Atthismoment,Emmawasdressedinajasmine–patternedsilkpajama,herhairtiedupelegantlyatthebackofherhead.Sherespondedgracefully,andnoothermeaningcouldbeinferredfromherwords.“Bringtheswiftgrainupforher.Don’tdrinktoomuchorangejuiceatnight,asthesournessisn’tgoodforherstomach.Ifshe’sthirsty,haveherdrinkwater.Andthisoneisforyou.”


    Frank’slipscurvedslightlyashesmiledandreplied,“Sure,Emma.”


    HehadafeelingthatEmmahadspeciallypreparedthisforthem,buthedidn’texposeit.Hecarriedthetwobowlsofswiftgrainonatrayandbroughtthemupstairs.


    Avawasalreadysittingup.SeeingFrankenterwithsomethingotherthanorangejuice,shecouldn’tseeitclearlyfromwhereshesatonthebed.Curious,sheasked,“Frank,what’sthat?”


    Frankcedtheswiftgrainonthetablebesidethem andwalkedtotheedgeofthebed.“Emmamadesomeswiftgrain.Havesome.Needahand?”


    “Noneed.Youwerequitegentletonight.Icangetupbymyself


    Frankfellsilent.Didthismeanhewastoogentleinbed?HefeltsomewhatinsultedbytheunintentionalwordsofAva.


    CompletelyunawarethatherwordshadtouchedanervewithFrank,Avawalkedbarefoottothetableandsatdownonthefloorwithnimblemovements.Watchingthisscene,Frankwasconvincedthatshewasright.Hehadindeedbeentoogentleinbedtonight.


    “It’sswiftgrainessencesoup.Why<em>did</em>Momthinkofmakingthis?Whenevermythroatwasn’twell,shealwaysmadethis,sayingit’sgoodforthethroat.”


    GiventhatEmmamadethesouteatnight,itinevitablyleftAvapuzzled.HerwordsconfirmedFrank’ssuspicions,andhesmiledbeforecalmlyreplying.“Season’schanging,andEmmaisworriedaboutyourthroat.”


    Avadidn’tdelveintothedeepermeaningoftheresponse.Shejustrealizeditwasalmostsummer,anditwasindeedtimeforaseasonchange.


    “Yeah,it’salmostsummer,Frank,doyoulikeSapphireCity?”


    FrankhadtheswiftgrainmadebyEmma,feelingcontent.Whilecontinuingtoeat,heresponded.“Ilikeit.”Because Avawasinthecity.


    “IalsolikeAthanaandmanyotherpeople,butIlikeyouthemost.


    Frankalmostchokedonhisfoodduetothissuddenconfession.Heclearedhisthroatandswallowed.“Finisheatingandgobrushyourteeth.”


    Intheevening,Avawasrelentlessindiscussingthistopic.Withacutesmileonherface,shecontinued.“Oh,alright.Doyoulikeme?”


    Frankwasn’tustomedtoconstantlyexpressinghisfeelingsverbally,butknowingthegirlwantedtohear,hewaswillingtosay,“Ilikeyou.”


    Avahappilysmiledlikeachildand replied,“Hahaha,noted.”


    Frankshookhisheadhelplessly,reachingovertopinchhercheek“Hurryupandeat.”


    “Okay.”


    Afterfinishingthemeal,FrankhandedAvaatissuetowipehermouth.HisphonereceivedatextmessagefromHackett.[Enjoyingthetimewithyourbabetoomuchandnoingback,huh?]


    Seeingthismessage,Frank’sexpressionturnedcoldagain.Hereplied,[Areyoufuckingfallinginlove withme orsomething?Can’tsurviveadaywithoutmessagingme?]


    Hackettreplied,[ThatismainlybecauseImissyou.]


    Franktexted.[Fuckoff.Go bothersomeoneelse.]


    Hackettcontinued.[Tellmeatime.Areyounoing backformywedding?I’mshortofgroomsmen,andyou’reimportant.]


    Frankreplied,[Remembertopayine]


    Hacketttexted.[Aren’tyoushowingupforfreeatTrevon’swedding?WhydoIhavetopayyou?DoyouthinkIhavealotofmoney?]


    Frankrepliedseriously.[He’sfamily.]This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Well,thisreplyleftHackettwithnowaytorespond.Nowayatall.Afterall,TrevonandFrankwerefamily.Hethoughttohimself,“Pickingonanoutsiderlikeme?Justwaituntilyourwedding.I’llmakeyoupaywhenyougetmarried”Hackettwassecretlyplottinginhismind.


    Thenextevening.AsRosehadtogotoworkthenextday,shereluctantlyendedthiswonderfultrip.Beforedeparting,shesentamessagetoFrank.[Dearbrother,I’mboardingthene.]


    Aftersendingthemessage,Roseputawayherphone andmadeuphermind.Shehadenjoyedherself,butstartingtomorrow,shewouldneedtofocusonwork.


    EdwardseemedustomedtothefactthatRosefell asleepassoonassheboardedthene.Asusual,hetookanketandwaited.Asexpected,aftergazingatthesceneryforawhile,Rosefesleeppeacefully.Herheadrestedonhisshoulder.Aftertwodaysoftravel,theirrtionshiphadgrownevencloser.Edwardhadtransitionedfromcasuallywrappinghisarmaroundherwaisttoembracingherinhisarms.


    Rosewasalwaysbehavingmischievouslybutnowappeareddocile,creatingastrongcontrast.


    Afterthistriptogether,EdwardfeltthatheunderstoodRosebetter.Hesensedahiddenscardeepwithinher,aregretregardingherfamily.


    Afewhourter.EdwarddroppedRoseoffatthejunctionneartheRobertsresidenceandswitchedthecarwithTom.


    Tomquicklygotoutofthecar,relocatedtheluggage,closedthetrunk,andthensatinthedriver’sseat,waitingforRosetogetin.Hewasn’trushing,showingnosignsofimpatience.Hequietlyyedtheroleofadriver,undistractedbyeverythinghappeningaroundhim.


    Insidethecar,thecouplewasbidding farewell.Roseflickedherhairandsaid,“Well,I’mleaving.Bye.Drivecarefullyonyourwayback.”


    AsenseofreluctancewelledupinEdward’sheartashereplied,“Alright,getsomerest.


    Rosenodded,smiling,andasked,“Doyouwantagoodbyekiss?


    Beforeshecouldfinishspeaking,Edwardheldthebackofherheadandkissedher.Whatbeganasalightpeckdeepenedintoamorepassionateexchange.However,Edwardhadasenseofproprietyandpulledawayafter amoment.“Goon,callmeif