THE INEVITABLE │ t.h

TWENTY TWO

"Jocelyn asked me to not come visit them until they're out," Venus huffs, answering Tom's question.

"Has she even texted you recently?" he asks, pouring wine into two tall glasses. He handed one to her as she shrugged.

"Small updates, at least once a day," she responds. "But it isn't enough, ya know? I miss them." Tom nods, understanding.

"Michelle will be okay," he reassures, leaning over the island counter and placing his hand on hers. "Promise." Venus gave a warm smile and nodded, knowing he was right.

"You haven't gotten a text from Ms. Bell," she notes, giggling. "Sleepover must be going well."

"Evelyn's always loved sleepovers," he chuckles, looking down at their hands. He slides his hand underneath hers, palms now touching each other as he slightly lifts their hands into the air and intertwines their fingers. Venus grins, staring at his face. He glanced up at her, a pink tint coating his cheeks. "What?" he questions as he takes a sip from his glass.

"You're so pretty," Venus whispers. Tom chokes on the wine, pulling away from her hand so he can bend over his knees and recompose himself. "I'm sorry," she laughs as she swings around the counter and pats his back.

"It's okay, I just-" He stands, a final cough falling past his smiling lips. "I just wasn't prepared for that."

"Am I not allowed to compliment you?" Venus teases, wrapping her arms around his neck. He rolls his eyes, moving his hands together behind her back, his arms resting on her hips.

He places his forehead on hers, staring back into her ocean blue orbs. "You're absolutely gorgeous, you know that?" Tom whispers. Venus closes her eyes, trying to suppress her wide smile and hide the blazing blush that wanted to surface.

"Shut up," she mumbles, laughing softly.

"What?" Tom questions innocently.

"I hate you," she whispers.

"Oh, but you really don't, love, do you?" Venus opens her eyes and glares playfully at Tom, shaking her head in the slightest. He smiles, now his turn to close his eyes and enjoy her presence and gentle touch. "You give me butterflies."

"You really are a teenager," Venus jokes, laughing again.

Tom pouts, reconnecting their eyes. "You're telling me you don't get them?" Venus sighs, not moving.

"You give me more than a thousand butterflies, Tommy." Tom froze, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck, on his arms, and on his legs stand on end. He was shocked to find a liking to the forbidden nickname. "Am I not allowed to call you that?" Venus frowns.

"N-no," Tom remarks, "you can." Venus smiles. "I usually don't like that nickname — but you make it cute." Venus rolls her eyes and presses a soft kiss to his lips.

"Movie?" Venus questions as she unravels herself from Tom's body and walks to the living room, leaving Tom to groan despite the wide smile on his face.

"You're actually such a tease," Tom grumbles as he joins her in the room, sitting on the couch. His eyes watch her search for something to watch, and he found himself very unable to remove his gaze until she spun around and waved a movie case at him.