I led them to the kitchen, wishing my stupid brain wouldn’t keep replaying the moment he’d seen me, the moment my self-confident had momentarily crumbled. Yes, I was being insecure and overly dramatic. But my self-image issues had always been… delicate.
Reaching the island, I gestured to the jugs and platters of food. “Help yourselves, I guess.”
Eden’s POV:
“Thank you,” I nodded at Violeta before turning my attention to the food. The man who was talking to Grayson began setting up delicious looking desserts on the counter and I smiled, reaching out to take a piece of chocolate-covered brownie. I took a bite and immediately felt like I was in heaven.
“Sterling, this is so good!” I said to him once I swallowed, pressing it to his lips so he could take a bite, too.
Sterling’s POV:
I had just grabbed a strawberry milkshake from the counter (they were my favorites; I loved them almost as much as I loved Eden) when there was suddenly something being pressed against my lips. I blinked a few times before glancing down at Eden with an amused smile.
“Babe… Warn a guy before you do that,” I chuckled before taking a small bite. Humming in satisfaction, I nodded my agreement. It was a good brownie.
Eden’s POV:
I looked at him with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of my neck with a laugh.
“Sorry, my bad,” I apologized before smiling widely as Sterling took a bite and nodded in approval. “It is good, isn’t it?”
Sterling’s POV:
I chuckled a bit and smiled down at her. “Yes, babe. It was good. Did you want to try the milkshake?”
Eden’s POV:
I nodded, smiling. Perhaps it wasn’t a bad idea coming here…
I returned to Sterling and Eden, my plate filled with fruit salad, some cream puffs, and a slice of pizza. Lifting my plastic red cup to my lips, I took an experimental sip of the icy pink slush.
Sterling's POV:
I took my milkshake back from Eden after letting her have a sip. After taking a drink of it myself, I hummed in satisfaction. It was pretty good.
"So… Are we going to play any games here, or just eat, chat, and dance?" I wondered.
I hesitated, not sure which of us he was talking to, but decided to inform him of options anyways. “There are board games in that room over there. Dancing’s in the living room. Truth or dare and spin the bottle are in one of the bedrooms.”
Sterling's POV:
"All right, that sounds good. Thanks," I said to Violeta, then looked between the two young women. "Any chance you two would like to join me for a board game?"
I gave him a one-side shrug. “Whatever you two want, I don’t mind.
(Just gonna wait for Callie now… Do-do-do… Lol.)
Eden’s POV:
I thought over it before shrugging. I grew up playing games—from indoor to outdoor. My parents loved playing games, and I learned a lot from them. My mom was a pro at board games than physical, while my dad was more of a sports person. Luke was… well, he was okay. Sometimes we’d be joined by the Carter family and we’d have games night for two whole days. It was fun. I miss those days.
“Sounds fun,” I answered with a smile. “I’m in.”
Sterling's POV:
I grinned and leaned over to kiss Eden's cheek. "Great! Either of you have a game you'd prefer to play?"
Eden’s POV:
I shook my head.
“I’m okay with anything,” I answered. “You both can decide.”
“It’s up to Sterling, ‘cos I don’t mind either.” I snuck a cupcake onto my plate, unable to resist the temptation.
Sterling’s POV:
I snorted and shook my head, taking a sip of my milkshake. “Well, I’m going to have to make all the decisions in this friendship, aren’t I?” I joked with a teasing grin. “What about Monopoly?”
Eden’s POV:
I snorted but didn’t say anything in reply to his joke. Instead, I took another brownie and took a big bite, chewing on the soft dessert and swallowing, licking my lips to wipe off the chocolate I felt was on my mouth.
“All right,” I agreed, taking another bite, chocolate sticking to the corner of my mouth. I didn’t notice, so I let it be.
Sterling’s POV:
I looked between the girls again, noticing a spot if chocolate on Eden’s lip. With a chuckle, I grinned down at her. “You’ve got something right…” I bent down to kiss the spot, removing the chocolate in the process. “…here.”
Eden’s POV:
I almost choked, slapping my hand over my mouth to prevent myself from spitting out the brownie.
Damn it, Sterling. Why do you constantly do things like this?
I cleared my throat, coughing awkwardly, my face feeling warm.
“Um… thank you…” I whispered, too shy to take another bite.
(Sorry, Eden. Lol. 😁
I kinda want to see Violeta’s response before I write Sterling’s.)
(Sorry, Eden. Lol. 😁
I kinda want to see Violeta’s response before I write Sterling’s.)
(It’s fine. XD so do I!)
I bit back a laugh, seeing the expression on Eden’s face. Part of me wondered if there would ever be anyone to do that for me, but the rational side of my brain told me to stop daydreaming and go party. “Sounds good. Do you want me to give you two a moment, or…?”
Eden’s POV:
I immediately shook my head.
“No, it’s fine,” I probably sounded too eager, so I cleared my throat. “It’s fine. Sorry. Sterling here can’t control himself, I’m afraid. We can go have a round, if you’d like.”
Sterling's POV:
I grinned down at Eden, giving her a quick wink before I turned to Violeta. "No, I think we're good. Sorry about that… We're not making you uncomfortable, are we?"