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As I sat up in bed and stretched my arms out, I could already hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet running around the house, clearly excited about the events we had planned for the day. I rolled out of bed and pulled on my robe. When I stepped out into the living room, I was surprised to see Laila and Cora running around with the rest of the kids.
I looked around, but didn’t see Owen anywhere. I had to admit that he had hardly left my mind after that kiss. Though it was just a brief moment, it was by far the best kiss I had ever experienced, and I hoped there would be more.
I walked into the kitchen and, to no one’s surprise, my mom was loading up a plate full of cinnamon rolls for Owen, who was trying to argue that he’d had enough already.
“Oh, nonsense. You’re a growing boy. You need your energy.”
“Mrs. Harris, I’m in my forties. I don’t think these are going to do me any good.”
“Well, I didn’t wake up at six AM for you to refuse my baking.”
At that moment, Owen and my mom noticed me in the doorway. They turned to look at me, and all I could do was smile. There was something too enchanting about the image of the two of them together. Two of my favorite people in the world, who also had a fondness for one another. I wanted to run over and wrap my arms around both of them, but I resisted.
“Good morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?”
“Oh, fine. Tossed and turned a little bit,” I said, though it wasn’t the truth at all.
I had dreamed about Owen all night long. I wanted him taking up the extra space in my bed, and I wanted to taste his lips again. I was so desperate for him that it kept me up nearly all night.
“That’s funny,” she said with a smile. “Owen said the exact same thing.”
Owen and I locked eyes and tried not to let any readable expression cross our faces. My mother may be getting on in age, but she wasn’t stupid.
“That is funny,” I said, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.
As the restof the family gathered together, we went over the plan for the day. A few runs on the slopes, then lunch in the resort’s finest restaurant. Next would be the gingerbread house making contest, which was a non-negotiable family tradition. That would be followed by Sierra, Greg, and their kids singing Christmas carols as the rest of us sipped our cider and hot cocoa. Then after dinner, the kids would watch a movie and fall asleep in the living room.
Owen and I volunteered to stay up with them to watch their show so my siblings and parents could finish wrapping gifts, or do whatever it was they wanted to do with some much-needed alone time.
I had planned on going to bed early that night, but when Owen offered to watch the movie with the kids, I couldn’t possibly fathom the idea of not joining him.
Later that night,everyone was exhausted. All of the adults seemed to disappear faster than normal, but I didn’t mind. I was looking forward to my evening with Owen. The kids pulled out all of the blankets and pillows they could find, and they were asleep on the floor before anyone even realized that Kevin hadn’t made it to Paris with his family.
I glanced over at Owen, who appeared to be nodding off on the couch next to me. I nudged him with my foot and he startled awake.
“Shhh,” I whispered, pressing a finger to my lips.
Owen blinked and glanced around the room, realizing that all of the kids were fast asleep underneath various piles of blankets and pillows.
“How long have they been asleep?” he whispered.
“Like half an hour.”
He looked around again, as if expecting someone else to be in the room with us. He motioned for me to come closer to him, and I did so, without a moment of hesitation. I nestled myself in next to him and laid my head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around me. There was something so comforting about being in his arms. Warm and strong, they were the most comfortable place I had ever been.
He looked down at me and smiled, and then placed a kiss on the top of my head. I wanted to jump on top of him and straddle him right then and there. I wanted the smell of him all over my body. I don’t think I had ever wanted anything more.
“Thank you for being so sweet with the kids,” he whispered. “They need extra love.”
“They are the cutest girls in the world. How could I not love them?”
One of the kids started to stir, and we looked at each other in horror, clamping our mouths shut. When they settled back down, I knew what I wanted to do, but I had no idea how Owen would react to it. But there was no use in not trying, right?
“Should we go into my room so we can talk?” I whispered.
He pondered for a moment, looked out over the kids, and then back at me. He nodded his head, and we carefully stood from the couch. We tiptoed between mounds of children and blankets, and Owen reached out to grab my hand, helping me through the maze.
I led him to the bedroom, and when we stepped inside, I wasn’t sure what to do next. Sit on the bed? One of us on the bed and the other on the tiny sofa in the corner? On the floor?
