I. Am. Wiped.
Mom and Dad brewed some tea and are out back on the porch. I yawn, stretching my arms high, attempting to push some energy back into my muscles, but I just don’t have it in me.
Jaxon and I had such a nice day that I find myself wishing for more hours of daylight and the youthfulness of a toddler to go with it. Jaxon’s arms wrap around me from behind as he presses his face against my neck, breathing in my scent like he just came home from a long trip and missed me. This feels nice.
“You seem tired, Darlin’. Did I wear you out?”
“You just had to see all the animals, didn’t you?” I chastise, even though I don’t mean a word of it. I was totally on board to see every bit, and Jaxon was totally enjoying every second, right along with me.
“Every one. Even the tarantulas,” he whispers next to the shell of my ear, smiling darkly against my skin and chuckling when I shudder.
“Gah, I almost had their fuzzy legs out of my brain. Now I’ll certainly dream of them.”
“I’ll be right across the hall. You could, you know, tiptoe over and crawl in with me.”
I peer over his way, eyes rolling up at him with an incredulous gleam. He sighs, loving getting me all worked up.
“Okay, okay…fine. No snuggles for me.”
“I’ll send you Tigger.”
“Tigger is a solid snuggler. I shall steal the cat.”
“Comfy clothes and a movie on the couch?”
“You speak my love language.”
“Five minutes. Be ready to snuggle. Please tell me you brought sweatpants.”
“And a hoodie, just in case.”
“For me to steal it?”
Jaxon smiles softly against my skin, then lets go, pushing my body toward the stairs.
“Anything of mine is already yours.”
I stumble in my footing a smidge, then look back at him from my place on the steps.
“I’ll remember that next time we’re eating steak.”
A dark look of amusement wars across his face as he rethinks his words. I boop his nose and hustle up the steps, giggling as his feet thunder behind me, then squeak when he pinches my ass.
Chapter 27
Holly
An hour later, I’m happily curled up in his sweatshirt, lying against his white tee on the couch under a blanket watching Knocked Up with Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogan. Personally, her sister and husband are my favorite characters, and I stinking love watching This is 40 even more. In fact, I’m totally turning it on after this.
“Hey, you two, Dad and I are heading off to bed. What time is your flight tomorrow?” Mom asks, stifling a yawn.
“A little after eleven,” Jaxon says as he fights the induced yawn my mother cursed him with.
“Okay, I’ll make something quick for breakfast in the morning. I’m so glad you guys decided to come visit. You made my heart happy. And, Jaxon, thank you for dinner.”
“Thank you for having me, and it was my pleasure,” Jaxon replies in a heartfelt tone that my mom eats up.
“Don’t stay up too late, now. Goodnight.”
