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“Stop it.” She swatted at his arm, and with a huff, sank back into the couch, smoothing out her locks.
“You two are going to make Avery think you were raised by wolves.” Bo chuckled, raising a brow at his son. “Don’t gloat.”
“I’m not playing again.” Gianna stuck her tongue out at Chris, who chuckled darkly.
Bo turned to her. “Or pout.”
“I should probably go anyway. It’s getting late.” We’d spent the evening eating incredible food and playing ping-pong and cards. I’d had no intention of infringing on so much of their family time, but the hours had flown, and suddenly, it was almost nine.
“I’ll walk you home.” Chris stepped around the table and held a hand out to me. With a smile, I slid my palm against his. I had to fight the shiver that raced up my arm as his warm fingers enveloped mine. He pulled me to my feet gently, but I stumbled anyway and brushed against him before righting myself. Even after a full day, he still smelled like warm bourbon, and God, did I have to fight a groan when he was this close.
I swallowed and shook my head, grasping for clarity. “No, you shouldn’t leave your family. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Please.” Gianna snorted. “We could use a break from him.”
Chris frowned at his sister, but he didn’t give up. After a round of goodbyes, he pulled me toward the door. Instead of pulling my coat from the closet, he turned and propped himself up against the closed door, watching me. “I have something for you.”
My heart skipped. “I have something for you too.” I felt silly buying him a gift. He made enough money to purchase anything he wanted, and we were only friends, but I couldn’t let Christmas go by without giving him something.
“Oh yeah?” He cocked one brow and hit me with a smirk that made my stomach tumble. His smiles were small and infrequent, but they almost knocked me over every time.
“It’s still under the tree at home. I didn’t want you to feel weird, so I didn’t bring it.” Ducking my head, I scuffed my UGG on the tile floor. “I figured I’d give it to you at our next movie night or when you came in to see Puff.”
“Why don’t we go back to your place, then?” He stood up straight again and hovered over me until I finally looked up and met his eye. Then he pulled out my coat. While I slipped it on, he disappeared, and when he returned, he was carrying what looked like a clothing boxwrapped by a five-year-old. He’d thrown on a gray beanie and his coat too.
“Ready?” He pulled the door open and held out his hand. I stepped out first, and then we headed down the street. Snow was piled up along the sidewalks, but the sky was clear. And although it was freezing, the wind wasn’t bad.
Halfway to my place, he came to an abrupt stop and tipped his chin toward the bar where we met back in March. “I can’t believe it’s been almost ten months already.”
Standing beside him with my hands stuffed into my pockets, I took the place in. The big windows that faced the street were dark tonight, but from here, I could still see the high-top table where we stood that night.
My chest squeezed tight at the memory. It didn’t seem like it had been that long since I met this man. And yet it seemed like it had been forever. Most days, the time before I met Chris felt like a lifetime ago. When I’d made the pact with myself not to date for a year, I secretly thought I’d give up quickly. But I’d stuck with it, and the months had honestly gone so fast. In the beginning, I wondered if I’d feel like I was missing out on life, but my life felt full and perfect. And in just over two months, my dating hiatus would be over, and hopefully, I’d make better choices now that I didn’t feel so desperate to be in a relationship.
I turned and took Chris in. What would that mean for us?
He was watching me too, his teeth pressed into his full lip, his expression warm and cautious. That tumble my stomach had been taking more and more often happened again.
A gust of wind blew my hair into my face, and before I could get it under control, he used a finger to push it aside. He brushed my cheek, and I forgot to breathe. His brown eyes met mine and held. He radiated warmth, not only physically, but in his gaze. Cupping my cheek with that same hand, he stepped closer.
For one second, I thought maybe he’d lean down and press his lips into mine. And in that moment, it hit me—I wanted it. Badly. I angled closer, silently begging him to do the same.
“You’re freezing,” he whispered, tucking my gift under his arm.
I stumbled back a little, my heart sinking, but he steadied me. OnceI had both feet flat on the ground again, he pulled the gray hat off his head and settled it on mine.
“Come on.” He draped an arm over my shoulder and dragged me to his side. Then he pulled me down the sidewalk toward my apartment building.
I was warm and wrapped in the deep woodsy spice of his cologne, but disappointment lingered. As much as I enjoyed this, and him, I wondered if maybe I wanted more. Did I?
It had been good to focus on me and not some guy for the last few months. I’d wanted this time. Right?
“Hey, Tim.”
Startled, I practically jumped out of my skin. We’d been walking in silence, but as we approached my building, Chris tipped his chin to the man bundled up in a thick coat and a hat who stood at the glass doors to the lobby.
“Dragon.” My doorman, who’d quickly gotten used to Revs players dropping by, pulled the door open for us.
Chris put his hand on my lower back and guided me inside and into the elevator. My apartment was half the size of Chris’s, and though I didn’t have a view of the harbor, I loved it.
