‘Now that’s more like it,’ Devon comments, looking relaxed and comfortable on his Spidey spot.
‘Oh yeah.’ I chuckle and quirk an eyebrow, already sensing what he means.
‘Yes,’ he says with a wink. ‘I love this place, but it needs some comic books,’ Devon adds, looking around like in his head he is redecorating.
‘Hmm, is that so,’ I start, hands on my hips, looking over the pretty pink walls and plenty of colourful throws and furniture. Then I look back to Devon and have to laugh at how much he has grown since he last sat on the bean bag. Now he barely fits; there’s just enough space for his peachy bum. ‘Well then, I think you missed one thing off my Christmas list,’ I say, making Devon’s eyebrows crease and nose crinkle with curiosity. He’s leaning to one side on the bean bag, propped up on an elbow, hands clasped, which makes his biceps pop. He looks all sorts of nerdy and sexy and he’s underneath my tree. I clear my throat, nearly losing my train of thought.
‘I’m going to need a cardboard cut-out, like a life-size one of this really awesome superhero who’s recently taken the world by storm; he wears a white cape, with gold boots. He’s quite the charmer with dashing good looks and I think he would fit perfectly into my space and add just the right amount of colour against the pink. Do you like the pink?’ I say, confidently, hands still on my hips, thinking I’m going to need more pictures of Devon around this place when he must fly away to go and shoot all his movies and, you know, live in his New York apartment. We hadn’t got around to discussing how exactly our new relationship was going to work, but I am keeping tonight’s tone light as one thing I was sure of was that we would figure it out together, in time.
‘You know, I really don’t think you need a cardboard cut-out and yes, yes I like pink,’ Devon replies before gently grabbing my wrist and pulling me into his lap, his cheeks a little flushed. I can hear more beans scatter and squeak under our weight and fear for our beloved Spidey bean bag.
‘And why not?’ I say, regarding the cardboard cut-out and give him a playful pouty look, our faces inches from each other’s.
‘Because why would you want cardboard when you have the real thing?’ he questions, tracing his fingers along my cheek, making them flame under his touch.
‘But you have an apartment in New York, you live in New York – you won’t always be here,’ I say, my voice now more of a whisper.
‘About that… did you like the New York apartment?’ Devon asks, and well if I can be so bold as to tell him my thoughts like he has shared with me about my home, I reply truthfully, ‘It was cold. I mean it was nice and I liked that you had all the posters and our childhood stuff, but it was missing something.’ I move my hand over the hem of his white cotton tee. A moment of silence passes.
‘You, Scar. It was missing you. It’s never felt like home. You are my home,’ he breathes, his voice but a whisper, his lips brushing against my ear. The electric current is back and coursing through my veins.
‘So, what you’re saying is, that you would like to move in with me,’ I whisper into D’s ear. He laughs into mine, a laugh that makes my stomach volt a rail, it’s so full of warmth and joy.
I move away so our cheeks are no longer touching so I can look my best friend in the eyes. My hand rests against his jaw, his hand moves to my thigh to keep me steady and balancing on his lap.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he says when our eyes meet. ‘We have a million adventures to catch up on, thousands of forts to make up for and hundreds of pancake breakfasts to compensate for. You are home for me, Scar,’ he adds, making me feel a little breathless.
I can feel the smile tugging at the corners of my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck. ‘But won’t you need to be in New York for work?’ I can’t help but query.
‘I can travel and there’s no rush in selling the apartment. I hear someone might need it next summer anyway?’ Devon says with an encouraging, bright smile.
I wriggle on his lap so that I can wrap my legs around him and stretch them out. ‘I think that sounds like a plan, Superman,’ I say, rhyming with happiness.
‘I thought we were Batman and Robin?’ Devon says with a grin.
‘Right now, I’m feeling more like Superman and Lois Lane,’ I note, pulling Devon close so are lips are nearly touching.
‘Ahh, but do you know who I think my favourite duo of all time are?’ he replies, his lips tickling mine.
‘Who?’ I ask.
‘Me and you,’ he answers, giving me the cheekiest and cheesiest grin. But it works, with those words I kiss him under the glowing lights of the Christmas tree while atop our Spider-Man bean bag and I feel like this time I’ve taken a leap and I’m doing it: I’m really flying.
Acknowledgements
I would like to say a massive thank you to Hannah Smith and the Aria fiction team for giving me this opportunity. I feel like I always have to pinch myself and will forever be grateful for this dream come true. Hannah, I am beyond thankful to be working with you again and for your belief in me, it means the world. I love bringing my stories to life with you and making them the best they can be, you are amazing. A massive thank you to Vicky Joss too for organizing my blog tour and for all the lovely social media posts and fun media stuff you do, you are awesome. Also, to the design team at Aria for creating the most beautiful, festive cover that makes me smile every time I look at it, you are incredible. Thank you, Helena Newton, for catching me when I decide to make up words, it has been lovely to work with you again on this book and I appreciate all you do.
To every single person who has picked up my books, messaged, reviewed, tweeted or shared my stories, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Readers, book bloggers, friends, family and strangers a like, you are truly awesome in every way, please know how much I appreciate you.
To my wonderful author family, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for giving me a place where I feel like I fit, for your endless support and encouragement and for being a bunch of inspiring, talented, beautiful and positive humans.
To all those who have inspired me through movies, music, art and books, thank you for being guiding lights and for teaching me to never give up on my dreams. I’m grateful to all the superheroes that inspired this book, from Superman to Shazam, if we can dream it and have a little trust and faith, we can become it.
To my family, I try with every thank you section to sum up the love and gratitude I have for you but somehow words never seem to do how I feel justice. Thank you for everything. I love you all with every piece of me. Kelly and Jen, thank you for the laughs, the tears, the adventures, and the utter giddiness we shared that made 2019 so special and that made this book what it is. You are both amazing, obvi.
Nanna, thank you for loving me for all that I am, for believing in me and my dreams and for being the embodiment of love. I miss your smiling face more than I could ever express. I spent last year in a flurry of edits and excitement as my second and third book hit the shelves and then had the time of my life writing this fourth book. I told you all about it while I sat on your bed and scribbled down scenes in my notebook. You’d smile every time I said I needed to write and then you’d tell me “to write a good one.” You filled my heart with so much hope, made me feel like everything would always turn out ok and taught me to “be happy” even through the ups and downs. Nanna, this book fills me with so much joy, memories of a year that brought so much happiness, and ended with a lot of pain, but I truly hope you’d be proud. I love you always, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you and Grandad, Nanna Knott and Grandad George too, you are always in my heart.