“Um,” I stuttered, wringing my hands as Stephen pulled the handknitted blue and yellow blanket I had made out of the bag, “I hope you like it…”

“It’s beautiful and so soft,” he whispered, rubbing the yarn with his thumb, “where did you get it?”

“I made it.”

“You… made this? In two days?” he stared at me wide eyed and I nodded slowly, “it’s huge.”

“Not really. It’s only fourteen inches by seventeen. It’s a security blanket. So he feels safe when you’re not around. Um there’s also a lovey in there.”

“Lovey?” he set the blanket in his lap as Sparrow carried Maddox into the living room, Thomas right behind them, “oh this is adorable!”

“I like bats and then realized that might be too dark for you two but I liked the tiny constellations on the wings so I bought it anyway. He can hold it in his carseat or when he sleeps. Also, there’s a few books and an outfit my parents wanted to get him. It’s a… we’re happy to meet you present. Not for his birthday. They would have already been buying him little things if we had met you sooner so they’re making up for lost time. I made the blanket because I was worried he’d be in the hospital longer and was scared he would feel alone so I made it quickly.”

“This is… more than anyone has done for us,” he whispered, holding the blanket tightly, “thank you. Truly. We’ve been alone the entire time except Dorothy and she’s so young I felt bad putting pressure on her to help.”

“We will!” Sparrow called from the couch, “bring him to me whenever you want or need! I love babies. Tommy and I don’t work very much anymore now that Hyacinth runs the bookshop and Phoenix is in the cafe in the afternoon. So any afternoon or evening you need us, bring him over and Max can stay here.”

“I can pay you.”

“Absolutely not! Pay us by being Hyacinth’s friend and coming over. We enjoy your company.”

“I… enjoy yours too,” Stephen smiled, his cheeks pink for the hundredth time tonight and I rubbed his leg with my foot under the table.

“Pa?” I called softly.

“Hm?” Sparrow looked over at me, bouncing Maddox on his knee.

“Did Nix tell you?”

“About?”

“Ocean…”

“No. What about him? Is he okay? Did something happen?”

“He’s getting married and invited us to the wedding,” I cleared my throat, draining my glass of wine, “Stephen already knows everything so no need to talk in riddles. I told him.”

“He… after years of being gone, no communication, nothing thought it was okay to suddenly invite you to his wedding?” Thomas stuttered, staring at me and I nodded, “you can’t go.”

“I know. Not good for my mental health.”

“No, I think you should,” Sparrow shook his head, “to show him that you’re strong. He was your best friend for years. You loved him, Hyacinth but you should be the bigger person and go. I guarantee he invited us because of Cove. But that doesn’t mean we should avoid him.”

“I don’t even have details on the wedding. Phoenix told me it was happening on Friday.”

“Well…”

The front door opened and Phoenix came in, a skill he had as it seemed that anytime his name was mentioned he would suddenly appear.

“Oh! Sorry, didn’t know you were here,” Phoenix patted Stephen on the shoulder as Stephen packed the gifts carefully back in the bag, “Williams family meeting. Now. Right now.”

“Um… we’ll just head out then and I’ll see you tomorrow?” Stephen chewed his lip and I shook my head.

“Stay right there. Go ahead Phoenix,” I grumbled.

“Gather up your bags, we’re heading to Florida in 6 months for the wedding of Ocean Palakiko and Roe West.”

“Roe!” I shouted, knocking my glass over, “ah shit.”

“Wait, he managed to get Roe to marry him?” Sparrow gasped, looking over at Thomas.

“I’m confused,” Stephen whispered and I climbed out of my seat, moving over to sit next to him and pressed my forehead to his shoulder.

“I told you all about Ocean. The boyfriend he had that couldn’t stand me? The one that constantly got in the way and they broke up all the fucking time? That’s Roe. The fact that Ocean managed to get him to marry him is a shock. Roe was so tired of Ocean treating him as second best behind me. They dated off and on since we were all fourteen.”

“Ah. I… oh Hyacinth,” Stephen suddenly hugged me as I had started to cry and I jumped before settling against him, “stop this. You’re hurting yourself. I agree with Thomas. Don’t go to the wedding. Stay here. It’s not worth that pain, Hyacinth.”

“I… I want to go. Not to rub it in or even beg him not to. But he was my best friend for years and I want to support his happiness,” I sniffled, leaning back and Stephen cradled my face, wiping my tears away slowly and sending my heart rate through the roof.

“Okay. Do what’s best for you though. Always.”

“Mhm.”

“Hey I have a great idea!” Phoenix bounced over to us and we both turned to look at him, “bring Stevie.”

“Huh?” I gasped as Stephen froze.

“Bring Stevie to the wedding. So you’re not alone!”

