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I close the last few inches between us, brushing my lips to his. “I love you. How long it took to get here doesn’t matter.”
He kisses me, tracing the seam of my lips, dipping inside and tasting. It’s a tender connection, all soft kisses and whispering breaths and achingly gentle caresses—another way of sayingI love youwithout any words.
And when we pull away, Cash gazes at me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. “I love you so much, Ari. Thank you for waiting for me.”
Chapter 16
CASH
We’ve never had extravolunteers on Thanksgiving before.
There aren’t many people who want to give up their Thanksgiving to spend it at the station. Sitting around waiting for the next turkey deep-frying accident, eating Chinese delivery or sad frozen turkey dinners? Or staying home, eating freshly cooked turkey and stuffing, spending time with family, and watching football all day? I don’t blame anyone for not being thrilled when their turn comes around.
We try to make it as fair as possible, not asking anyone to work both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and trying to cover the holiday shifts without having to use anyone who has kids. It doesn’t always work out, but we try.
I’ve always worked both holidays until this year.
This year I’m working on Thanksgiving, but on Christmas, I’m staying home with Ari. It’s our first Christmas as a couple, and I’m already planning how I can make it special for her. Over the top decorations, inviting our friends over for a holiday dinner, gallons of eggnog—I hate the stuff, but she loves it—and as many Hallmark movies as she wants.
And presents. Lots of presents. Enough presents that Ari will definitely tell me I went overboard, and I don’t care. Because I want to spoil the woman I love.
So Christmas is set, but Thanksgiving?
This Thanksgiving, Ari’s coming to the station with me.
Which is why we have an excess of volunteers, because she’s making a full turkey dinner for everyone. Once it got out that she was cooking, volunteers started coming out of the woodwork.
“Is there going to be pie?” Dave asked, when I mentioned it at our last shift together.
After a quick text to Ari, I told him, “Three kinds—pumpkin, salted caramel apple, and cranberry crumble. With fresh whipped cream and ice cream.”
Dave’s mouth dropped. “My mother is on a health kick. She’s not having pie this year, only fresh fruit. I think I’ll tell her I have to work at the station.”
When Grant heard about the upcoming meal, he said, “I’ll work on Thanksgiving. Delicious foodandI don’t have to hear my family ask when I’m going to bring a woman home to meet them? Sounds perfect.”
So we have about twice as many people as usual signed up to work today, which is great for the safety of Sleepy Hollow, but a little stressful for Ari.
She’s been planning and prepping all week, and I’ve never seen someone spend this much time on one meal in my life. When I mentioned that, Ari burst out laughing at me. “This is what Thanksgiving dinner means, Cash. It’s not just dinner for two. If I waited until Thursday to start preparing, I’d never get it all done.”
I love that she’s so enthusiastic about this, but I don’t want her overdoing it, either. It’s been less than a week since Ari was in the hospital, and even if the doctor said it was okay to return to normal activities, I’m not so sure about it.
But when I gently suggested that maybe Ari could settle for just a couple of side dishes instead of a whole buffet of them, she just hugged me and said, “Cash, I know you’re worried, but focusing on casseroles and pies is a lot better than thinking about who shot at us.”
There wasn’t much to argue about there. Even though I hate it.
She shouldn’t have to be thinking about someone shooting at her at all.
“Cash.” Ari tugs on my arm, looking at me worriedly. “Are you sure there’ll be enough food? I’ve never cooked for this many people before. I don’t want anyone to be hungry.”
“It’s going to be fine,” I reassure her, kissing her cheek. “There’s plenty of food. Everyone is going to love it. Don’t worry.”
Finn glances in the rearview mirror, smiling at Ari in the backseat next to me. “Judging from how much food we loaded into the car, I think you have enough to feed a small army.”
Ari leans forward. “Finn, I’m so sorry you have to miss Thanksgiving to come with us.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He flicks on the directional, slowing to pull into the station parking lot. “I would be sitting at Blade and Arrow if I weren’t here, and no offense to my teammates and their women, but your food looks and smells better than what they’re making.”
When we planned for Ari to come with me to the station, we decided to have Finn come just in case everyone on duty gets called out at once. It’s unlikely, given all the extra volunteers today, but we can’t take the chance of leaving Ari alone.
