Page 135 of Try Hard

We headed for a pair of open seats, coming to a stop when Tanika jumped out in front of us with a squeal. She held her arms out towards Ophelia. “Oh, my god, you look amazing!”

“You too,” Ophelia said, gesturing to the pink bridesmaid’s dress Tanika was in. “Shouldn’t you be helping the bride get ready, though?”

She laughed and waved Ophelia off, shooting me the quickest look of approval. “She sent me to ensure you made it and are feeling okay after the whole… well, you know.”

I felt the breath Ophelia sucked in, the muscles of her back tensing under my arm, but she put on a wry smile. “We’re good.Tell Kim she’s got bigger things to worry about today and I don’t want her ruining her wedding day stressing about me.”

“She just knows crowds aren’t your favourite, and she’s really glad you came. I am too,” she added, looking a little more emotional than I’d expected. “It’s been really good to reconnect.”

“Yeah, it has.”

Tanika beamed. “So, you’re not going to disappear for twenty years again?”

Ophelia laughed begrudgingly before she looked up at me sincerely. “Yeah, no. I think you might be stuck with me this time.”

“Ah, I’m so glad! Also, you two are so cute together, and, if Eve’s what it took to get you back into our lives, I like her even more.”

“You didn’t like me enough to begin with?” I asked, not really bothered and far more concentrated on pressing a kiss to the top of Ophelia’s head.

“Everyone likes you. Don’t worry about it,” Tanika laughed, stopping only as she produced a folded piece of paper from her clutch bag. “Even people you turned down.”

Ophelia and I shared a look, frowning in unison.

“Should I be worried?” I asked lightly.

Tanika shook her head but still seemed a little apprehensive. “This is from Sammy.”

“Ah.” I reached out and took the note.

In truth, Ophelia and I had given little thought to how things would go with Sammy today. We’d discussed it once, knowing that there would be so many people here we likely wouldn’t run into each other, and moved on. I hadn’t expected her to try reaching out.

Tanika nodded once before switching back to her excited smile as she looked between me and Ophelia. “Argh. You’re justsocute and we’re all so happy for you. I always knew Eve wanted you too!”

Ophelia hung her head. “Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome,” she called, running back towards wherever she’d come from.

“Bet you never thought you’d be back with this crowd,” I said in Ophelia’s ear as we found our seats.

She shot me a look. “There are a lot of things that have happened lately that I never thought were going to happen. I’m not complaining about any of it.”

“Not even this?” I asked, waving the note.

“Eh. Let’s see what it says first. If Sammy’s sending you love letters, maybe I’ll have a change of heart, but, as it stands, it’s not like I don’t understand why she was so attracted to you.”

“She doesn’t know me like you do.”

“So? I don’t know if you realise this or not, Eve, but you’re spectacularly beautiful. Yes, getting to know you is infinitely better, but I understand why people see you and want you.”

I smiled softly at her. It was amazing how far she’d already come in her relationship to physical compliments. I didn’t push it and make them towards her much, she wasn’t required to like or want them, and it wasn’t as if I didn’t have an infinite list of other qualities to compliment her on, but her comfort in her physical body, and everything attached to it, made me so happy for her.

She wasn’t even working as hard to ensure her nipple piercings were hidden. They were hard to detect through most of her clothing, bras keeping them safely hidden, but I’d known it mattered to her and played on her mind. Now, she was relaxing into herself—unless we were around our parents, hers especially. She still didn’t want to have that conversation with them, and, honestly, I could understand that.

“So long as you want me,” I told her, “I’m golden.”

“Ialwayswant you.”

My insides tingled. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to Ophelia being in love with me. But I was okay with that. I wanted to spend the rest of my life marvelling at the fact I got to spend it with her.