A little after dark, Brady dropped me off in front of Liv’s house with my suitcases and a dozen tequila sunrise roses, and I could barely contain myself when she ran down the walk to greet me. I dropped my bag as she jumped into my arms, and I was enveloped in a cloud of orange blossoms. I kissed her soundly, wrapping her in my arms. I handed her the bouquet and returned her to her feet. “For my sweet tequila sunrise.”
She closed her eyes and breathed in their fragrance, her creamy skin glowing in the night sky.
Liv had cleared out some space in her closet and dresser so I wouldn’t be living out of suitcases for the next several weeks. Her house already felt like home, but I knew anywhere with her would feel that way.
We spent our first night back together in her living room working on the song we’d started a couple nights before. Mama jumped on top of the coffee table and watched us. I wondered if she would be annoyed that I’d encroached on her territory again until I saw that she’d drifted off to sleep to the sound of our voices.
“I think we have an amazing song here,” Liv said, setting down the guitar so we could take a break. “This one feels extra special for some reason.”
“This is your song,” I reminded her. “You were the one that started it.”
“This isoursong.” She raised her brow at me. “I couldn’t have written it without you.”
“I think we should sing it for everybody on Thanksgiving and update them on what we’ve been working on.”
“You think so?”
“I do.” I nodded. “It’s damn near perfect, and I know Cash is chomping at the bit to hear some more of our stuff.”
She shrugged. “Sure. We can do that.”
I glanced over at Mama who still slept soundly on the table. “You know, I think I’m growing on her.”
“You’re good at that,” Liv whispered, crawling onto my lap and kissing the tip of my nose. “Welcome home, Jax.”
Home.My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest as I crushed my lips to hers. With Liv, I no longer felt I was missing something. Instead, I felt like I’d found the place my heart belonged. I was finally home.
The days leading up to Thanksgiving flew by. I helped Liv at the bakery as much as I could. I watched as she and Katie fulfilled order after order, and I became an expert at boxing up their creations. I never went to the front of the store, though, unless there were no customers. The last thing we wanted was to cause a scene and have paparazzi hanging out.
Dallas got moved into his new place, and he spent the last couple of days before the holiday at the store with us. He helped me box up the cakes, and he even answered the phone from the back when Ella and Liv were busy out front with customers.
“Livvie Cakes Bakery and Cupcakery, this is Dallas speaking,” he’d chirped into the phone. “How may I help you?” Katie snorted in the background, bursting into a fit of giggles. He slid next to her and bumped her hip with his. “Yes, ma’am. Like Dallas, Texas. No, it’s not too early to place an order for Christmas. What can we do for you?”
After we wrapped up at the store each night, Liv and I worked on new music and resumed our kitchen dance parties as we made dinner. I always picked at least one slow song so I had an excuse to hold her close.
On Thanksgiving, Liv got up early and set to work preparing what we’d need to make the big dinner later. “Okay, I need to make the dressing, the green bean casserole, and the macaroni and cheese. I’ve got to get the turkey put in the oven in about an hour.” She ticked off her mental list, running her hands through her hair. “Ella and Grace are bringing the rolls. I already made the cranberry sauce last night.” I sidled up behind her and slid her hair to the side so I could kiss her neck. “I feel like I’m forgetting to do something.”
“The dessert,” I whispered between kisses.
“That’s not it.” She waved me off. “We brought that home yesterday, remember?”
“I donut believe that’s the dessert I was referring to,” I murmured in her ear.
“Oh?” She turned to look up at me, biting her bottom lip. “What dessert were you referring to exactly?”
“The kind where we have dessert for breakfast in bed.” I waggled my eyebrows at her.
“I only have a few minutes to make myself look presentable before I have to get the turkey in the oven and get started on this stuff before everyone gets here. And I still have to take a shower.”
“As it happens, I need a shower too.” I gently pressed her against the kitchen counter. “You ever heard the saying ‘two birds one stone?’”
That afternoon, the house was alight with laughter as everyone crowded between the living room and kitchen. Cash was talking to Grace about her school play and answering questions she asked him about his experience in the music business. Luca and Derek were watching a football game on tv while Dallas and Katie chatted animatedly. Antoni and Ella talked circles around each other as they helped me and Liv in the kitchen.
Dinner was perfect, and I could see many Thanksgivings in the future with all of us together much like this one, laughing and telling stories. After dinner, I started a fire in the firepit, and we all moved the party outside with our drinks and Liv’s guitar.
“Everything was amazing.” Dallas sighed, stretching out on one of the couches between Derek and Katie. “I’m properly stuffed.”
“Until ten minutes pass and you’re ready for more pie.” Katie poked him in the side.
