Page 38 of Wrapped in Winter
“Last night wassoogood. Like really,reallygood.”
“Better than the bathroom bang?”
I laugh. “Better than the bathroom bang.” They gasp. “Well… okay… so it was different than the bathroom bang. That wasneed;last night was passion, take your time and do everything right passion.”
Courtney squeals. “I’m so happy for you! This is just what you need!”
I put my hands up in a defensive motion. “I don’t know what I need, but I don’t think a relationship is it.”
Blossom takes my hand and places it down before covering it with hers. “Drake is a good guy. I think he’s just the type you need to make you feel comfortable dating again.”
“I don't want to date again,” I whine.
“So you’ll just date Drake,” she states matter-of-factly.
“It’s not that easy. Clearly there’s a lot we need to talk about, and I can’t just let him walk into the house and think Lily is going to be okay with it.”
Just then, there’s a knock on the door. I look up to see Drake and Cole walk through my front door and hear my daughter yell out his name before she goes running towards him. The house falls silent at their interaction. She jumps, and he catches her, not caring that he’s coming in from the snow and cold. He drops the bag he was holding and laughs. “Good thing there was nothing breakable in there, Pretty Lily. Happy birthday!”
She grabs onto his neck, and he looks at everyone staring back at him. Cole gives him a little nudge.
“Come on, man. Close the door. It’s freezing and we’re letting the snow in.”
“You were saying?” Courtney quips.
“Looks like Daddy’s home.” I turn quickly to Meadow and shush her. I should be used to her outlandish comments, but the daddy word takes me by surprise. Courtney must see my unease, and she runs her hand down my arm.
“It’s fine, you're fine. Everyone is fine. There’s nothing happening right now except we are going to celebrate Lily’s birthday today with friends and family, okay?”
Lief casts a glance my way as he walks towards Drake. They meet at the end of the hallway, clapping hands and saying hello. Cole does the same while assessing the room, though he’s clearly searching for Meadow. I watch Drake, and when his gaze finds me, that thunder in my chest begins again. Only this time it isn’t so much fear as it is happiness.
I asked the guys to take some wine and the platter into the living room for Mom, and Meadow grabs Cole, saying she’ll introduce him. He tilts his head at her in question, but she just ignores it.
When Drake approaches with Lily, her smile is brighter than the sun. She’s still hanging onto his neck desperately, and I give a little chuckle to myself remembering how I didn’t want to let go either. Blossom and Courtney excuse themselves, leaving the three of us alone.
“That was some welcome I got. How has your birthday been?”
“It was good. Momma made me pancakes when I came home from Aunt Blossom’s house.”
“Aunt Blossom didn’t make you breakfast?”
I shake my head quickly. “Oh you don’t want to eat anything my sister has cooked.”
Drake lets out a laugh. “Well I’m glad you had a great breakfast here with your mom.”
“Maybe she can make us pancakes tomorrow?” Lily asks, and Drake lets out a laugh. It’s not a nervous one, more of a ‘let’s see how you’re going to answer this’ one. He eyes me and gives a wink.
“If your mom wants to invite me, I’ll never say no to pancakes.” He raises a brow.
“Yo! You guys coming?” my brother yells from the other room.
“Just a minute!”
Drake unwraps Lily from his neck and places her on the ground. “Go tell your Uncle Lief to hold his horses. We'll be right in. I have to talk to your mom real quick.”
She nods and goes running to the other room, yelling about holding animals, and I shake my head. “She’s very literal; you have to be careful what you say.”
His lips turn up as he steps closer to me, and the simple move turns me on. He smells so good, like beechwood. I want him to go lay in my bed again just so I’ll have that smell with me tonight.