“You’re welcome.” He cups my cheek, staring intently into my eyes. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“Working.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“Come with me to Friendsgiving at Aiden’s house. I won’t have Izzy; she’ll be with her mom’s family in Florida.” His thumb brushes over my lips. “It’ll be my first holiday since getting custody that she isn’t with me.”
“I don’t get off work until four.”
“That’s fine, dinner is at seven.”
I search my mind for any type of reason to say no and come up empty handed. “Okay.”
“Really?” His mouth curves upward in a slow smile. “That easy?”
“Did you want me to put up a fight?” I arch a brow at him. “I’m not sure I have it in me today.”
“No. Don’t fight me.” He brushes the softest kiss over my lips. “I might be a mess without Izzy, though.”
Slipping my arms around his waist, I let myself sink into his embrace. “That’s okay. I hate spending holidays alone, too. We can keep each other company.”
“Dad?” Izzy’s voice interrupts the moment.
He tightens his arms around me briefly before dropping them and pulling the door open. “Yeah, Bug?”
I wait a minute until I hear them both go downstairs, Maya’s footsteps following along behind them. It’s been years since I’ve had Thanksgiving plans with anyone. From the short time I’ve been around his friends, they’ve all seemed kind. I’m sure it’ll be fun.
CHAPTER 9
DREW
My emotionsand feelings are like a ping pong ball rattling around inside me right now. It’s been seventeen hours since I handed Izzy off to her grandparents, and I feel her absence every single second. But I’m also pacing back and forth in my living room while I wait until I hear Willa knocking to let me know she’s ready to leave.
Izzy’s already video called me once, her big, brown eyes full of tears. It felt like someone took a knife, sliced open my chest and reached inside, tearing my heart out. Seeing her sad and being unable to comfort her beyond words fucking destroyed me. If anyone had told me that finding out I had a kid would turn me into a soppy, emotional mess, I would have laughed my ass off. But fuck if I wouldn’t travel to the ends of the earth for my little girl.
I pop a peppermint in my mouth again. Probably the twentieth I’ve had today, it’s always helped calm my nerves. I used to have one before every game.
Tonight should be great, Aiden somehow managed to get the early shift at the restaurant, so he’ll be home in time to eat with us at seven. I made my mom’s sweet potato casserole and managed to not burn it, so I have that going for me. Unless I messed up the measurements, maybe I should do a quick taste test just in case.
A knock at the door pulls my attention from my spiraling thoughts. I stop at the mirror by the front door and do a quick check, making sure my hair looks good and I don’t have anything on my face. The navy sweater I’m wearing was definitely a good choice, it brings out the blue of my eyes, not to mention the way it stretches across my shoulders highlights the muscles I still keep in top form.
All the breath rushes from my lungs when I pull open the door and see Willa. Her hair is down like it was at the auction, but the curls look a bit bigger and softer. She’s wearing another dress, fitted through the top but flaring out over her hips and hitting mid-thigh on her long, toned legs.
Fuck me.
Maybe we should just stay here tonight. Sweet potato casserole is enough sustenance, right?
“Hi,” she drags the word out as her brows rise.
“Sorry, hi.” I step back to let her inside. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Don’t look bad yourself.”
Should I kiss her? I don’t know why I’m nervous, I’ve kissed her before. I’m definitely going to kiss her again.
“Thanks. Let me grab my keys, and we can head out.” I go to grab my wallet and keys off the console table, but before I can get them in my pocket, they fall to the ground.
