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“Oh.”
I don't know why this surprises me. But it does.
Why would she scheme for me if she had him on Christmas? I'd thought she said he didn't come for Christmas since his accident.
“You've been going since the accident?” I hesitate to ask because I know he doesn’t like to talk about the accident. But I have to know.
“Yeah, of course.” His brows pinch. “Why?”
“I just thought you didn't go anymore.”
“I don't go for long. Dinner, that's about it.” He slides bacon from the pan into a bowl. “But I go.”
“Did you use to go longer?”
“Yeah. I’d always spend the day there.”
“Why did you stop spending the day there?” I ask, hearing nerves in my voice as he comes closer. His hands come to either side of my face, and he peers deep into my eyes.
“It's hard to be around people who want to be happy when you don't want to be happy.”
My heart aches. “You didn't want to be happy.”
“No,” he admits. “But I do now.”
My heart flutters and his eyes flick down to my lips like he might kiss me. But he doesn't. Still, my breath catches and my lips burn as hope sears in my chest.
“Why?” I think I know the answer, but I want to hear it from him.
“You.” He takes another step, closing the already small distance between us. “You make me happy, Sadie. You make mewantto be happy.”
I squeeze my eyes closed against the emotion that burns at the back of my eyes. I can’t help myself as I engrave those words on my brain, etching them into my heart.
“Do you want to go to your mom's today?” I offer, even though we kind of already talked about our plans for today. I told him about my citrus turkey, and we were set to have a slow, easy day. But if he wants to be with his family, I want him to have what he wants.
His thumbs sweep my cheeks before he tucks my hair behind my ear. Softly, his eyes never leaving mine, he asks, “Is that what you want?”
I say nothing, but I shake my head.
He nods. “Then we won’t go.”
“You're okay with staying here?”
His mouth tips up. “Are you making turkey?” I nod. “And mashed potatoes?” I nod again. “Gravy?” I bite my lip and his breath hitches, but he continues, “Pie?”
When I nod again, he tips his head forward and slants his mouth over mine. He kisses me hard and deep and hungrily. “Then we'll stay here.”
When he pulls away I smile, totally, completely, ridiculously drunk on him.
“Okay,” I agree.
He releases me to go to the stove. “How do you want your eggs?”
ChapterThirty-Seven
Sadie
Nick gets up from the couch and my eyes track him as he moves across the living room. Snow is swirling outside the window, and the sky is dark. Stars twinkle in the midnight blue of the Christmas sky like the lights on our tree. The day had been long and filled with cooking and eating. If I’m being honest, it’s more like gorging.
