Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 57

Once the door to the physical opened, it was impossible to close. Billy had always been a tactile friend, but with this door that had been closed for so long open, he was in near-constant physical contact with me. Even in the presence of others, he'd have a hand on the small of my back or resting on my knee, an arm slung casually on my shoulder or resting softly on my hips. Billy was expressive in his movements. Even when the kids were home, he didn't shield them from our closeness, freely kissing and hugging me around them.

This was the dynamic when he announced one evening that he had invited a few people over for a bar-b-cue that weekend. After minor digging, I learned that a few people meant his family, friends, and everyone from the studio.

"No one famous?" I asked the night prior.

"Well, I was planning on going," he teased with a squeeze of my knee.

I just shot him a look in response.

"Yes, there will be some artists there, but no one that'll ruin anything you love. Bob Dylan wanted to come, but I said he couldn't; my girlfriend enjoys his work too much."

Girlfriend easily slipped from his lips. It was silly that it stung my ears. In most respects, I was more than a girlfriend. I had been living with Billy for over a month now. We were complete partners in life in every aspect. But girlfriend still bore into my thoughts.

"Do I look okay?" I asked the next day as I looked in the mirror at my casual faux leather leggings and t-shirt outfit. The nerves of even a backyard bar-b-cue with Billy's friends made me second-guess everything about myself. Suddenly, Billy was no longer Billy; he was Billy Collins, and I was a rock star's girlfriend.

Billy hadn't looked at me yet; he was still putting on his watch. His eyes moved up me as usual, assessing the same me he had always seen, but when his eyes met mine, they didn't stall there. His eyes tugged back down again.

"What? Do I look fat?" It was the most immature female cliché statement ever, but my nerves were so frayed it popped out. I twisted away to gaze at myself in the mirror again.

"Honey, those pants are enough to make a sinner pray."

When I looked back at him in shock of his statement, his eyes were devouring me. The honesty in his words suddenly filled me with confidence. Billy Collins hypnotized the world, but I gripped Billy Collins.

"You can't wear those," he announced as I turned to face him fully.

His words fully restored my spirit. "Oh, I can, and I will."

"Please, wear anything else." He caught me on the hips. "I can't breathe with you looking like this."

"Then this should be fun," I confidently teased.

"You are a cruel, cruel woman, Lily Turncott. I'd certainly turn and run if I didn't love you so completely." Instead, he pulled me tight against him and plummeted his face into my neck. His lips sent alluring pangs through my body while his hair tickled enough to pull a laugh from my throat.

A bar-b-cue at Billy's was exactly as I expected it to be; easy and comfortable. He surrounded himself with people that were so interesting that starting a conversation was as simple as breathing. Even when lost in a discussion on some book or movie, Billy's throaty laugh would rise above it all and pull a smile to my face.

"Hey," he dipped his face close to my ear as he came up behind me while I was talking to a guy named Brandon, who was walking me through the steps to build a guitar. It was fascinating.

"How come you never pay this much attention when I talk guitars?" He teased as his hands fell to my hips.

"What can I say? Brandon has more bravado." I winked.