Page 153 of His Surrender

“I’ve been told.”

I laugh as I place my hands in my sweater pockets. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugs. “My uncle is entertaining Liana.”

“With what?”

“I honestly don’t know. I think he found an old train whistle.”

I wince. “That sounds … annoying.”

“Exactly.” He laughs. “The turkey still has another hour.”

“And?” I ask, still wondering why he is here.

“And”—he takes one step closer— “I missed you.”

My heart melts. “You’ve been gone for an hour.”

His fingers tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “I know.”

“You are aware we’ll see each other again tonight?”

He chuckles. “I am. I still missed you.”

I shake my head, smiling so hard that my cheeks hurt. “You walked over here because you missed me?”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “You are unbelievable.”

“I’ve also been informed by Sawyer that this phase is perfectly normal.”

“What phase?”

“The one where I apparently become insufferable because I want to spend every waking minute with my girlfriend.”

I grin. “He used the word insufferable?”

“He used several stronger words.”

I glance toward the front windows. “If my family sees you standing here, they’ll drag you inside.”

“I was hoping to avoid that.”

“So was I.”

An idea pops into my head. “Come on.”

I reach for his hand, and he looks at me curiously.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

I tug him up the porch steps and quietly open the front door. The house is loud enough that no one notices us slipping inside.

Football blares from the television while someone laughs in the kitchen.

Aunt Linda is telling one of her famous stories, loud enough for the entire first floor to hear.