Before I could find the willpower to stop, I heard a slow clap from the kitchen door. Jake pulled up and met my eyes, refusing to look behind him. “I’m guessing Drew couldn’t help himself.”
I glanced from Jake to Drew, who now had his phone out, back to Jake. “Um, yep?”
“Seems we’ve been here before,” Drew said, leaning against the wall.
“Out,” Jake muttered, not turning around as he looked down. I had a guess as to why he didn’t want to face his brother quite yet. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
Drew did not hold back. Through his laughter, he said, “One, I’m glad to see that Addie and my evil plan has worked. She’ll be delighted. Two, feel free to get the mast situation in your pants taken care of before joining us for what has been a riveting Macy’s parade. Three, what’s the ETA on those rolls, Bookstore?”
“Shoot, I need to flip them.” I pushed Jake back and got to work, noting Jake’s raised middle finger in Drew’s direction while he leaned over, elbows to the counter, and did some deep breathing.
I slid the foil-lined cookie sheet on top of the baking dish before grabbing some pot holders. I flipped the whole thing over and sat it upside down so that the rolls could drop and the sauce could drip over the whole shebang. “I’ll bring some in soon, Drew,” I said over my shoulder.
He gave me one of those chin lifts and headed out, saying, “I’ll let the princess know. Carry on, you two. I think I feel a group text coming on.”
I laughed, coming behind Jake at the counter and wrapping my arms around him, then was suddenly hit by a wall of emotion.
“What are you laughing at, Ivy?” He asked, placing a hand over mine, not realizing the warring feelings I had at work inside.
I leaned my forehead against his back, thinking of how to express what was filling me up.
“Ivy?” he asked, standing and tugging on my arm until I came in front of him. He placed a finger under my chin and gently lifted it until our eyes met. “Fuck, babe, what is it?” he asked, likely noting the tears that had welled up.
I blinked furiously, willing them to not slip over, to no avail. “Sorry, Jake. It’s just, I was, I mean…”
He lifted me to the counter again, legs wrapped around his torso, his arms around my waist. Pressing a kiss to my nose, he said, “Let’s try that again.”
I was positively cocooned in his warmth, and it was glorious. Looking at his torso instead of his clear blue eyes, I found I was able to organize my thoughts. I dropped my head to his shoulder, and the words spilled out. “Sorry. I was just so happy. You and Drew, you fill up this place. It was a rough morning, or has been a rough week. I was going to say this felt like being home, but then I realized I was far happier right now than I’d ever been at home. It was actually like being with my nana, and that threw me for a loop.”
Jake smoothed down my hair and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Glad to hear that you feel that way, babe. Now, do we want to make some eggs to go with these rolls? Or bacon?”
“Well, I was making a Thanksgiving meal for Addie and me today, and now I know why she had me making so much. We were planning on having that around two p.m., with snacks before and after. So maybe eggs and bacon now would be good. Does that sound okay?” I glanced down at my lap. “Heck, maybe I should go put something else on first.”
Jake’s arms around my torso tightened. “Fuck no, babe. I don’t know what Thanksgiving was like for you as a kid, but ours were about comfort, food, and being with those you loved. So stay in your pj’s all day if you’d like because I’d really like the chance to take them off you myself later.”
My cheeks heated up at the thought. Could we make that work? Possibly. But I was trying to ignore the comment from Jake about spending the day with those you loved. Surely, he was talking about previous holidays, right?
I got a squeeze around my waist as Jake spoke in my ear. “Ivy? Are the pj’s staying, or are you changing?”
I met his stare. “Staying and bacon. We should always have bacon.”
“Sounds like a good rule to live by,” he whispered, brushing his mouth over mine. “Happy Thanksgiving, my green witch.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Just Jake,” I said with a grin, telling myself not to get too wrapped up in this man and knowing that I was failing at that mission miserably.
28
I Don’t Want to Fall in Love Again
Jake
Drew pushed back from the table, groaning. He waved the floral cloth napkin in the air toward Ivy. “I surrender, Bookstore. You could work in a restaurant. This was delicious.”
Addie looked up from her spot next to him where she was coloring. “Why do you give up?”
Drew looked down and grinned. “Your mom’s cooking is so good I ate too much. I feel like a balloon that’s going to pop!”
Addie’s eyes widened, and she dropped her crayons to place her hands on Drew’s stomach. “Oh no,” she whispered.
