My Forever Valentine

by Melody Heck Gatto

  Chapter Four

  SPENCER

  Spencer fanned the screaming smoke alarm before he pulled the smoldering tray of what was supposed to be cookies from the oven. He sighed as he looked at the tray of burnt cookie remnants. Why did he think leaving work early to attempt to bake was a good idea again?

  “Woah,” Zane commented as he entered their apartment, waving his hands in front of him at the cloud of smoke. “Cuz, what is going on in here? Trying to burn the place down?”

  “Shut up.” Spencer opened the kitchen window, letting in a whip of cold winter air, but at least it helped let a little of the smoke out.

  Zane raised an eyebrow. “Are you baking?”

  “I was trying to.” He frowned at the cookie tray on which appeared to be little black hockey pucks.

  “But why? Are you trying to show Harley your cooking skills, after the girls made those amazing cookies?”

  He didn’t owe his cousin any explanation. Zane was just busting his balls, anyway. “What are you doing here? I thought you were having dinner with Lily?”

  The billowing smoke in the kitchen was why Spencer had planned on doing this while his cousin was out of the apartment. He was a terrible cook and didn’t need an audience if things went sideways—like he knew they would. Cooking was his nemesis, and he didn’t like not being good at something.

  “I am. I mean, I’m headed over there next. But I wanted to run something by you first.” He nodded to the cookie tray with the burnt cookies. “Do you have a minute, Betty Crocker?”

  “Ha, ha. Real funny. I’m a grown ass man; I have to learn how to at least feed myself.” He tossed a dish towel over the tray of burnt cookies. “And you know what they say? Practice makes perfect.”

  “You need more practice.” Zane deadpanned.

  “Duh.” Spencer tossed the oven mitt onto the counter, tipped his head towards the living room, and then produced a choking cough as he was overcome by the smoking cookies. Once in the living room, he sat down and waited on his cousin.

  After pacing the floor a few times, Zane finally joined him on the couch. “Lily and I have been talking, and we think it’s time we move in together.”

  “Wow.” Spencer only managed the single word as he stared at his cousin. He never would’ve thought Zane would be the first one to move in with his girlfriend. He also hoped his jaw wasn’t on the floor. Even if he felt flabbergasted, he didn’t want Zane to see it. Shaking his head, he added, “That’s great.”

  “You think? I mean, I wanted to discuss it with you first. See if you can manage the rent here on your own until you find a roommate.”

  He didn’t want a new roommate. Putting flyers up in the coffee shops and interviewing people, then having some stranger move in here... all sounded like the beginning of a bad horror film. But as he looked around the apartment, he wasn’t sure he was going to be able to afford this place for too long on his own, and he wasn’t sure that he wanted to. Unless...then the perfect answer came to him.

  Harley. He could ask her to move in with him.

  “It sounds like you guys have already decided on this,” Spencer mused. There was no way his left-brain thinking cousin was leaving anything to chance. They must have a plan. He knew that between Zane and Lily, this decision had probably involved lots of spreadsheets and pros/cons lists before a final decision had been made. This was not a spur-of-the-moment thing.

  “Yeah.” Zane shrugged. “We’ve been talking about my moving into her place, but she has to talk to Harley first. I mean, she is welcome to stay if that’s what she wants to do. That doesn’t bother us any, but Harley has to have a say in it as well.”

  Zane sat back on the couch and looked around with a heavy sigh. “It’s going to be weird not living here. This is the only other place that I ever called home.”

  Spencer silently agreed with his cousin. They had been a duo most of their lives. And even though they were technically cousins, they were more like brothers. Most of his memories of Zane as his partner-in-crime were from right after Zane moved in with them.

  After Zane lost his mom and dad at a young age, Spencer had done everything he could to help his cousin, and as traumatic as it was, helping his cousin get through the loss gave him a purpose. Spencer was an only child and so was Zane. They provided one another with a sibling. And being so close in age made things even better.

