♯⠀⠀chapter thirty-one.

pancakes ⋆·˚ ༘ *

ADDI LAUGHED AS HER AND erica watched livvy fail to flip her pancakes while still in the pan and ended up with them on the floor, again. "you're not going to have any pancakes left to actually eat!" erica exclaimed, some of the words muddled together because she was laughing so much.

livvy set the pan back down on her stove and nodded and she laughed. "you're so right, but i swear i could do this at one point." addi laughed again as she took in livvy's appearance. there was batter all over her black t-shirt, her hair was thrown in a messy bun and there were still smudges of mascara under her eyes.

"maybe you're just tired right now." addi gave her the out, only because they all knew it wasn't true and it got a rise out of erica when livvy rushed to agree that that was why she couldn't do it.

livvy was in the middle of topping the pancakes with whipped cream a couple minutes later when erica smiled at her phone and picked it up from what it was leaning against. addi playfully rolled her eyes and remarked in a sing-song voice "greg is awakeee."

erica blushed the slightest bit before putting her phone back. "yeah yeah, you probably got a good morning text from chris too." addi ducked her head because she wasn't wrong, in fact chris was on his way to her apartment with food because she had complained about not wanting to cook breakfast.

erica let out a content 'mhmm' before adding on "that's what i thought." livvy was quietly laughing at the others interaction as she sat down at her table. "you would think one, if not both, of you would be out of the honeymoon phase by now." she stated.

addi pointed a finger at the screen and accused "we haven't even been official for a month, those two on the other hand." erica gaped at her before replying "okay yes, but we've been pining for each other for how many years? i for one think i'm allowed to stay in the honeymoon phase a little bit longer. plus, you and chris already acted like you were in the honeymoon phase before you got together."

addi just shrugged, not knowing how to answer. erica smiled again, but didn't pick up her phone this time. livvy pointed a fork, decked with pancakes, at the screen and questioned, "what was that?"

erica's heart eyes got even bigger "he told me he loves me is all." addi smiled, because no matter what she said about her friends and being in the honeymoon phase or not, she was just happy they finally had each other.

didn't mean she didn't envy them though, it was easy for them. they had been in love for years before actually doing anything about it and now they had to ability to say it to each other whenever they felt like it.

but she knew it was too early to take any step like that with chris, the two really hadn't been together that long. but there was something about him that made her want to scream from the rooftops that she was undoubtedly in love with the man. between the late night calls to the all day long text conversations, she couldn't feel anything other than love for him. he was everything she could've asked for and more.

addi was pulled from her thoughts by someone calling her name. "addi!" she finally registered it as erica, whose tone showed that wasn't the first time she called her. she was frowning at her screen. "what's wrong?" she asked.

addi dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand before speaking. "nothing i was just thinking."

livvy, who was practically done with her pancakes at this point—when did that happen?—set her fork down and leaned towards the phone more. "thinkin' bout what?"

addi shrugged, but the shy look on her face gave away she was going to tell them anyway. "chris."

this really gained erica's attention because she quickly quipped back "what about chris?"

"it's stupid."

livvy gasped "don't say that!"

addi rolled her eyes but continued, "okay, this doesn't leave this call and i swear i am not against murder if it does."

livvy just laughed, "okay miss pacifist what is it?"

addi played with the ring on her left thumb, not looking up at the screen as she was talking. "i love him. which is crazy right? i mean i've only known him like two months! and we haven't even been dating for a full one of those said months. it's just, i can't help but feel like everything is okay when i'm with him. like the world just sorta disappears when he looks at me a certain way. and sometimes, when it's really late and we're on the phone i can feel the words on the tip of my tongue and it kinda takes everything in me not to say them. especially last night, like he just kept talking about our future together like it was this certain fact set in stone and god i actually had to bite my lip to stop from spitting it out. again, i know it's literally insane to be feeling all this let alone telling you but i just really can't help it."

once she finally stopped talking she looked up at the screen. livvy was giggling at her and erica looked like she was trying to hold back a laugh herself.

