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“Yeah, it took a while to dig out, but we made it,” I say.
“Well, it might’ve gone faster if you’d have let me help dig out the car,” Will challenges.
“Perhaps,” I say. “But what kind of man would I be for that?”
Hanson hands us both beers and looks us up and down. “Something…is different,” he says. He narrows his eyes, turning from me to her and then back again. “What happened?”
Willette’s eyes grow wide, looking from Hanson to me as if she’s silently screaming at me, asking what we should say.
I intertwine my fingers with hers, gripping her hand tightly, not caring who sees. Hanson looks down at the gesture, raising an eyebrow. Willette’s lips are pressed together in a line as she refuses to make eye contact with him again.
“We’re just…seeing something,” I offer.
“Oh my god, what?” Avery asks, stepping quickly over to us. “Seriously?”
I can’t be sure if he’s happy or upset, the tone in his voice falling flat, void of a hint. I nod in confirmation, pulling my hand from Willette’s and tucking her to my side as my arm moves around her waist. Hanson and Avery collectively drop their mouths open.
“Well, all right then,” Avery says.
“Hell yeah,” Hanson hoots. “Was this a result of the snowstorm? Did you lustfully huddle to keep warm and maybe a hand slipped and then the next thing you knew you were ripping each other’s clothes off, no longer cold?”
“Dear god, man.” I laugh. “Not quite, no.”
“Shame.” He shrugs. “Would’ve made a good story.”
“Anyway,” Willette says, not really attempting subtlety in changing the topic. “Let’s change the subject. Where’s Ava?”
“Oh, she’s out on the balcony with the dogs. They’re quite happy in the snow that’s collected out there,” Drew says. She takes a sip of her drink, giving Willette a conspiratorial smirk.I wonder what that’s about.
We all gather around the counter in the kitchen, as Hawk takes out pans to cook for us. Having not been prepared for this many people, he says he’ll be making an assortment of things. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but everyone seems fine with it. Considering he’s not short on beer and wine, I doubt anyone will give a shit real soon.
“Will, can you help me with something in the other room?” Drew says, taking her hand and leading her down the hall away from the crowd. That pretty much confirms my suspicions about the smirks earlier. Off to talk, conspire, and gossip, I suppose.
I turn my immediate attention back to the guys, listening as Avery talks about a woman he met the other night while tattooing.
“She’s really different,” he says. “Definitely not the type of woman I’m usually into.”
“So, are you going to go on a date or something?” Hanson asks.
“Well, she asked me to escort her to some event,” he says. “It sounds fancy as fuck.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine, man,” Hanson says, patting Avery on the back.
Hawk looks over, nodding for me to come closer. I round the counter, settling next to him as he chops. The other two continue on talking about the woman and Hawk leans in close.
“So?” he whispers. “How’d it go?”
I hesitate for a moment. While I’ve always talked to him about my dating life, I’m unsure exactly how much to share this time around, considering it’s Willette. They’ve known each other for so long, I doubt it would bolster the same type of responses he usually gives.
“Good,” I say, nodding casually. It’s not like I’m going to tell him how much we’ve been making out or how super turned on she makes me.
“Justgood?” he asks.
I rub the back of my neck.Is it hot in here?We did bundle up. Maybe I should shed some layers. “Uh, yeah, good.”
“And?” he asks.
“And…we’re going to go out again…and I’m having a good time,” I offer.