  They’d still been children when their lives had forever changed—only eleven and twelve years old when a car accident had taken Zane’s parents. Spencer’s mom had taken it the hardest, which made sense because she’d lost her sister. But she made it her mission in life to raise Zane as her own. She gave her nephew a loving home and family; she always told Spencer that is what her sister would have wanted.

  Up until this very moment, Spencer and Zane had never been apart. They spent the first part of their lives as thick as thieves, always getting into mischief. They became “brothers.” Finally, they both were accepted to the same college, and getting an apartment together had seemed like the logical thing.

  But now, this was a new chapter in both of their lives, fully expected, but still an adjustment.

  “Spence, you okay? You’re not making any wise cracks or sarcastic comments. You’re not having a stroke, are you? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you stay quiet for this long when there are so many sarcastic comments to be made,” Zane teased.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Spencer answered, ignoring his cousin’s attempt at humor. Letting out a breath, he continued, “I just can’t believe that it’s the end of an era.”

  “You’re right about that.” Zane shook his head and chuckled.

  The far off look in Zane’s eyes told Spencer that he was reminiscing as well.

  Spencer shook off the emotion that was starting to creep up on him. “But Lily is good for you. I can see how happy you are, and if this is what you want, I say go for it!”

  “Yeah, well, Harley is just as good for you. Just imagine if you had not answered that want-ad for me. Neither of us would be in the position we are now.” Then he smirked. “And you wouldn’t be making cookies, well, trying anyway.”

  “Yeah, well, that was a big fail.” He looked at his watch and wondered if he had time to try another batch. He should probably make getting rid of the smoke smell his priority, though.

  “Why are you baking anyway? If you wanted cookies, I’m sure Lily would be happy to make you some. She loves to bake; you know that. They probably have some of those oatmeal cookies left.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” He didn’t want to have to ask Lily to make him cookies. And he had eaten enough oatmeal cookies to last him a while. He wanted to be able to make a dozen or two for Harley. They were just cookies; how hard could they be? And it was true that he still hadn’t perfected his grilled cheese, but he was no quitter.

  “Okay.” Zane stood up and smiled. “I’m heading over to Lily’s now. And we’ll talk to Harley.”

  Harley. Ideas began to swirl around Spencer’s brain. If Zane and Lily were taking this next step...was it time for him to? It seemed to fit right into his plans.

  “Is Harley coming over tonight?” Zane asked.

  “Yeah. She is supposed to come over later.”

  “That’s what the cookies were for?”

  Spencer nodded. “Speaking of cookies, I’d better get that cleaned up before Harley gets here.” He looked at the kitchen. Flour was all over the counter and floor. The mixer was dripping, and the sink was overflowing. He wasn’t sure he’d have time to make another batch of dough. With any luck he had enough left over for at least one dozen. One batch had to come out edible, right?

  “Did you make those from scratch?” Zane asked, as he walked towards the door, but then he stopped to gawk at the mess.

  “Yes.” The amount of bowls in the sink gave away the fact that he had made more than one batch.

  “Should I ask how many recipes you made, and what happened to them?” Zane questioned.


  He shook his head. “You know me, cuz.”

  “Maybe you should call Aunt Alice. Now we know she learned how to video chat. She could walk you through the recipe step by step,” Zane said, as he pulled on his jacket. “She would so love that! Can you imagine? She’s been wanting to teach us the secret of baking for years.”

  The idea of his mom learning to video chat was comical, but Spencer didn’t hate the idea. Maybe one day he’d take her up on that offer to help him create a nice meal for Harley via video. “Thanks, maybe I’ll give that a shot next time.”

  OPENING THE DOOR, HARLEY grinned as she practically leapt into his arms.

  “Hey,” Harley breathed, as he kissed her.

  He didn’t want to let go, but it was cold outside. He ushered her towards the living room and closed the door behind them. She slipped off her leather jacket, laid the jacket and her scarf on the chair, then turned her attention back to Spencer. Throwing her arms around him again, she cooed with a sweet sigh, “I missed you today, boyfriend. How was work?”

