Page 60 of Wrapped in Winter
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here now.”
“Me too. Where’s our girl?”
My heart clenches at his words. “She’s with Aunt Blossom tonight.” His eyes glimmer. “Well if that isn’t a look that says you're up to no good I don't know what is!”
He presses himself against me and I wrap my arms around him. “Sometimes I need alone time with just one beautiful blonde.”
“I’m all yours tonight.” I pull him into the living room. “Come on.”
We sit on the couch. “This thing kills me.” He laughs at my electric fireplace.
“You and Courtney have a lot to say about this thing. Sorry we can’t all have a fireplace in our bedroom.”
“It was hot as fuck in my room the other night and it wasn’t even lit.” He gives a wink as we sit on the couch and I hand him a glass of wine. He squints his eyes at me. “What are you up to?”
I shrug. “Nothing. I just wanted to have a good night together.”
“Wine, fireplace and I see the table set. You cooked?”
“I ordered take out.”
We clink glasses and take a sip. And suddenly I’m nervous and have no idea what to say. I have no idea how to start thisconversation. I rub my palms on my jeans. Take another sip and look everywhere but at him.
“Are you breaking up with me?”
“What? No!” I shake my head. “Are we,” I swallow, “are we even together where we could break up?”
He chuckles, places his glass on the table and takes my hand. “Is this why you’re so fidgety?
“I’m not fidg–”
“Yes, you are. And I think it’s cute. Now relax. It's just you and me. Tell me. Remember what I said on our first date?”
I watch him. I take in his kind eyes and relaxed demeanor. The upturn of his lips as he stares right back at me.
“There's something about you, Drake Ford. Something that makes me lose all sense.”
He puffs his chest. “I’ve heard that a time or two.” I swat at his chest and he captures my hand pulling me close.
“I like this. I like you and me. Together. And I want to keep liking it.”
He leans back with a sly smirk. “Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”
“Don’t make it weird!” I cover my face with my hands and he throws his arms around me.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He pulls my hands away and kisses me. “I want to do this with you, January. I’ve been saying it. Are you finally telling me you’re on board?”
I nod. “I won't lie and say I'm not scared, because I am. I’m scared for me, I’m scared for Lily. She’s had loss in her life and she doesn’t even know it. But she will. One day I’m going to have to explain it all to her, and I fear that time is coming.”
He takes my hand. “And I’ll be right here while we explain it to her together. I’ll follow your lead with her, baby. I don't know what it means to be a dad, but I know I want to make life fun forher, I want to be there when she needs me. And I want her to see me making her momma happy, too.”
We’ve moved from the living room to my bedroom. We’re tangled in the sheets and it’s the safest I’ve felt in fifteen years.
“It gets better every time. You’re becoming quite a pro at fucking me just right,” he snickers when I swat at him.