The Space Between us

11

Chapter Eleven: A Night to Remember

The evening unfolded in a way that felt almost surreal, like a moment in a dream that Eden didn't want to end. The pizza arrived, and the two of them sat on the couch, boxes of pepperoni and cheese strewn across the coffee table. The living room, which often felt too quiet, felt different tonight. Laughter echoed off the walls, and for once, the silence wasn't suffocating-it was filled with the sound of shared enjoyment.

Eden had always thought she'd hate nights like this. Nights where it felt like her life was on display, like someone else was inside her world, observing her every move. But with Josh, it felt easy. Natural. Like they had been doing this for years, even though it had only been a few weeks.

They both pulled out their phones, scrolling through apps aimlessly before Josh suggested they play a game together. He tapped his screen and turned to her with a mischievous grin. "I've got a game that I promise you will beat me at," he said, his voice teasing. "It's trivia, and I'll warn you, I'm terrible at it."

Eden raised an eyebrow, smiling as she slid closer to him on the couch. "I highly doubt you're terrible at anything."

"Oh, you'd be surprised," Josh replied, giving her an exaggerated sigh. "Let's just say I have a very special talent for forgetting random facts."

With a laugh, Eden opened the app, and they spent the next few rounds of trivia trying to outdo each other. They competed over everything from science facts to pop culture, but it was the wrong answers that made them laugh the hardest. Each time one of them got something totally wrong, they'd burst out in laughter, egging each other on. Eden's favorite moment was when Josh misremembered the name of a famous actor and insisted that his name was "Brad Pits."

"Brad Pits?" Eden gasped between giggles. "That's not even close! It's Brad Pitt! How do you get the name wrong when you know the guy's face?"

Josh, completely unbothered by his mistake, grinned sheepishly. "Hey, I'm going for creativity here, okay? Maybe that's his undercover name."

Eden shook her head, her laughter still bubbling up. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun, so easily. With each passing minute, the heaviness of the past few days felt farther and farther away. Josh's lightheartedness made everything feel like it was okay, and maybe-just maybe-it really was.

After they finished playing trivia, the two of them settled into a different rhythm. Josh scrolled through Netflix, searching for something to watch. Eden leaned back into the couch, her arm brushing lightly against his as she reached for another slice of pizza. The cheesy, salty warmth filled her up in a way that was more comforting than she realized. They didn't need anything fancy-just pizza, games, and each other's company.

As they decided on a movie, Eden's mind wandered. For the first time in a while, she wasn't consumed with thoughts of her mom, or the pain of losing her dad, or the weight of everything she had been carrying. Instead, she focused on the quiet presence of Josh beside her. She realized how much she had been craving something like this-a feeling of normalcy, of not being alone. And Josh had brought that into her life without even trying.

They started the movie, a light comedy that didn't require too much thinking, and both of them settled into the couch, eating their pizza and laughing at the ridiculous plotlines. As the movie continued, Eden found herself relaxing, her head resting against the back of the couch. Josh was sitting next to her, but now, his body was just a little closer. The warmth from his side felt like a small anchor, steadying her as she allowed herself to unwind.

At some point during the film, Eden felt Josh's arm lightly brush against hers again, but this time, he didn't pull away. Instead, he settled into the couch, his body turning slightly so that he was facing her. The warmth from his side spread across her, and before she could fully process what was happening, he casually draped his arm across her shoulders, pulling her a little closer to him.

Eden froze for a moment, surprised by the intimacy of the gesture. She hadn't expected it, but it didn't feel wrong. In fact, it felt... comforting. Safe. She had always kept her distance from others, even those she cared about, but with Josh, there was no pressure. It was simply a moment of closeness, nothing more.

"Comfy?" he asked in a low voice, his eyes glancing over at her briefly.

Eden nodded without saying anything. There was something simple and pure about this moment, and for the first time in ages, Eden felt like she didn't need to analyze everything. She didn't need to question or doubt or hide. She could just be.

Before long, she found herself leaning into him, resting her head gently on his shoulder. She felt him shift slightly, making room for her, and she couldn't help but smile. The movie played on, but she barely noticed it. Her thoughts were calm for the first time in forever, the gentle rise and fall of Josh's breathing providing a steady rhythm in the background.

By the time the credits started rolling, Eden realized she was no longer watching the screen. Instead, her eyes had fluttered shut, the soft weight of sleep beginning to pull her under. Josh's arm was still around her, and she realized, with a quiet sense of comfort, that she didn't mind. For the first time in a long while, she wasn't worried about what would happen next. She didn't feel like she had to be anything but what she was in that moment-just two people, trying to get through the day, with a shared understanding between them.

"Eden..." Josh's voice pulled her from her thoughts, soft and cautious.

"Hmm?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.

"I don't want to move," he said, a small chuckle escaping him. "This is... kinda nice."

Eden's lips curved into a smile. "I don't want to move either," she whispered back, her words barely audible as sleep overtook her.

As the final credits rolled and the light from the TV flickered in the room, they stayed there, nestled together on the couch, both of them quiet. Neither of them moved. They let the peaceful stillness of the moment wrap around them, both of them too comfortable to even think about getting up.

And just like that, the night drifted by, ending in the most unexpected way: with both of them fast asleep on the couch, tangled up in the warmth of each other's presence. Neither of them had planned it, but it didn't matter. They had found a moment of peace in a world that was too often chaotic.

For now, that was enough.