“We just became friends…”

“I’ll come,” Stephen whispered and I flicked my gaze back to him, “if you want me to. Florida is a bit far so I’ll have to bring Maddox because I refuse to be away from him for more than a night but I’ll come to the wedding with you. If you want me there.”

“Well I… yeah. I mean it’s not for six months so you have plenty of time to change your mind but if you want…”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Stephen smiled and I hesitantly returned it, “we’re friends Hyacinth. I don’t say that lightly. I don’t have any of those. So when I tell you that you’re my friend, I truly mean that. Maddox and I will come to the wedding.”

“We’ll take him back to the house we’ll rent so the two of you can have fun at the reception,” Thomas called and Stephen nodded, “we’ll look into tickets and everything. Hyacinth, can you do me a favor?”

“Mhm.”

“Can you go to the cafe and grab my wallet? I forgot it and I need it tonight. It’s in the lockbox in my office.”

“Oh. Yeah of course Dad. I’ll walk over there now.”

“Great, take Stevie with you. We’ve got Max.”

“Are you sure? I don’t…” Stephen stood up, clearly concerned and Thomas smiled gently.

“It gives him time to get used to being with us without you around. We are watching him tomorrow night so you can go to the engagement party after all. Go on. Take a nice walk together. The weather is fantastic. They just opened a new ice cream place down the street from the cafe. Hyacinth loves ice cream. Have a bit of time without everyone around.”

“Um… okay,” Stephen smiled,  “thank you.”

“Of course. Have fun.”

Stephen followed me out of the house after I grabbed my shoes and we slowly walked through Melba. I was pointing out things to him, aware he hadn’t lived here for very long and he gave me his entire attention, his hand occasionally bumping against the back of mine and I slowly took it, lacing our fingers together.

“Hyacinth?” Stephen looked at me surprised and I covered my mouth with my scarf, not returning his gaze, “you… figured it out…”

“You could have asked. I’m big on asking me for things. Affection mostly. After Ocean… kissed me without asking, I realized how important consent is. But you clearly wanted to hold hands. You keep bumping mine so…”

“I’m not experienced in this kind of thing…”

“What kind of thing?”

“Dating? Courting? I like you and I… we’ve done nothing but talk for two days straight. So I… I just…”

“I make you nervous…”

“Mhm.”

“You make me nervous too. But in a good way. Butterflies in my stomach. I like the way it makes me feel. I haven’t felt this way in years.”

“Me either,” he squeezed my hand gently and I finally looked up at him, smiling, “you… are a very beautiful person, Hyacinth…”

“Oh… thank you, Stevie,” I giggled, “I appreciate that. You’re a handsome man. This is so weird.”

“It is. Why does… telling you I would be interested in dating suddenly make things so strange?”

“Because neither of us have any true experience. You had one high school boyfriend. I’ve never even been with someone. Dated. Sex. None of it. The only kiss I’ve had was forced on me. So I don’t really know how to do any of this. But I… I hope you’ll be okay with me writing you poems and letters. Buying small gifts. It’s how I show affection.”

“I would love that. Don’t be surprised if I do the same though. Flowers. Small things I see that remind me of you. Probably not coffee since you can get that whenever but… maybe I’ll bring lunch sometimes? We work across the street from each other after all.”

“That we do,” I smiled, unlocking the cafe door and turning the alarm off, “it means seeing a lot of each other.”

“I wouldn’t mind that. Not at all.”

“Me either.”

After grabbing Thomas’ wallet and showing Stephen around the cafe and bookshop, I locked everything up and we walked a bit more to the ice cream shop.

“Hi! Welcome to Scoops. What can I get you?” The teenage server smiled brightly from behind the counter as we approached.

“A cup of the passion fruit lemon swirl please,” I smiled before looking up at Stephen who was staring at the menu in concentration, “Stevie?”

“Well. I wanted the same as you but I’ll just have a cup of the coconut cream cold brew,” he shrugged, “that sounds good.”

“We can share.”

“I love that idea,” he gently touched my lower back and before I could grab my wallet, Stephen paid.

“Stevie!” I grumbled and he stuck his tongue out, making me laugh, “I wanted to buy it.”

“No. I owe you after all.”

“You owed me a drink.”

“Wait until your ice cream melts then drink that,” he shrugged and I poked him in the side, “stop it!”

“No.”

“Hyacinth?” a familiar voice called and I turned, nearly dropping my phone onto the ground as I pushed closer to Stephen, “it is you!”

“I…”

“I had to come home early to start planning with my Dads and Roe wanted ice cream. I didn’t think I’d see you the night I flew in from London,” Ocean came close and Stephen wrapped an arm around my waist, holding me near him. He clearly didn’t understand who this was, but he knew I was uncomfortable and wanted to protect me.

