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We’re delaying the inevitable. A goodbye neither of us wants to have.
I know there’s going to be an us after the clock strikes midnight tomorrow night. I’m not walking away from her. But out here on the sidewalk, it still feels like a monumental moment is close to happening; the end of our agreement that made us fall for each other in the first place. The scheme that kicked our asses into gear and showed us the feelings we didn’t know we had.
Fuck, I’m glad I kissed her that first time.
“What are you thinking about?” she asks. She reaches up and runs her fingers down my cheek. Settles her palm on my chest, right over my heart.
“You,” I say. I squeeze her hip and put her back on two feet. “Seriously, Daniels. Let me know when you’re in your apartment.”
“I will, I will. Good luck at the game. I’ll be cheering for you.”
“I’m sure I’ll hear you all the way in Denver.”
“Come home quick, okay? I’ll miss you.”
“Shucks, Lacey girl. I’ll miss you, too.” I drop one more kiss on her forehead and give her backside a tap. “Go on up.”
“Going to watch me walk away?” she asks, and her smirk is wicked and knowing.
“You know I can’t resist your ass.”
“Why do you think I wore this skirt and decided to freeze my legs off? Gotta keep the people happy.” Lacey pulls away and sways her hips from side to side as she walks to the lobby door. She looks at me one more time, her chin on her shoulder and a gleam in her eyes. “Night, Shawn Yawn.”
“See ya, Lace Face,” I answer.
When she blows me a kiss through the window, I know the next forty-eight hours are going to be the longest of my life.
I already can’t wait to be home with my girl.
FORTY-SIX
LACEY
The liquorI added to my hot chocolate helps me feel less lonely as I watch the couples on the television kiss in anticipation of the new year.
They jump up and down, waving at the camera before grabbing for each other and standing close. A make out session begins, and I chug half the contents in my mug.
My heart drops to my stomach when I spot the timer in the bottom right corner of the screen. Another minute closer to midnight, and another minute without Shawn.
I miss him so much, and I hate that he has an away game tomorrow.
I can’t stop thinking about the feel of his lips. How he sucked on my skin, just below my ear, and left a little mark I had to hide with a turtleneck on Christmas night.
I can’t stop replaying the noises he makes; the soft groans of approval when I take him in my hands and twist my wrist.
His heavy exhales when he’s asleep and holding me in his arms.
When he whispers my name and makes it sound like a prayer.
I can’t wait until he’s home.
My phone rings, and I grab it off the coffee table. I smile when I see Shawn’s name on the screen, and I set down my mug.
“Hey,” I answer, and I rest my chin in my hand. “Happy almost New Year. Where are you?”
“I’m heading somewhere that feels like home. The place where I feel the safest,” Shawn says, out of breath, and I wonder if he’s running through the airport. “What are you doing?”
“Sitting on the couch and getting ready to watch the ball drop. Pretty uneventful night over here,” I say.
