her voice wavered, sounding so fragile it made my heart ache. “If I leave, I’ll miss everything.”
“What are you missing? Rev, nothing's happened yet. I swear I’m not pregnant!”
“I know that.” Her usually happy, cheery voice was thick with emotion. “I just mean life here in general. I know not much goes on, I know that, but… ugh.” She covered her eyes with her hand. “They’ve gotten to me.”
“Who?” I was confused beyond belief with the direction this conversation had taken and slightly perturbed by her reaction.
“The old biddies of Haven.” She waved toward the door. “All the locals who’ve come in to get their hair done since I’ve been back.”
Ah, I think I was starting to understand now.
“Rev.” I tried to stop my delighted smile, but it tugged at my cheeks, muscles aching as I attempted to hold it back. “Are you maybe, possibly, oh, I don't know, enjoying living back in Haven again?”
Her lips quivered, as if about to answer, but then her body shuddered, and she made a face. “I can’t even say it.”
“It’s okay to like small town life, you know. City living isn’t for everyone.” I couldn’t help but poke fun at her, although inside my chest my heart soared. She didn’t have to say what I already knew.
“I loved LA,” she defended. “I still do, it just isn’t...”
“Home,” I finished for her when she trailed off.
“It doesn’t have Zeke,” she confessed in a low murmur. “Or you. Or my sister. Or the ladies that come in and get their hair done with me every damn week just to gossip. Being back here made me realize that maybe I didn’t hate every part of Haven, after all.”
My hand snuck out from under the cape, reaching over to grab one of hers.
“Have you talked to Zeke about how you’re feeling?”