“O… Ocean…” I murmured, “it…”

“Oh. I should have guessed I saw the photos at your house,” Stephen laughed, “I wasn’t sure which twin you were. I haven’t met Cove yet.”

“Who are you?” Ocean stared at Stephen, “Hyacinth you… have a…”

“We’re dating,” I piped up and Stephen looked at me surprised, “what we established that like 15 minutes ago. Dork.”

“Sorry I wasn't sure if we had confirmed that we were going to start going on dates or just liked the idea of it. I still have to learn your turns of phrase,” Stephen smiled, squeezing my side.

“You have plenty of time.”

“So you… didn’t…” Ocean stuttered and I glared at him.

“Didn’t what? Wait for you? I waited five fucking years, Ocean Eden. Five years. I dedicated a book to you, in the hope that it would be enough to make you realize I had forgiven you and wanted you to come back. But you didn’t and now you’re marrying Roe. So I don’t want to hear shit about not waiting for you. You never wanted that anyway. If you did, you would have called me. Emailed. Anything. We’re still friends. But it’s time for me to move on with my life. I was a shell of myself for five years, waiting for you. I can’t do it anymore. I won’t do it anymore. Stevie and I will be at the wedding. Congratulations. I am truly happy for you,” grabbing my ice cream after handing Stephen his, I pulled him out of the door, stomping my way back to my parents house.

“Hyacinth!” Ocean shouted, chasing after us.

“If you touch me, Ocean, I will break your other eye socket. Don’t.”

“Just… stop for a minute!”

“No!”

“Please!”

I slowed my walking and turned, Stephen moving behind me, his hand tight on my hip, obviously trying to keep me from running to Ocean, “what?”

“I… I’ll tell Roe we’re done. I’ll end things if you just… pick me. Not… not him. Tell me you love me and I will finally end the wait. Please…”

“No.”

“Cinny…”

“No Ocean. I won’t be second to Roe. I always was. You love him. Deeply. Not me. So stop this. You might have loved me when I was a kid, a teenager, but I’m not that person anymore. I’ve grown. Changed. I made a wonderful friend and I won’t let you get in the way of that. Let me be happy, Ocean. Let me go. I’ve let go of you.”

“Have you really? Because I don’t think it’s that easy.”

“I gave up on you last year. When you didn’t come back. But I let myself sit for another year before finally… it was time to move forward and the day I decided it was, a beautiful, wonderful man introduced himself to me at the bar. I’m starting to realize it was the best thing that could have happened. You… were such a weight on my spirit. After everything that we went through together, you abandoned me. Again. I’m sorry. But I don’t love you that way anymore, Ocean. I don’t even know if I truly did. I will always have love for you. You were my best friend. But we can’t do this. I don’t want this anymore. I thought I did. But looking at you now… I realize I don’t. And that’s such a good thing. Be my friend. Like you were for years. But that’s all I need from you.”

“I… is that final?” Ocean hung his head, his deep brown curls falling around him and I took a small breath, placing my hand over the one Stephen still had on my hip.

“Yes.”

“Okay. I can respect it. I’m… so sorry I made you wait years like that. I didn’t know how to be honest with you. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“It hurt more never knowing what was going on. To know if you were okay or not. I need you to respect that I don’t want this anymore. Things have changed. If you had come back a year ago, I would have… well I wouldn’t have wanted you to end things with Roe but I would have been more willing to wait until you did. Waited until it was appropriate and been with you. But I did a lot of soul searching over the last year and realized a few things. I did fine without you around. I was so dependent on you before. I am strong enough to navigate life alone. I also realized… I don’t love you, Ocean. Not in the way you’d need from me. It hurts to think I spent so long imagining a world where you’d be getting ready to marry me right now. But at the same time,” I pressed closer to Stephen and he gently laid his chin on the top of my head, “letting you go is the easiest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“And does he know? About you?” Ocean stared at us and I tilted my head, “about your scars? Your teeth? All of it?”

“No. I don’t,” Stephen answered before I could and I turned to stare up at him, “and I don’t care. Whatever Hyacinth did, whatever you’re talking about, they’ll share that with me when they’re ready. I won’t force their hand. I want them to feel comfortable with me. We all have secrets. I have my own. But it’s a matter of gaining trust. I will do anything they need to gain that trust enough that they feel safe with me. Safe sharing their past. Hyacinth? We need to get back to Max. We’ve been gone for a long time.”

“Oh right! I’m so sorry. We’ll see you at your wedding. Tell Roe congrats for me,” I waved and Stephen turned us, staring at Ocean over his shoulder as we walked away.

“How are you feeling?” Stephen whispered and I smiled at him.

“Fantastic.”