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WINTER
“What are you doing?” I heave a chuckle when Haze kicks my bedroom door shut and backs me up into a corner.
“We’ve been unpacking for three hours. I want a second alone with my girlfriend. Sue me.” He snatches the cardboard box from my hands and drops it on the desk next to my bed. He’s right. We’ve been emptying the back of his car for so long we’ve barely had time to say a word to each other all day.
When we woke up for what would be the last time in our apartment, we had no idea how busy the day ahead would be. Moving back into my childhood home to help my dad recover from the accident seemed like a good idea last night. I apparently failed to remember how mind-numbingly exhausting moving was the first time around. We dropped Waze at Vic’s for the day because a crazy pup doesn’t exactly make the moving process easier.
It did break my heart to empty our apartment. This was our first home, and we could’ve technically continued to live there since we’re back together, but we’d already severed the lease and the landlord said he has a bunch of people lining up to rent the place. Not to mention that my family has never needed me as much as they do right now, and I could hardly see myself living away from my father after what he went through.
We barely got two hours of sleep last night. Turns out we had a lot to say since getting officially back together—our bodies mostly did the talking. Cue the wannabe seductive wink.
I couldn’t handle how happy I was when I woke up in Haze’s arms at Vic’s two days ago. It’d been so long. It felt like, for the first time in forever, everything was right in the world.
No words can describe how relieved we were when we walked inside the house and saw that most of Lauren’s stuff was gone. Looks like she decided to do the decent thing for once, but I know better than to think this is the last we’ll be hearing of her. She won’t give up Maika’s custody without a fight.
“We should go back downstairs to help.”
“Uh-huh.” He completely ignores me, angling his head forward to kiss me. I welcome his lips with a need only he gives me. Here we are, making out in my childhood bedroom, and I have a feeling it might be hard to get some privacy once Haze moves in here to help me watch over my dad.
I break the kiss before it gets too heated. “We have like ten minutes tops before Allie and Kendrick realize we’re missing.”
His lips upturn into a grin, his fingers traveling down to my stomach. “Give me five.” He rubs me through the fabric of my leggings, and I emit a small involuntary gasp.
“For crying out loud! You see this? That’s why I won’t miss living with them,” a voice flares outside my door.
Kendrick’s.
I hear Allie sniggering in the hall and wonder how long they’ve been standing there. We were so engulfed by our make-out session we didn’t even hear them come up.
“Come on, you pervs. Food’s here,” Kendrick calls. We hear them stride down the stairs. Haze places a quick peck upon my cheek before grabbing my hand and dragging me out onto the hallway.
Harry’s parents should arrive with Maika any minute now. They’ve been taking care of her throughout this whole nightmare. Of course, she got to visit our dad at the hospital, but we tried to keep her as far away from this heart-wrenching situation as we could. Until the trial can occur, my dad will have no choice but to share custody of Maika with Lauren. They will each get one week with her. That is, of course, if Lauren is able to provide Maika with a stable and loving environment now that she doesn’t have my father’s money to pay for everything. I know she recently got a part-time job as a hairdresser. She may want to reconsider the part-time aspect of it. As for Jaden, he’s old enough to choose who he lives with. Plus, Lauren has no legal right over him in case of a custody battle as he is not biologically hers. He’s Harry’s son.
“Where’s the pizza?” I groan as I enter the kitchen.
Kendrick, Jay, Allie, Haze, my dad, and I all gather around the table and dig into the large pizza boxes. We’re halfway through mocking Kendrick for how whipped he is over Allie when the home phone rings. My father’s face loses all tint. It’s his insurance company. It’s got to be.
He’s been waiting for their call since he got released. He needs constant help until he can go back to work. They promised to follow up as to the possibility of providing him with a home nurse. Haze stretches his arm and grabs the home phone to hand it to my father.
“Wish me luck,” my father whispers before he picks up.
It doesn’t require more than five seconds. It’s not looking good. The way his eyebrows furrow tells us the answer we dreaded is exactly the one he’s getting. After arguing back and forth for a few minutes, he hangs up.
“It’s a no.”
“I’m so sorry, Dad.” I place my hand atop his on the table.
“It’s okay, kiddo,” he says, discouragement lacing his tone.
God, these next few months are going to be tough. My dad has savings, which will thankfully allow us to support ourselves for a little while, but he doesn’t have enough to pay for a full-time nurse.
“We’ll be there to help you. Jay will take care of you at night when I go to work, and I’ll be here during the day,” I say, and he offers me a warm smile. I restrain a wince. I do have to find a job first. I’ll also have to take care of Maika when she’s here because there’s no way I’m leaving her with Lauren full-time, and my dad won’t be able to watch a five-year-old by himself.
“I’ll be there to help, too. No matter what,” Haze chimes in, and my heart expands five sizes. I’m so grateful for him.
“I shouldn’t be your problem, pumpkin. I shouldn’t be a burden for any of you. I’m so sorry.” Guilt stabs me in the guts. He’s apologizing when Haze is the reason for all of this. God, I can’t stand it.
A knock on the door interrupts our sappy moment.
