“Um.” She shrugged one shoulder, dark hair tumbling back from her face. “Well, Charlotte said she wanted a romantic wedding night. And when I asked her what that meant for her - and Pat - I figured… I could set a lot of it up.”
As she bundled the drenched sheets into the washing machine, she waved her free hand towards the kitchen. “I brought food, in case they’re too excited to eat at the reception. And candles and flowers.”
That was very sweet and definitely not something that I would have thought of. It made me glad that Pat had Helena in his life. Yes, it was through Charlotte rather than through me, but that didn’t make me any less happy about it. They’d always gotten on. In a way, I thought that Pat viewed Helena as a big sister. Perhaps that was a little odd now that he was marrying someone her age.
“You’re a good friend, Helena,” I told her truthfully. “Pat’s lucky to have you. And Charlotte, too. Do you need me to help you with anything? I mean, other than fixing a window, swapping a mattress and stripping a bed,” I joked, before my stomach gave a low grumble.
Shooting Helena an apologetic look, I shrugged. “It’s because you mentioned food. And I thought there would be more food at the rehearsal dinner.”
Straightening, Helena poured in the laundry powder and gently closed the door. “I can make you something,” she offered. “It’s the least I can do, after you drove all the way out here and handled everything so well.”
Her praise brought a heat to my cheeks, but I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t pleasant to still have Helena compliment me. “Besides,” she added. “We have to wait until the sheets are washed and dried before we can remake the bed.”
Living by myself, I knew it wasn’t necessary to have two people make a double bed. But it definitely did help.
“What do you want?” Helena asked. “Omelette? Grilled cheese?”
“Grilled cheese sounds amazing,” I admitted. “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Helena was right that we’d have to hang around, but I could just wait. On the other hand, if grilled cheese was on the menu, how could I turn that down? It wasn’t like we could order food; no one would be coming out in this storm.
With the laundry set to wash, we walked through to the kitchen. “The tiles look great,” I commented, waving my hand at them. “You chose well,” I praised. “And, kudos where they’re due, I spent a whole day putting them up,” I added teasingly.
It felt weird to take a seat at the kitchen counter, watching as Helena sliced the bread and heated up the pan. I was used to cooking by myself, unless the Pumas had a barbeque or a party. This felt… oddly domestic.
“You did a wonderful job,” Helena praised. “I hope Pat’s grateful for all the help you’ve given him.” Glancing up at where the bedroom was situated over our heads, she laughed. “And even more when you tell him in a few days about how you had to come in the night before his wedding and swap his mattress.”
Tilting my head slightly, I gave Helena a look. “You’d think he might notice the boarded up window in his bedroom,” I teased. I was planning to tell Pat once he was married but before he and Charlotte actually came home. It wouldn’t be the most pleasant of surprises otherwise.
“Oh.” Helena sucked her lower lip between her teeth, blushing prettily. God, the ten years since we’d seen each other had been so good to her! The thought had occurred to me before, of course, but it struck me with even more force now.
Maybe it was because we were alone together, far away from either of our normal lives. Whatever it was, I was finding it hard to focus on anything else.
“Yeah, I guess we can’t pretend it didn’t happen,” she agreed. “I hope they won’t feel too disappointed.”
“They won’t,” I promised. “Pat and Charlotte are getting married tomorrow! I think they’ll be pretty distracted with all the being married excitement.” And what was one broken window, really, in comparison to all that?
I watched as Helena found plates and then, as a loud peal of thunder made her drop one. I was up before it even had a chance to shatter and watched as the plate... didn’t. “Well,” I laughed. “I guess we’re at least in for some luck,” I commented.
Both of us leaned down to pick it up at the same time and suddenly, Helena was closer to me than she had been in a decade, her breath hot against my lips.
That, and the scent of her shampoo, filled my whole awareness. Her blue eyes briefly widened, then fluttered gently closed. The moment was so achingly familiar, and yet at the same time, everything about it was different.
Helena leaned forward, her lips brushing against my lightly-stubbled cheek. “Oh!” I heard the breath catch in her throat as she pulled back.
Becoming aware of the plate in my hands, I loosened my grip, straightening up even as Helena ran her hands over her hair. “Sorry.” Her giggle was slightly strained, ringing unnaturally off all the tiled surfaces.
I know that what I should have said was that it was no problem. Maybe even laughed it off. But instead, my eyes were fixed on Helena’s mouth. Memories of what we had rushed forward. But stronger than those were the feelings of right now. Of meeting Helena again and how all of that had felt.
Before I could stop myself, I closed the distance between us. The plate ended up on the kitchen counter as I pulled Helena in closer. My lips met hers quicker than I had time to think. It wasn’t ten years of longing and rather the
