Eden’s POV:
I cursed my short height in my head. It was so easy for Sterling to see. He was 6’2 after all. My 5’5 self could stand on her toes and still not be able to see anything past the shoulders.
“Well, we’ll leave them be for a while then,” I said, looking up at Sterling. “Do you have anyone you want to greet? From what my mom drilled into my head, I’ve gathered people like to take pictures with their friends at such events.”
Sterling’s POV:
I glanced around again with a shrug. “I mean, if you wanna meet some of my friends, sure. Or we could go get our pictures taken.”
Eden’s POV:
“I’m pretty sure your friends don’t want to meet me,” I said dryly. I hadn’t really met any of Sterling’s friends. At least, not personally. “You can go greet them. I can intrude in Luke and Lee’s moment.”
*Sterling’s POV:**
“No, no. I’m sure they’d like to meet the girl who stole my heart,” I chuckled a bit, pulling her closer and kissing her cheek gently. “C’mon, we can take pictures with them.”
Eden’s POV:
I raised my eyebrows, allowing Sterling to lead me away. What would I do when I greet them? I wasn’t particularly fond of meeting new people. On the other hand, I hoped I wouldn’t come across as rude. I once read a friend’s approval was really important. Sterling had Lee’s. I didn’t have any.
“Wouldn’t they feel awkward?” I asked him, intertwining our fingers together as we walked. “Wouldn’t the whole exchange be awkward?”
Perhaps it was safe to say that I was indeed nervous. I knew most people didn’t like me. I start off as rude. I’m straightforward, so people dislike me. Most of them know me as someone who wouldn’t hesitate crushing someone if it goes their way.
It was safer not to meet Sterling’s friends and than having them not like me. Sterling, however, wanted me to meet them, it seems. I didn’t want to disappoint him.
Sterling’s POV:
“Nah, they’re pretty chill. I’m sure they’ll like you,” I assured her, turning to look at her softly. “We don’t have to go meet then if you don’t want to.”
Eden’s POV:
I shook my head.
“No, that’s not it!” I bit my lower lip, gripping his hand tighter. “You know my reputation in school. What if they think I’m not good enough for you? I know I’m not, but that would really be like a slap to the face…”
Sterling’s POV:
I stopped immediately and turned her to face me. “Eden… I do not want to hear anything about you nor being good enough for me. You are amazing and a wonderful girl. I’m lucky to have you.”
Eden’s POV:
“I’m sorry…” I said quietly, raising his hand and gently pressing my cheek against it. “Sometimes I wake up in a panic, thinking it’s all a dream before I take my phone and realize it’s not. Other times, I worry about going to sleep and waking up to harsh reality.”
Those times, I really want Sterling next to me. His arms around me, giving me peace. When I realize he’s not next to me… it takes a while to calm down. Knowing that he’s out there, and that he’s mine, calms me down.
Sterling’s POV:
I looked down at her softly before leaning down and pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, not caring if I got lipstick on my lips again. With the hand that was on her cheek, I rubbed gentle circles into her skin.
“I promise you that one day, you will wake up and I will be right by your side. Someday, you won’t have to worry that I won’t be there for you. I promise you that,” I said firmly.
Eden’s POV:
I leaned into his touch, pressing my lips harder against his. I didn’t know what I did to deserve Sterling, but whatever I did, I was glad. I was glad that it was Sterling I was with in this moment and not someone else. I was glad it was Sterling that made me feel like I was high, made me feel like I was flying.
“I’m glad you’re mine,” I whispered. “Can you not be anyone else’s? Be mine forever.”
Sterling’s POV:
“I will. I’m yours forever, just as long as you are mine. Don’t let anyone take you from me. Don’t let anyone draw you away,” I pleaded, kissing her again. I paused for a moment, then decided it was probably too soon for what I wanted to say; what I longed to tell her.
Eden’s POV:
Oh my God, this man was perfect. He was too good to be true, which was why I was so glad I was his girlfriend and not someone else.