"why the fuck are you laughing?" she frowned at them.

livvy threw her hand up to cover her mouth while erica finally couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a full and loud laugh.

addi had all the mind to leave the call, and reached for her phone to do just that, when erica gasped out "no wait! we're not making fun of you, i promise!"

addi crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, willing one of them to explain. livvy quickly tried to calm down, taking a few deep breathes. "okay, okay. listen we understand where you're coming from, truly. it's just it's definitely not crazy! like i wish you could see the way he looks at you. like if you could see yourself through his eyes your whole perspective on life would change i'm pretty sure. i mean addi, he never looks at you with anything less than love. there's no way he doesn't feel the same way."

addi rolled her eyes, but somehow the words made her feel a little lighter than before. fuck, how she wanted to believe her.

"that's nice to hear, even if i'm not sure how much i believe you."

the two had calmed down completely now, and erica had that motherly look on her face she gets sometimes. "we can tell you something over and over again until you memorize the words. but we can't believe it for you, that's something you have to do yourself."

"i know" addi sighed. livvy opened her mouth but stopped short when she heard a knock come from addi's door. "who still knocks on your door?" erica raised an eyebrow at her.

addi called out a quick "come in!" and heard the knob turn and the wood creak when it was opened. the two on the phone dropped the conversation to instead talk about their weekend plans.

addi smiled at chris as she saw him push the door open from where she was sitting in the kitchen. he had two cups of coffee in a carrier tray in one hand, and a bag, of what she assumes is their breakfast, in the other hand.

his face lit up when he spotted her. quickly walking over to her, he placed the bag and carrier on the island she was sitting at and walked around to wrap his arms around her shoulders. he leaned down to give her a kiss on her temple, mumbling a "morning, love" in her ear.

she felt shivers run up her spine, smiling contently as she leaned back into his arms. she closed her eyes, just taking in the moment. the two holding each other in the golden light of her kitchen, it was all she could've ever wanted right then and there.

their golden moment was distributed far too soon for addi's liking when livvy's voice rang out of her phone. "well good morning chris." there was a teasing hint in her tone, but addi paid her no mind.

chris looked up from where his head was dropped on addi's shoulder and smiled at the screen. "good morning livvy, erica."

erica laughed a little before speaking. "well i think that is our cue to go."

addi nodded and granted the two farewell, ignoring the not so subtle looks they gave her as they hung up.

she reached across the island and grabbed her coffee, only struggling a little bit from where chris was still holding her. "what did you bring?" she questioned.

chris pulled away to move back towards the other side of the island, she tried and failed to not frown at the loss of contact. he noticed, and quickly pulled a chair up next to her as he pulled the bag in front of them.

she leaned into his side as he pulled out two containers from the bag. he put one in front of her, setting the other in front of himself. she opened it and sighed. "you are a godsend." he chuckled, "it's really nothing."

but it was. "you went all the way to the other side of town to get me an omelette because you know they're my favorite. it's something."

chris, who had been looking down at milo because he made his presence known at his feet, looked at her. "i just want to make you happy."

his eyes shined, and she felt herself melt at his words. she put her hand on his cheek and pulled him in for a kiss. it was short and chaste, but it was enough to get both their hearts racing. "you do that just by being you."

she didn't know what she expected when she opened her eyes, but the sight she was met with made her breathless. chris was staring openly at her, eyes filled with so much admiration and warmth that addi blushed. this just made his eyes brighter. neither said anything for a few moments, until finally, "i love you."

addi blinked, heart dropping and soaring all at once. the words registered in her head, but no sound came out of her mouth when she went to respond. chris just smiled at her, rubbing his thumb over her skin where it sat on her thigh. finally, she smiled the biggest smile she could and told him "i love you."

he did nothing but kiss her again.

she was wrong earlier, this was all she could ever want.

⋆·˚ ༘ * 𝖬𝖠𝖣𝖨 𝖲𝖯𝖤𝖠𝖪𝖲

this is the last chapter before the
epilogue. it's bittersweet to think
about it ending, but i'm excited
for what's to come in the future!
love you all so much :)