  “Good. Short day today. We finished up the project at the hotel, so I was able to cut out early. I missed you, too, babe.” He smirked and kissed her soft lips. “How was class?”

  She shrugged and rested her head on his shoulder. “It was a long day. I didn’t sleep very well last night. And I had to stop at the library after class to finish another paper before my shift at the bookstore. I was so worried about completing the paper and starting this semester off positively.” She lifted her head so she could look him in the eye. “But, I was able to finish the paper and submit it. And that is one worry off my mind,” she said with a smile.

  “Babe.” Spencer smiled proudly. “You’re managing a 4.0 GPA so far and working two jobs. I don’t think you need to worry about school. You’re kicking ass, and your teachers know it. I’m very proud of all you’ve accomplished.” He meant every word of it.

  “Thanks,” she said, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. She was so modest, and that was yet another thing he loved about her.

  She grabbed his hand and moved them to the living room. Before she said down, she looked around the now neat and clean apartment, and wrinkled her nose. “Did you cook? I smell something burning.”

  Spencer rolled his eyes. He thought the smoke smell was gone. What good were scented candles anyway, if they didn’t mask bad cooking? “No. Nothing is burning. Not anymore, anyway. And, no, I didn’t cook dinner. Pizza is ordered and on its way.”

  “But what is—”

  He put his hands up in front of him in defense. “Don’t ask. Please.” His very fragile male ego was in no mood to take a hit.

  “Okay, I won’t ask.” She brushed past him and sat down on the couch. “Before I came over here, I just had the most interesting conversation with Lily and Zane.”

  Wow, they didn’t waste any time. “Oh?” He sat down beside her.

  “But first, it seems like Zane will be spending the night, so, I was wondering if I could—”

  “Of course!” he answered with a smirk before she was even done with her question.

  She giggled. “You didn’t even let me ask.”

  “Babe, you never have to ask. Anytime you want to stay here, you’re welcome.” It wasn’t as though this was the first time she’d stayed over. “Mi casa es su casa.”

  “Wow,” she said with feigned awe. “I didn’t know you speak Spanish.”

  He grinned at her. “That’s the only thing I remember from high school Spanish class.”

  “Impressive,” she teased. “And I know I can always stay here. It’s just...” She shook her head as if she were contemplating something. She tucked one leg underneath her and propped her elbow up on the back of the couch. With her head rested in her hand, she looked concerned for the first time since she had breezed in here. “So, there’s big news. Lily and Zane are moving in together. To our apartment. Where I live. It’ll be the three of us. Fun, huh?”

  Her extra emphasis made him well aware that she was overthinking this. He hadn’t expected her to be jumping for joy at the news, but he thought she might be okay with it. It wasn’t like Zane wasn’t there all the time, anyway.

  He simply nodded, and waited to see if there was more she needed to say. After all, he knew how hard it had been for him to hear the news. Harley probably felt the same way.

  “From the look on your face, I assume you already knew that. I mean, of course you knew that. Your cousin tells you everything.” She smiled sweetly, but her words were entwined with sadness.

  “Yeah, he told me today, right before he and Lily told you.”

  “I figured. And I get that they’ve been together long enough and want to move in together. It’s just weird that things are changing.”

  He nodded in agreement. “I know what you mean. But different doesn’t always mean bad. It was the four of us before, and it’ll still be the four of us. You always have here to get away.” Even though he wasn’t sure how long he’d be here if he didn’t find a roommate—or if he even wanted one.

  “Right, but, I obviously can’t stay there with Zane moving in.” She let out a little laugh. “Talk about awkward. I don’t know why they think that will work.”

  He agreed and had the perfect solution.

  “Now that you say that—” His momentum was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Pizza’s here.”

  It figured that the pizza guy would interrupt him, right when he was going to bring up a brilliant idea. Was it a sign? Was it not so brilliant? Was it not the right time? Was it too soon?

