G: Because it’s a very you kind of thing to own, Princess.
G: Who’s the fourth mug for?
My face flushes at seeing the pet name he gave me written out for the first time, but my fingers hover over the keyboard. Should I tell him Jake is here? Neither one of them seemed pleased with the other at the soup kitchen, and I would rather avoid unnecessary conflict.
Me: Why do you call me Princess?
I pour another shot into the next mug, eagerly waiting for his reply.
G: Haven’t you seen yourself in the mirror? You look like royalty. And your personality is unique.
A small giggle escapes me at the first line, and a wide grin spreads across my face at the second.
G: You also don’t drive and are basically a passenger princess.
I scoff at his last text as I pour the final shot of bourbon intomy mug. He’s not entirely wrong, but it’s a reminder that I need to learn how to drive before I graduate. Who knows where I’ll be working after next semester?
As I move to grab my phone and respond, a deep voice comes from behind me, making me jump.
“You’re taking forever, Ems. I need my bourbon.”
I quickly lock my phone and tuck it into my pocket. Jake’s hazel eyes narrow as they focus on my hand. “Hmmm.”
“The hot chocolates are almost done. I was about to add the mini marshmallows.” I quickly turn away and start adding the small, fluffy topping to each mug.
“Who were you just talking to?” Jake leans against the counter, a lock of his dirty blond hair falling onto his forehead.
“Kamila. She had a question about Halloween.” It’s a perfect excuse, but it comes out much too quickly.
My friend nods and crosses his arms. “Riiiight.”
I finish placing the marshmallows in each mug and turn to him. “I thought you didn’t like interfering in your friends’ personal lives.”
His brows set in a straight line. “Correction, I don’t do it because I have many secrets of my own, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to know or don’t care about my friends’ personal lives.” Jake sighs. “I just… I’m here if you need to talk, Em.”
He offers me a warm grin, and I go in for a hug. “I know, Jake, but this isn’t something I’m ready to talk about yet.”
My friend’s arms wrap around me, and his chin rests on the top of my head. “Whenever you are, the gang’s here for you. We’ve been through enough drama to know that nothing can break these friendships up.”
Pulling away from him, I ask a question I’ve been thinking about since the start of the semester. “Aren’t you worried that all of us are spending less time together?” I hand him his mug, and he takes a sip before pouring more bourbon in.
Jake sets his mug down and thinks. “I’m not too concerned.Of course, I’ve noticed how things have changed in the past year, but it was inevitable.” He tips his head to the side. “I consider us lucky enough to have the friendships we do. We may see each other less, but when the going gets tough, we drop everything and come to the rescue.” He pokes my nose. “One thing I can promise you, Em, is that we will always be there for you, just like you’ve always been there for us. As for our future, only time will tell.”
I know what he’s saying is true, I was just hoping for another answer, but I want more than just part-time friendships. Then again, a four-person friend group being this close is rare enough as it is. As Jake said, we’re lucky, and only time will tell where our friendships are headed after graduation.
“I’m going to bring these over to my parents and then go to my room to watch a movie. Wanna join?”
Jake holds up a finger. “Right after this.” He pours more bourbon into his mug as I sigh and bring the drinks to my parents, telling them what Jake and I are going to do. We say good night before heading upstairs into my white bedroom with hints of pink and earthy tones everywhere. The bed is king-sized, and I have a large flat-screen TV my dad insisted on buying, similar to the one he bought for me and Kamila, which is sitting in our dorm suite. There’s also a small terrace overlooking our tiny backyard among the surrounding buildings, and a medium-sized walk-in closet filled with more clothes than I’ll ever need, which I clean out every year to donate. But none of the things I listed are my favorite part. The best part of the room is my reading nook, featuring a hanging chair and dozens of books behind it. There lie my favorite classics, fantasy novels, and smutty romances. Though the monster ones, I only keep on my e-reader. My parents and I may be close, but we’re not that close.
“Did you get more books?” Jake asks before lying down on my bed and turning on my TV.
Walking over to the library, I click the door, which opens toreveal a bookcase inside another built-in bookcase. It reminds me of the fake door at the speakeasy Grayson took me to, and I’m not sure why I didn’t suspect the fake door when I saw it then.
Jake’s eyes widen slightly as I say, “Yes, I did.” Leaning against the door that hides where my darker romances are kept, I sigh. “Most of the classics and mysteries are in the library downstairs.” Which, surprise, surprise, is my favorite room in the entire house.
“Don’t want your parents to find out about your porn on paper, huh?”
I grab the pillow on my hanging chair and throw it at his face. “It’s not porn, it’s erotic literature, and the men in those books know how to do things way better than the ones I’ve been with.”