I hold Chase for a long time before I let go.
“I think about that night we got home from the Ozarks. When you took me parking in my new truck. I always wonder if I would have done anything differently that night if I had known.”
“Known what?”
“That it was our last time.”
“But it wasn’t. And now, we’re here. Together. In your bed. On your birthday. And although I’ve already given you your gift—”
“A football signed by the last Super Bowl quarterback, the literal GOAT. That was quite the gift, Dani. Seriously, I’ll treasure it always.”
“I know, and it just turns out that I’m in a giving mood tonight.” I give him what I hope is a seductive grin.
And he must understand because he pounces on me and covers my face with kisses.
Sunday, September 8th
Friends with benefits.
Devaney
I snuggle into Chase’s neck and kiss it. Really, there’s nothing better than waking up with him. My little bed at school is going to feel lonely.
He murmurs something into his pillow but then rolls over quickly on top of me, pinning me to his sheets.
“I’m so glad you came home for my birthday, Dani.”
“What’s on tap for today?”
He shrugs. “No real plans. I think the celebration is over.”
“My dad mentioned maybe going out on his new boat.”
He rolls off me with a dramatic thud. “The scene of the crime. Great. He probably knows what we did. He’ll take me out, hit me over the head, say I fell into the water and drowned. That he tried his best to save me.”
I laugh. “You’re silly. My dad loves you. Like a son practically.”
“What he and my dad said when we picked out the cigars was pretty cool, and the bag he and Jennifer gave me for traveling was really nice.”
“It was. And it sounds like you’ll be using it a lot. With all the university visits Damon wants to go on. Are you really considering going somewhere besides Nebraska?”
“Not as long as you’re there,” he says, pushing my hair off my face and kissing my forehead.
“So, why go through all of it?”
“It’s part of the process, I guess. Damon likes the attention. And we’ll be seeing a lot of the guys we’ve met at camps in the past. He’s also sort of been questioning our choice. If, by chance, we decided to go somewhere else, would you ever consider transferring or a long-distance thing?”
“I don’t think now is the time to talk about that, Chase. Let’s just enjoy being friends.”
“You mean, friends with benefits?”
“I guess, technically, that’s what this is right now.”
“While you’re in college and I’m not?” he asks.
“You’re busy. I’m busy.”
“Friends with benefits it is then.”
“I really liked the shirt Damon and Haley had made for your birthday,” I say, changing the subject.
I don’t want to ruin this weekend by trying to label it. We need to take this slow. Work our way back to being friends organically. It was easy, like putting on a worn-in pair of jeans, this weekend. I expect it will continue to feel the same when I’m back at school. We’ll talk at night. Catch up. I’ll see him at games. Come home as often as I can.
“They want me to wear it to school on Monday, so they can start taking orders. But it is really cool to see both our numbers together. My one. His eleven. We knew we were going to combine them, but then Haley started researching the history and meaning of the number one eleven.”
“What does it mean?”
“Well, let’s start with the numbers individually. In numerology, my number one represents motivation and independence. It also ties into success. Damon’s number eleven is supposed to be a powerful number that has to do with life’s purpose. Since Damon’s goal is to play pro ball, he was pumped to hear that. Really, when we chose our numbers as kids, we never thought to consider all that stuff. Heck, I didn’t really even know what numerology was until Haley told me that all numbers have meaning. Anyway, when you combine them, you get one eleven. And get this. It’s the angel number.”
“Oh my gosh, like your first dog, Angel. Like our dog, Angel the second.”
“And the wing tattoos our parents have. It is also supposed to indicate the manifesting of one’s own destiny. And there’s something to do with prosperity in there, too.”
“So, all in all, pretty cool.”
“Yes,” he says in an academic tone. “Because when you are at one with yourself, your thoughts can become your reality.” He laughs. “Your brother loved that part.”
“I expect they will sell out quickly.”
“We hope so. Otherwise, Mom won’t be able to get her car in the garage when it starts snowing, and she won’t be happy about that.”
“I suppose I’d better get home before anyone wakes up.” I turn his wrist toward me, looking at the time on the new engraved watch his parents gave him yesterday. I give him a kiss. “I guess next time I see you, we’ll be back at the scene of the crime.”
Way too guilty.
Devaney
I spend the morning with my family, having breakfast and playing with my little sisters. I’m gathering up my stuff in the kitchen when Dad comes in and shows us his new tattoo.
“What do you think?” he says.
As soon as Jennifer sees it, she starts crying and muttering something about always wanting to fill up his arm. He kisses her, and they share a tender moment while Damon and I try not to make it awkward. Dad already has tall Roman numerals tattooed on the inside of his forearm with the dates of each of us kids’ birthdays, but this is different. It’s a big compass. Instead of the normal directional indications, where it would normally have an E or say East, it says Easton. Where West should be, it says Weston. I’m at the top of the compass, Jennifer is featured in the center of the design, and Damon is at the bottom.
I tell him it looks great and then head up to my room to finish packing my makeup.
Damon follows me.
“So, I’m south,” he says. “I’m pretty sure it’s because he thinks I’m the most likely to end up, you know, down there.”
“Damon! You’re such a pervert.”
“What?” he says. “I was referring to Hell, not a girl’s, you know, but I will admit, that is a funner thought. In fact, I like it. And I’m going to use that. Because I do love to go down south, if you catch my drift.”
“You’re a pig,” I say, shaking my head at him.
“Oh, come on now, Dani. I’m sure you like it.”
“That’s none of your business,” I say way too fast and sounding way too guilty.
“You do that with Chase? This weekend?”
“What?” I ask innocently.
He taps his foot and raises his eyebrows at me. “You two seem tight again. So, what is it? BFFs, friends with benefits, or love?”
“I don’t know exactly,” I answer honestly.