  After handing the pizza guy a tip, he paused before bringing the pizza over to the coffee table. Looking at his beautiful girlfriend lounging on his couch, he could definitely imagine waking up with her every morning and going to bed with her every night. As a matter of a fact, he’d been thinking about that a lot lately.

  She tilted her head and smiled at him. “What’s going on in that brain of yours?”

  Unable to form words, he just stared at Harley sitting on his couch. She was gorgeous in a light pink sweater with the cold-shoulders thing cut-out, tight black jeans with strategically placed distressed holes, and her stylish black combat boots. Her long wavy hair cascaded down her back, and she kept pushing a strand away from her face.

  “Are you going to bring the pizza over here? Or do I need to come over there to get a slice?” she asked with a chuckle. “Because I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I’ll sit right by the door and eat it if I have to.”

  Snapping out of his trance, he shrugged. “On my way.”

  “So what has you all tongue tied today?” she asked. “I mean, besides the housing shake-up.”

  Setting the pizza on the coffee table, he turned to her. Cupping her jaw in one of his hands, he stared into her brown eyes and smiled.

  He didn’t think that there was ever a time that she didn’t evoke a smile from him.

  She smiled back as he covered her lips with his. He kissed her softly and longingly, as if he hadn’t seen her in days, which wasn’t at all the truth.

  A loud grumble that happened to be her stomach, broke the kiss and had them both in a fit of laughter.

  “As much as I love kissing you, I can’t deny you pizza when you’re that hungry. That would just be cruel,” he teased. He opened the pizza box, let Harley take a slice first, then he took his. “Tell me more about your day.”

  “Please, you aren’t interested in that. You should be the one telling me about your day. My man, taking the world by storm.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment. “Oh yeah, one project at a time.”

  Harley talked about the paper she was writing while they ate dinner. It was a weird sensation sitting with her, enjoying the greasy pizza, knowing what he was about to ask her. It just seemed like the right time for them, and the fact that the opportunity was being created for them made Spencer’s solution seem like it was right.

  Once they were full enough on pizza, Harley sat back and relaxe
d. He couldn’t help but stare at her and wonder how he was so lucky to have her as his girlfriend. It hadn’t started out that way, but he was sure glad that’s how it ended.

  “What? Why are you staring?” she asked, almost looking embarrassed as her cheeks darkened.

  He shook his head innocently. “No reason. So, you’re planning on apartment hunting?”

  “Yeah. They said I don’t have to, but I think it’ll be weird having the three of us there. I know Zane is going to start moving his stuff in, and they told me to take my time finding a place.”

  “So you told them you’ll be moving out?”

  She nodded.

  “I wanted to run this by you. When Zane told me, I had all the same reactions as you. Then, I wondered, what would you think about us moving in together?” His words rushed out faster than he could think, and for the thirty seconds after his suggestion she didn’t respond, and that made him sweat.

  He nervously wiped his hands on his jeans. Quickly, he backpedaled and began to ramble. “But if you think it’s too soon, I understand, and I’m happy to help you search for a new apartment. I know there are a few really nice places down by campus. That would make your commute easy. Maybe we could look for one of those ads on the coffee shop bulletin boards? Or maybe...”

  Harley’s smile turned into a grin, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she tilted her head and focused on him.

  “Har? Are you going to say something?” If she didn’t speak up, he would continue to ramble and who knew what he would end up saying.

  Still grinning, she climbed onto his lap and took his face in her hands. “You sweet man. Of course, I want to move in with you! I thought you’d never ask! There was no way in hell I was going to get a place alone.” She kissed him hard.

  “Wait.” He pulled back. “Just to be clear, I was suggesting we find a new place together. I’m sure you don’t want to move into this place.”

  “Well, we are on the same page then, because I was thinking the same thing. No offense, but this apartment has kind of a bachelor-vibe to it.”

  His heart sped up as things fell perfectly into place. “There’s nothing I want more than to go to sleep beside you every night and wake up with you every morning.”