“Honestly, Sterling, who else would be able to stand my constant changes in mood, if not you?” I murmured softly, cracking a small smile. “Why would I look the other way when I can stare at you? I promise you, you’re the only one I want and the only one I’ll always want.”
Sterling’s POV:
I pulled her closer to me, crushing our lips together hard. Gosh, I loved this woman… I loved her with all my heart. And I never wanted to let her go.
“Gosh… Eden McArthur, you are one of a kind… And I’m so glad that you’re mine,” I murmured against her lips.
Eden’s POV:
I hummed in reply, too caught up in the kiss to respond, snaking my arms around his neck and standing on my toes the best I could.
The heels I wore helped a lot in being at least a little closer to Sterling’s lips, but I still wanted it to be closer. I loved it when he crushed our lips together. I loved it when he practically devoured me in moments like these. It sent gentle shivers down my spine.
There was something I wanted to tell him, but I wanted to wait a while. I wasn’t sure if it was truly what I felt. I didn’t want to say something I didn’t feel wholeheartedly and have it ruin our relationship.
“I love it…” I started into the kiss, gripping his shoulders tightly. “When you kiss me like that…”
Sterling's POV:
I smirked against her lips, wishing we could go somewhere more private. "And I love kissing you this way…" I murmured before pulling away gently. "Do you want to dance, beautiful?"
Eden’s POV:
I was glad Lucas forced some blush on my cheeks, because I knew my cheeks were tinted red from Sterling’s compliment.
“Might as well since were here,” I replied, shrugging nonchalantly as a way to get rid of the red on my cheeks.
Sterling's POV:
I chuckled and took her hands. "Well, come on, then! This is an amazing song to dance to," I declared, pulling her towards the dance floor.
Eden’s POV:
Sterling and I danced to a couple of songs. I wasn’t very good at dancing like my brother Lucas was, but I was decent. At least, in normal shoes I was. I didn’t know how many times I stepped on Sterling’s foot, but I sure hope it wasn’t bruised. Thankfully I didn’t step on him with the heel, but still, it must have hurt.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I’m… not very good at dancing in heels. I was very adamant about not learning how to dance.”
Sterling's POV:
"Don't worry about it, babe. I'm not so great either," I chuckled, twirling my amazing girlfriend. "Well… Not like I'm sure Lucas is, anyway… My mother made me take classes, so I'm fairly well-versed in the waltz."
Eden’s POV:
I laughed as he twirled me.
“Luke shouldn’t even be in the topic of dancing,” I joked. My brother was… well, he was an amazing dancer. When he wasn’t dancing, he was this shy boy who blushed a lot, but when he was dancing, his personality would change drastically. The first time I experienced this change in behavior, I was shook. Luke looked so different when he was dancing. It was magical. “Can we get water? I’m parched.”
Sterling's POV:
"Of course. Anything for my queen!" I declared with a chuckle. Grinning, I pulled Eden closer to me and wrapped my arm around her waist, starting toward the refreshments table.
Eden’s POV:
I shook my head with a small smile on my lips as Sterling wrapped an arm around my waist. We walked towards the refreshments table where we got water. I felt the cold liquid go down my throat, feeling it refresh me.
“I should’ve brought an extra pair of shoes,” I muttered to myself before turning to Sterling. “I think it would be a good idea to meet your friends.”
I was still hesitant about it, but I knew I couldn’t keep pushing it back. One day or another, I would run into his friends. It was better to know who they were so I wouldn’t do something I would regret to them.
Sterling's POV:
I grinned down at her, placing a quick kiss to her lips. "Awesome! I'm sure you'll like them. They're pretty cool, though I'd warn you of JJ. He's sort of a… well, a player…" I said, shrugging a bit. "But you should be fine. He might try to hit on you, but if he knows how serious I am about you, you should be fine."
Eden’s POV:
I hummed in reply, intertwining our fingers together. I liked holding on to his hand. Compared to mine, it was large. I was small, and so were my hands, and any time we linked out hands together, mine disappeared into his. I liked that feeling.
“I’m positive I can handle a few flirts,” I answered, running a hand through my hair.